Protecting the children

Danette Goulet

She bore her father’s child.

The same man who raped and abused her and eight of her siblings for most

of their lives. The same man who tortured her 4-year-old sister to death

and buried the body in Mexico.

It was 14 years after her sister’s death that Beatriz Morales Quintero

told her story to a counselor at Parent Help USA, a child abuse

prevention center in Costa Mesa. That’s when the healing and helping

process began.

Now, because of Quintero’ courage, her father is serving 30 years in

prison. And she is being lauded for having the strength and faith to tell

her story in hopes of helping others.

Parent Help USA honored Quintero along with two other women at a small

celebration held Wednesday. The women were recognized for their hard work

and dedication to helping others.

Denise Wood, a volunteer at the center, was recognized for donating

countless hours to grant writing and fund-raising. In addition to heading

the center’s financial department, Wood contributes to many other areas.

“We try to work with youth groups to try to inform tomorrow’s parents of

the problems of abuse,” Wood said. “It’s amazing how much need is out

there.”

Anne Johnson was recognized for her spiritual leadership. She began a

ministry called Women of the New Millennium, which meets twice a week at

the center to help families stay together.

Sally Nava Kanarek, founder and executive director of the center,

selected the three women for recognition.

“With their contribution comes the responsibility of being a role model,”

Kanarek said.

It was Kanarek who, after she heard Quintero’s story years ago, launched

the investigation that revealed years of abuse. Quintero had told her

story to several people before Kanarek, but nothing was ever done.

“She told her story at 13, 14, 15 years old, “Kanarek said. “She told me

when she was 22. What’s important to learn is that this is going on. This

happened in Tustin and it wasn’t until 14 years later that her story was

heard.”

By telling her story publicly, Quintero helped to defeat a 1996 state

bill to reintroduce paddling as a means of punishing students.

Because of Quintero -- and others like her -- speaking out and praising

Parent Help USA for their support, the nonprofit group will be the

recipient of the Life Achievement Award for an organization in Sacramento

next month. The distinction comes from the California Association of

Nonprofits and its public policy arm, the Nonprofit Policy Council.

The Costa Mesa center, which was originally located in Huntington Beach,

has been serving Orange County for 13 years. And there are many more

years of work to do.

“This is not just a nice thing to do -- working to prevent child abuse,”

Kanarek said. “It’s something devastating going on.”