"Finding Words" Program to Protect and Save Childr
Finding Words To Protect And Save Kids “Thank you all for coming,” says Kelly Wallace. Wallace is standing in front of members of the Pulaski County Child Abuse Team. They're qualified to assure that our kids are protected and safe from pedophiles. Rob Bell of the Little Rock Police Department is one of them. Bell says, “I believe in society as a whole but you still, the things that I see that most people don't, it makes you leery all the time.” Bell says he's passionate about the "Finding Words" program because he knows all to well the ills of child abuse. “When I was twelve a gentleman tried to do something to me. And luckily I was old enough and I stopped him. Nothing ever happened to him. You've got these kids and if we don't fight for them nobody does,” says Bell. Dr. Karen Farst says, “It's really unusual when a child has been sexually abused for a doctor to be able to tell by looking at the child that abuse has occurred.” Dr. Farst of Children's Hospital says it is actually less than 10 percent of abused kids that a physician can tell by looking or testing them. “So the child's words are definitely the most important part of that investigation,” says Farst. The graduates of the "Finding Words" program went through 40 hours of training to speak with kids who've suffered abuse. Bell says, “You really have to step back and get on that kid's level and be able to talk with them in a non-threatening way, but you also have to be careful that you don't lead them with questions as well.” As for Bell, he says he took his job to help people and he says he'll do whatever it takes to do that. Todd Wilson, Reporter Created: 10/17/2006 9:24:20 PM Updated: 10/17/2006 10:19:13 PM http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=35641