70 | AUGUST 31 • 2023 

PROTECTING YOUNG ATHLETES continued from page 68

them feel uncomfortable should 
not be kept secret from their 
parents or legal guardians,” and 
parents should encourage open 
communication, without shame 
or judgment, especially if the 
young person has experienced 
something of concern.
“Starting at a young age, talk 
about correct boundaries but 
don’t overdo it. Boys and girls 
need to know that no one has 
a right to touch them. Also, 
that no adult can 
ask them to keep 
a secret,” said Paul 
C. Jacobs, Ph.D., a 
licensed psychol-
ogist in Bingham 
Farms.
Warning signs 
of sexual abuse 
or other harmful experiences 
include reluctance to participate 
in activities children previously 
enjoyed, nightmares or anxiety 
of any type. 
 “If you notice any abrupt 
change in behavior, try to 
gently explore it,” he said, sug-
gesting parents ask questions 
to learn whether their child 
is simply bored or worried or 
afraid of someone or some-
thing. “Do not ever pressure 
them for participation; reas-
sure them it’s okay if they are 
reluctant to engage and if they 
do not want to talk, do not put 
pressure on them.” 
 Jacobs added that parents 
can ask if they would like to 
talk to someone else such as 
a therapist or another trusted 
adult.
“The more parents are open 
to discussing things with their 
children, the more likely kids 
are to go to their parents if 
something is wrong,” said Lee 
Weinstein, M.D., 
a pediatrician 
at Child Health 
Associates in Troy 
and Novi. He 
encourages parents 
to talk to their chil-
dren about difficult 

subjects such as sex, drugs and 
internet safety.
While there are no hard and 
fast rules, Weinstein says par-
ents typically do not stay in the 
exam room once an adolescent 
reaches puberty. “If kids want 
their parents in the room, they 
can stay; it’s a judgment call,” 
he said. “Puberty brings a lot 
of psychological and physical 
changes, so it can be good for 
kids to take responsibility and 
talk without their parents pres-
ent. It also gives me an oppor-
tunity to ask how things are 
going socially and at home.”
In addition, Weinstein’s prac-
tice gives teens pre-appoint-
ment screening evaluations 
for depression, anxiety and 
other mental health issues. If 
there are concerns, physicians 
will talk to the patients and 
determine whether a referral to 
another professional or other 
type of follow-up is needed. 
Weinstein, whose patients 
are primarily male, says a nurse 
is not usually present during 
routine appointments unless a 
patient requests it or there are 
specific issues requiring more 
detailed examination. He also 
provides an opportunity to talk 
privately with a patient whose 
parent remains in the room 
during an exam.
Finally, Cohen stresses that 
parents should report suspi-
cious behavior directly, not 
rely on another organization 
to follow up. While teachers, 
counselors, coaches and others 
are obligated by law to report 
suspected child abuse, includ-
ing sexual abuse, to police, this 
is not always done correctly 
or in a timely manner. She 
adds that a failure by caregiv-
ers to respond appropriately 
to young victims can lead to 
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 
(PTSD).
 If sexual abuse has occurred 
or is suspected, parents should 
call the police department 
where the incident occurred, 

says Sarah Greene, Acting Chief 
of the Special Victims Unit 
(SVU) of the Oakland County 
Prosecutor’s Office. If the exact 
location is unclear, call the 
police department serving the 
municipality where you live.
While many people are 
reluctant to report suspected 
abuse without definitive proof, 
evidence is not required to start 
the process. “
A victim’s account 
of what happened is enough 
to initiate an investigation and 
pursue criminal charges,” said 
Greene.
After an assault is reported, 
police will begin an investiga-
tion, which typically includes a 
session with forensically trained 
child interviewers at an accred-
ited child advocacy center such 
as Care House in Oakland 
County. Police will then send 
the information to the prose-
cutor’s office to determine the 
next course of action. 
“For a variety of reasons, sex-
ual assault is an underreported 
crime. Victims are embar-
rassed, ashamed or reluctant to 
get the person in trouble,” says 
West Bloomfield Police Chief 
Michael Patton, adding that 
some are unsure whether they 
were actually abused. 
“It’s an unknown and scary 
thing when you think some-
thing could have happened to 
your child, or to 
you,” said Greene. 
“We’ve started 
wrapping our brains 
around the concept 
of delayed disclo-
sures, and the more 
our community 
understands, this 
goes a long way toward encour-
aging reporting.”
Patton added: “It’s a very 
difficult experience, but we do 
what we can to make it easier. It 
may be better to report a crime 
as soon as possible, but justice 
can be served long after the 
fact.” 

Tips for Parents

1. Explain to children what 
kind of touching by an adult 
is okay and what is not okay. 
Communicate that they do 
not have to allow someone 
to hug them. Encourage 
them to tell parents if a doc-
tor or another adult is doing 
something that makes them 
uncomfortable.

2. For children and teenag-
ers, request that a parent/
guardian or nurse be present 
during a medical exam. When 
teenagers have gynecologic 
exams, a local gynecologist 
requires that the patient’s 
mother is present for the first 
examination and then a nurse 
is in the room for subsequent 
exams. College athletes can 
ask that an athletic trainer or 
coach be present during a 
medical examination.

3. If college athletes are 
uncomfortable with a physi-
cian or other health provid-
er’s behavior during an exam, 
universities provide a process 
for filing a report/complaint 
under Title IX, a federal law 
that prohibits discrimination 
and sexual abuse at educa-
tional facilities that received 
federal funding. (Public uni-
versities are an example of 
such institutions). 

4. If a child or teen says 
they have been sexually 
abused, report it immediate-
ly to local law enforcement.

Dr. Paul C. 
Jacobs 

Dr. Lee 
Weinstein

Michael 
Patton

