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Adult’s Behaviors with Children and Youth

Child sexual abuse is almost always a gradual process, not a single event. The more you understand about how and why it happens, the more effective you can be at preventing or stopping it. We can help you make a plan now to step in before a child is harmed or protect a child from further harm.

Before there is a concern that a child is at risk, plan for safety.

Perhaps you are a survivor and want to protect your child from sex abuse. Maybe there’s a concern about a sex offender moving into your neighborhood or too many news reports about sex abuse have you wanting to make a safety plan for your family. We can help you learn the facts and create family safety plans. Key Steps for Prevention – Before abuse happens

When warning signs appear, it's time to learn more.

Perhaps you are feeling uncomfortable about something that might have occurred between an adult and a child. You may only have vague details or feel uncertain about what is really going on. Many people have shared with us that their first step was to trust their gut feeling that something just wasn’t right.

If you are having mixed feelings about speaking up, we encourage you to trust your intuitions and explore your options here. If you are seeing signs in people you know or care about that indicate that a child or teen is or may be at risk of being sexually abused, now is the time to take a step.

When you know that an adult has sexually abused a child, take action.

Possibly you’ve recently learned that a sexual interaction occurred between an adult and a child you know. Maybe you’ve learned about sex abuse that happened in the past between two people you care about. You may be confused by the many conflicting feelings that can arise. Things may not seem as clear when you are personally involved. You are not alone. You will find help here.

Reaching out to family members, helping professionals or authorities can seem scary. Our guidance and resources can make it a little easier to find help now so the abuse will stop.

We're here for you.

Whether you’re wondering how to talk to your family about sexual safety or you’ve known something worrisome for a while and are just now feeling ready to find the help each person needs so the abuse can stop and the healing can begin, we can help you consider your options for next steps. Wherever you are in your process of establishing protection and safety, we can help.

Keys to Prevention

Prevention is a combination of education about child sexual abuse, sexuality development and safety planning. This information can help you and other caring adults create a caring and safe environment for children, as well as prepare you to speak up with others about  your safety plan for the children in your life.

Learn the Facts about Child Sexual Abuse

When you understand what child sexual abuse is and what makes children and situations vulnerable to abuse, you are better prepared to understand what is needed for prevention.

Learn about Healthy Sexuality Development and Behaviors

Feeling knowledgeable about children’s healthy sexual development can help anyone feel more confident in talking to children about sexuality and sexual behaviors. Learn why it’s important to know about children’s age-appropriate sexual behaviors, and how to talk with children about sexuality.

Safety Planning

Safety planning doesn’t have to wait until there are warning signs. Every adult in a caregiving position with children can plan for safety before there are concerns. Safety planning is strongest when it is incorporated into regular routines and schedules in the family, at school, in the neighborhood and everywhere a child visits.

Keys to Warning Signs

When adults respond to warning signs with increased safety planning, communication and involving professionals when warranted, a child’s environment becomes safer and the risk of sexual abuse decreases.

Warning Signs

Understanding children’s behaviors can sometimes be confusing or difficult.  When you are able to recognize warning signs, you can plan for safety and take other actions steps to strengthen safety in a child’s environment.

Safety Planning

Safety planning shouldn’t wait until there is a concern. Learn more about how to create a safety plan in your family and community.

Speaking Up

It can be very difficult to speak up when  you have a concern that a child is at-risk for abuse. However, when sex abuse concerns remain unspoken, a child remains at risk. With our tips and support, you can learn how to talk about difficult topics to help create a safer environment for children.

Reporting

If abuse is suspected, reaching out to protective authorities could lead to the protection of a child, and getting recovery help for the child. Filing a report can result in holding the person who is abusing accountable and getting them treatment so that they will be able to stop abusive behaviors.

Keys to Intervening

When a child discloses that he or she has been sexually abused, it can be difficult to know how to best respond in the moment to that child. Yet, an adult’s initial response can immediately help a child feel safe again. Learn more about responding to disclosures.

Report the Abuse

 If abuse is suspected, reaching out to protective authorities could lead to the protection of a child, and getting recovery help for the child. Filing a report can result in holding the person who is abusing accountable and getting them treatment so that they will be able to stop abusive behaviors.

Re-establishing Safety

When a child has felt threatened by possible abuse or has been abuse, re-establishing safety in his or her environment is crucial to healing and recovery.

Legal Concerns

Legal concerns can sometimes make it difficult to speak up and take steps to protect a child. Learning about what to expect from the legal system can help prepare you to take action.

Keys to Healing and Recovery

When a child has been sexually abused, healing and recovery are possible when caring adults find resources to help rebuild safety.

Getting Support

Healing and recovery is most effective when there is support and understanding. Often, professionals can best help a child, as well as his or her parents, recover and resume living a healthy and safe life.

Re-establishing Safety

When a child has felt threatened by possible abuse or has been abuse, re-establishing safety in his or her environment is crucial to healing and recovery.

Resources

The following resource lists will help with finding support for yourself after abuse is disclosed:

See a full listing of our Frequently Asked Questions.