St. Robert Bellarmine School principal June Rosena has a passion to protect children. Besides her 37-year career as a Catholic educator, Rosena has had a 20-year private practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist where she counsels people in crisis, including child victims and adult survivors of sexual abuse.

She can easily speak for four hours straight about the devastating effects of child abuse, and she has riveted audiences as a Virtus child protection facilitator. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles implemented the Virtus training program in response to the national clergy sexual abuse crisis.

"I find it so rewarding to give the Virtus talks," said Rosena, who holds a Ph.D in psychology. "Thank God for this long overdue awakening for a situation that's been with us for centuries."

The statistics are staggering: one in four women and one in eight men experience sexual abuse during their lifetime. The perpetrators include parents, siblings, relatives, friends, teachers, coaches, clergy, religious and strangers --- in short, they can be anyone who has access to children.

Rosena estimates that she has spoken to 800 people at six different schools in the San Fernando Valley, including St. Francis Xavier in Burbank, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Sun Valley, St. Genevieve in Panorama City, St. Elizabeth in Van Nuys, St. Patrick in North Hollywood and St. Robert Bellarmine (school and parish) in Burbank.

"I try to reach people's souls," said Rosena. In her presentations, she shares stories that she has heard first-hand from sexual abuse clients and students she has encountered over her long career in education. So far, she's not had to repeat any stories in eight different talks.

In 20 years of counseling, she has had a minimum of two dozen clients with a history of childhood sexual abuse. "I've never had a client that's been abused by priests," noted Rosena.

When she gives the Virtus training, she sees many people crying in the audience. "There are a lot of surviving adult victims of child abuse," said Rosena. "I try to give them a feeling of empowerment --- they can be champions for the next generation."

What to watch for

According to Rosena, perpetrators will groom a community, in many cases acting like child advocates. Adults should be suspicious of anyone who wants to be alone with a child, Rosena emphasized. As recommended in the Virtus training, people responsible for children's safety should identify secluded areas on their facility and keep them locked when not in use.

"Perpetrators think rules don't apply to them," warned Rosena. Consequently, adults must monitor who has access to children at all times.

Signs of child abuse include sudden personality changes, self-destructive activity such as "cutting" or suicidal behavior, a loss of interest in school and/or a drop in grades, obsessive body washing or a lapse in personal hygiene and an increase in paranoia.

As stated in the Virtus training materials, one or more signs of abuse does not mean that a child is being sexually abused, but may mean the child is experiencing some kind of problem. If a child demonstrates any one of the signs, say experts, a trusted adult should talk with the child about activities, friends and time away from home. Any suspicions of child abuse should be communicated to someone in authority such as a police officer or a member of child protective services.

"The Virtus training provides valuable information for anyone, especially parents," said Rosena. For more information on reporting incidents of child abuse, call the Los Angeles Department of Children's Services, (213) 351-5602, or the national child abuse hotline, (800) 540-4000.