The Network was founded in Ross County, Ohio in May,1991 by six determined, brave and very intelligent women who knew from experience that our society is failing to prevent, intervene and prosecute child abuse cases. The organizers had been taught that we live in a free society and that the very least one can expect is due process and expedient, thorough and fair legal and judicial systems. Justice is not free.
Justice is extrememly sparse in child welfare cases.
We aspired to change that. In 1991, when a three year old who was very close to us disclosed sexual abuse at the hands of the child's natural father in very clear detail and in the child's own words, Mom stopped sending the child to visits. When the child had to go to unsupervised visits, the 3 year old would hide in the closet, curl up into a fetal postion, gagging and at times vomiting. The child was examined and interviewed at Columbus, OH Children's Hospital Child Abuse Clinic by the Director, Dr. A CPS worker, Dr. Johnson, and a PhD psychologist all testified that the child had been sexaually abused.