Child abuse is a common problem

Penn State University fired both its legendary football coach and its president because they allegedly had known that an assistant coach was molesting boys, but did nothing about it. The assistant coach is accused of sexually abusing eight boys.

Lynn Huylar, who heads a children’s advocacy center in Cheyenne, says this case might be high profile, but it’s not atypical. Abusers are usually people children trust – like coaches, family members, and child care providers.

“Because those are people who also have daily and frequent contact with children, and use that trusting relationship to gain access to kids.”

Huylar says children’s advocacy groups in Wyoming have seen a 61-percent increase in abuse cases in the past five years. But she says that’s probably because more people are reporting the problems.

Wyoming law requires anyone who suspects or witnesses child abuse to report it.