The King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) assists almost 5,000 survivors of sexual assault and their family members throughout King County with advocacy and therapy each year, and our prevention educators are in schools and the community, building a world free from sexual violence.

Many are surprised to learn that about half of the survivors we help are children and teens.

As a nonprofit that has called Renton our home since 1976, we have been deeply disturbed and saddened by recent reports regarding Renton-based organizations whose leadership are reported to have prioritized silence and inaction over the safety and well-being of children.

We believe protecting children should always be the paramount concern in environments where they are entrusted to the care of adults. We work to shine a light on sexual assault and abuse wherever it happens, and make sure every survivor has the support they need whenever they reach out. We often say we can’t change what we can’t talk about. So in that respect, it is good that we are seeing increased news and conversation about what is happening in our hometown.

But right now, we want to speak to the survivors in our community.

We know news headlines, social media posts and conversations may be difficult to digest. Emotions and reactions to what we’re all hearing may feel overwhelming, whether the abuse was recent or long ago.

We want you to know that you are not alone, what you’re going through is common, and that support is available to you right here in your community, regardless of when the abuse happened.

Our free and confidential 24-hour Resource Line is available 7 days a week for help or information at 1.888.998.6423. It is staffed by caring experts with deep experience in this field, who are there to empower you with information to help you make decisions and choices that are best for you.

For parents/caregivers concerned about their child, advocates can help you identify signs of abuse and find a path forward if abuse is suspected, or if you simply have questions about how to open a conversation with your child.

The Resource Line is open to all community members who may have questions about suspected abuse.

And for Spanish-speaking survivors and families who feel most comfortable with advocates and therapists with a shared understanding of culture and language, help is available through our Dando Voz line, at 425.282.0324.

Our website is another resource for survivors, parents and young people. Start at kcsarc.org.

As a neighbor with long roots in the Renton community, we encourage any organization that works with children to connect with KCSARC. We routinely work with organizations and professionals across King County who seek to protect children. We offer resources, information and deep expertise to help organizations, schools and communities better identify signs of abuse among young people, connect survivors to services that can help them recover, and prevent abuse from happening in the first place.

The safety of our children should never be compromised. It is the responsibility of every organization to maintain the highest standards of vigilance and integrity. We urge all organizations and entities who work with children to immediately review their policies to ensure they are as protective as possible, and let us know how we can best help.