Sexual Abuse Prevention Education
Our Services
Providing Services in southern Kane and Kendall Counties for Victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence
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24 hour emergency shelter and hotline
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Counseling for victims of domestic violence and their children
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Counseling for victims of sexual violence and abuse of all ages
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Legal advocacy
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Hospital advocacy
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Prevention education
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All services available in English and Spanish
Objectives
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Erin’s Law: Why Sexual Abuse Programs Are Necessary
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What Parents Need to Know about Preventing Sexual Violence
Why Sexual Violence Prevention is Important
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Sexual violence happens to people of all genders, all races, religions and socioeconomic groups
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1 in 10 children will be a victim by age 18
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Median age of child sexual abuse victims is 9
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93% of children can name offender
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67% of all sexual crimes happen to children under 17
Erin's Law Requires
Children
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Grades Pre-K through 12 in public school education on sexual violence prevention through age appropitate curriculum
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Provide children with the tools to speak up and tell someone about sexual violence rather than keep it a secret
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Educate children on safe touch vs. unsafe touch and safe secrets vs. unsafe secrets
Parents and Educators
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Educators will be trained on the prevention of sexual violence
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Parents will be informed about characteristics of offenders, grooming behaviors and how to discuss this topic with their children
What is Child Sexual Abuse
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Molestation-someone touching a child’s private parts or forcing child to touch theirs
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Rape-forced penetration
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Child pornography
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Grooming
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Commercial sexual exploitation of children
Who can be an Offender?
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Anyone can be an offender BUT they are usually NOT strangers! 93% are known to child
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Over 30% are family members
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Most offenders are males
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Most offenders are or have been married and identify as heterosexual
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65% are middle income or above
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Have between 1 and 9 victims in their lifetimes
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In cases where victim was younger than 6, 43% of the offenders were juveniles
What is Grooming?
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Luring a child into a sexual situation
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Offenders choose their victims carefully
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Will this child say no?
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Will this child tell?
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Will they have access to this child?
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Can they gain the trust of the child and family?
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Grooming takes time
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Offenders do not want to scare the child away
- Do not want to get caught.
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Take time to set a trap for victim
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Offenders use tricks
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Drugs and alcohol
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Secrets
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Gifts
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Breaking rules
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How can Parents Combat these Tricks?
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Know the people your child is spending time with. Minimize one-on-one situations
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Help children set respectful boundaries
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Keep vigilant about technology. Know your child’s passwords and monitor their accounts
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Explain that secrets can be harmful, and if someone asks them to keep a secret, they should tell you about it
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Learn and teach older children the appropriate laws about sexual crimes, consent and technology use
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Understand why children are afraid to tell
Talking to Your Child about Sexual Abuse
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LISTEN to your child! Create an environment of trust
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Start the conversation at a young age and use the proper names for private parts
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Tell children what parts of the body others should not touch
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Have open conversations with children about our bodies, sex, and boundaries
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Teach children that they have the right to tell any person“NO” to unwanted or uncomfortable touch.
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Tell children it is not OK for adults or older youth to use sexual words with them, or to act in a sexual way.
Always Believe your Child!
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The rate of false report for elementary age children is 0.5%
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Many children don’t tell because their offenders convince them they will not be believed
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Research tells us that children who are believed and supported are best able to recover from abuse
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If a child discloses abuse
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Remain calm
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Listen, support, & praise
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Seek medical help
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Report
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Counseling
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