CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - Parks and Recreation leaders in Chesterfield spent hours Thursday evening discussing how to better protect children, particularly when it comes to sexual abuse.
“There's not a major problem out there here in Chesterfield, at least that we're aware of, but it's something we'll have to deal with,” said Phil Innis, Assistant Director of Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation.
Innis said the county is asking coaches and volunteers to not only keep watch of what’s happening on the field but, a to keep a closer eye on what’s happening off the field.
Louis Lippa, CEO of a local football league, said he has already began changing his policies following the Penn State sex abuse scandal.
"It’s still out there,” said Lippa. "My biggest concerns are coaches with the children. We want it to be two coaches to a child."
While Lippa has a plan in place, there was still a lot of confusion among Park and Recreation members about what policy should be put in place to help others report abuse and identify a child who has been abused.
"We’re getting with the county's social services department, who as I understand, will be the organization handling reported cases," said Innis.
Leaders will have to act fast since a state law already implemented now includes a longer list of people required to report sexual abuse. Anyone convicted of not doing so can face up to one year in jail.
"We're going to have to move on this very quickly,” Innis tells CBS 6.
