E330: Debbie Ausburn - Protecting Other People's Children
Child safety expert and attorney Debbie Ausburn shares essential insights for parents, coaches, churches, schools, and youth organizations on child protection policies, grooming prevention, online safety for kids, and abuse prevention. In this episode, she explains why a child protection policy is only effective if it is consistently followed, how predators exploit boundary violations, why online grooming is a growing threat, and how adults can better respond when children disclose abuse. Debbie also offers practical parenting advice on raising resilient kids by letting them fail safely and learn to solve problems on their own.
Learn more about Debbie at:
https://www.ysoacademy.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/other-people’s-children-llc
https://www.pinterest.at/OtherPeoplesChildren/
Buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Protecting-Other-Peoples-Children-Strong/dp/1961293080
Show Notes
👨👩👧 [02:06] Debbie grew up in youth ministry and helping "at-risk kids"
📚 [05:16] The book journey: From foster parenting to defending youth organizations
📝 [07:21] Early warning signs: When organizations get overwhelmed
🔍 [09:37] Moving from policy-on-paper to a living part of your culture
⚠️ [12:48] Hard truths: Grooming happens, and it's hard to recognize
❤️ [14:20] The dilemma: Healthy mentoring relationships are incredibly valuable
📱 [18:57] Online safety: Predators go where the kids are
📊 [22:44] Stranger abduction is rare; online grooming is the real danger
👧 [25:39] Child-on-child abuse happens more often than adult-on-child
📋 [27:23] The worst thing: A policy you don't actually apply
💪 [28:09] Parent advice: Let your kids learn how to fail safely
🧠 [33:18] Kids usually tell the truth; adults corrupt memories with leading questions
❤️ [37:41] What makes Debbie tick: Working with passionate people on the front lines
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Debbie Ausburn is a social-worker-turned-lawyer who has worked with youth-serving organizations for more than 40 years. She currently works with youth organizations, defending lawsuits, assisting with internal investigations, and advising clients about best practices for child safety. She and her co-presenter, Tom Rawlings, recently wrote Protecting Other People’s Children: 120 Days to a Strong Child Safety Policy, a book that reflects the best practices that they have learned in child welfare.
