"This becomes problematic if the perpetrator of the child's sexual assault is a parent, family member, or close family friend," says Deb Wetherelt, Idaho State Police sexual assault nurse coordinator.
"So what I'm going to do as a nurse, if a child comes in and says, 'My stepdad did this to me,' and mom says 'she's a liar... this is not true.'"
"At that point, I'm calling law enforcement, who will also initiate a call to [Child Protective Services] to do an assessment," she said. But that can delay the gathering of evidence.
Ninety-three percent of those who sexually abuse children know their victims, and 34 percent are family members, as estimated by the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network.
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