Child$Sexual$Abuse$Awareness$ Educated$Parents$ Svava$Brooks$ Instructor$&$Facilitator$for$Darkness$to$Light$ Advocate$&$Survivor$of$Child$Sexual$Abuse$
www.Educate4Change.com$ $ $ $ This program is for informational and educational purposes only. It is $ not meant to replace the counsel or treatment of a licensed therapist. $
Child$Sexual$Abuse$StaDsDcs$ •
1"out"of"every"4"girls"and"1"out"of"every"6"boys"are"sexually" abused"before"they"turn"18." 30;40%"of$vicDms$are$abused$by$a$family"member" Another"50%"by$someone$they$know"and"trust"" Nearly"40%"are$abused$by$older$or$larger$children"
• • • " • More"than"80%"of$sexual$abuse$cases$occur$in$a$one"adult"/"one" child"situaDon$ $ • In"90%$of$sexual$abuse$cases,$the$child$is$familiar$with$the$offender.$ • Only"10%$of$offenders$are$complete$strangers.$$$ $ $ $ $IIDarkness$to$Light$$ $ • MotherIdaughter$incest$is$the$most$rarely$reported$form$of$sexual$ abuse.$$ $ $ $IIA$mothers$touch$ $$$
Svava$Brooks$2015$$educte4change.com$
What$is$Child$Sexual$Abuse?$ • Any$sexual$act$between$an$adult"and"a"minor"$or$between$ two"minors"when$one$exerts$power$over$the$other.$
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• Power$can$include$forcing,$threatening,$bribing,$coercing,$or$ persuading.$ • Also$includes$nonIcontact$act$such$as$exposure$to$porn,$and$ or$communicaDng$in$a$sexual$manner$by$phone$or$Internet.$ • Can$be$one$Dme$act$or$mulDple$acts$taking$place$over$a$long$ period$of$Dme.$ • It’s$a$crime$ •
Darkness$to$Light$$7$Steps$to$protecDng$our$children$
Svava$Brooks$$2015$$$educte4change.com$
The$Problem$
$ Parents"need"to"understand"the"scope"of"the"problem." • CSA$is$underIreported,$especially$from$youth$serving$ organizaDons$such$as$schools$and$child$care.$ • Minimal$to$no$formal$training$or$educaDon$at$the$ university$level$for$teachers$and$school$staff.$ • Most$parents/teachers/staff$do$not$recognize$signs$of$ abuse$or$know$how$to$respond$to$disclosure.$ • Lack$of$policy$and$procedure$for$hiring,$training$and$ supervising$adults$working$with$children.$ • No$law$to$hold$people$accountable.$ • Many$teachers$and$staff$do$not$feel$supported$by$ admin$or$the$system$to$report$suspicion$of$abuse. !
Svava$Brooks$$2015$educate4change.com$
Parents$role$to$keep$kids$safe$from$ Child$Sexual$Abuse$ Start$early$and$talk$oWen$ Create$a$safe$place$to$talk$ Create$a$family$safety$plan$ Use$daily$situaDons$to$pracDce$the$ rules,$personal$space.$$ • What$if?$Games$$ • Children$oWen$need$more$Dme$to$$ $$$$$$tell$us$about$difficult$things$ • Show$by$example$you$are$a$safe$ person$to$talk$to$about$ uncomfortable$things$by$being$ comfortable$about$it.$ • The$more$you$pracDce$the$easier$it$ gets.$ $ $ Svava$Brooks$$2015$educate4change.com$ • • • •
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Talk$Openly$To$Your$Child$ "Children"cannot"learn"anything"posiMve" when"they"feel"threatened.“$PosiDve$ParenDng$ $
• Child$molesters$take$advantage$of$those$that$are$uncomfortable$ talking$about$their$bodies,$don‘t$have$boundaries,$and$don‘t$know$ much$about$sex.$ • Teach$kids$about$their$bodies.$Use$tools$like,$My$private$parts,$My$ body$belongs$to$me.$ • Teach$them$the$difference$between$good$secrets,$surprices$and$bad$ secrets.$ • Tell$them$that$rules$don‘t$allow$adults$to$behave$in$a$sexual$manner$ around$or$with$them.$Give$them$examples.$$ • Monitor$Internet$and$social$media$use.$$I$recommend:$safely.com
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Svava$Brooks$$2015$educate4change.com$
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Abused$kids$ are$confused$ about$ boundaries!$
Strangers"
Over"90%"of"abused" children"know"&"trust" their"abuser"
Teachers" Friends"
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Parents"
Uncle/Aunts"
Grand"Parents"
Siblings" Neighbors" Coaches" Acquaintances"
Priest"
Children$and$Boundaries$
Your"Child"
Nanny"
Your"child's" boundaries" &"personal" space"
Step"Parents"
Dr."
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Rules$and$Boundaries$ Important$to$be$aware$and$set$rules$and$boundaries$ that$stop$any$possible$grooming.$ $ • At$Home$–$play$with$siblings$and$private$space$ • At$Friends$house$–$are$there$different$rules$and$what$are$ they?$ • Boundaries$with$teens,$adults,$family$and$friends$ • Boundaries$with$friends$and$peers$ • Boundaries$with$professionals,$doctor,$denDst,$teachers$ • A$Game$about$boundaries.$$Space$Invaders.$Dr.$Johnson.$
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Svava$Brooks$$2015$educate4change.com$
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QuesDons$Parents$Should$Be$ Asking$ $Asking$leaders$of$any$program$that$provides$service$to$your$children$will$ quickly$help$you$recognize$how$and$if$they$have$considered$this$fact:$
The$unintended$consequence$to$providing$services$to$children$ is$the$fact$that$someone$will$want$to$use$your$organiza9on$to$ gain$access$to$children$or$youth!$ • InsisDng$on$seeing$organizaDon$policy$and$reporDng$procedures$ • Ask$about$CSA$training,$screening$and$supervision$ • Ask$how$kids$are$empowered$within$the$organizaDon$to$speak$up$and$tell$ • If$the$program$is$missing$any$of$these,$offer$to$work$with$the$program$to$ create$and$suggest$a$training$from$Educate4change$or$Darkness$to$Light.$ Svava$Brooks$$2015$educate4change.com$
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Svava$Brooks$2012$$educte4change.com$
Resources$ • Report$Abuse$–$911$and$local$Child$ProtecDve$ Agency$ • Suspect$Abuse$I$1I800I4AChild$ • Concerned$About$Inappropriate$Thoughts/Behaviors$
– Stop$it$Now!$–$1I888IPREVENT$or$stopitnow.org/help$
• Survivor$Support"and$Resources$ ! siawso.org$ ! thelamplighters.org$ $
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! malesurvivor.org$
! 1in6.org$
! Call$211$
! psychologytoday.com$
! OneHealth$
! educte4change.com$ Svava$Brooks$$2015$educte4change.com$