Child Sexual Abuse Awareness

Child$Sexual$Abuse$Awareness$ Svava$Brooks$ Instructor$&$Facilitator$for$Darkness$to$Light$2004$ Advocate$&$Survivor$of$Child$Cexual$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. $

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Why$Now?$ • The$frequency$and$circumstances$surrounding$ $child$sexual$abuse$is$only$recently$being$ understood.$$ • Parents$and$organizaNons$must$be$united,$ creaNve$and$caring$to$prevent$it.$ • It$means$being$determined$to$ask$quesNons$and$ require$protecNon$even$when$it$feels$ uncomfortable.$ – It$means$being$a$voice$for$children’s$safety$because$it$ maRers$for$a$lifeNme. $ $Darkness$to$Light$Stewards$of$Children$ Svava$Brooks$2015$$educte4change.com$

Child$Sexual$Abuse$StaNsNcs$

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Child$Sexual$Abuse$StaNsNcs$ •

1"out"of"every"4"girls"and"1"out"of"every"6"boys"are"sexually" abused"before"they"turn"18."

30;40%"of$vicNms$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$one"adult"/"one" child"situaNon$ $ • In"90%$of$sexual$abuse$cases,$the$child$is$familiar$with$the$offender.$ • Only"10%$of$offenders$are$complete$strangers.$$$ $ $ $ $UUDarkness$to$Light$$ $ • MotherUdaughter$incest$is$the$most$rarely$reported$form$of$sexual$ abuse.$$ $ $ $UUA$mothers$touch$ $$$

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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$includes$nonUcontact$act$such$as$exposure$to$porn,$and$ or$communicaNng$in$a$sexual$manner$by$phone$or$Internet.$ • Can$be$one$Nme$act$or$mulNple$acts$taking$place$over$a$long$ period$of$Nme.$ • It’s$a$crime$ •

Darkness$to$Light$$7$Steps$to$protecNng$our$children$

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What$ConsNtutes$a$Sexual$Act?$ • Child$sexual$abuse$can$be:$ – Physical" • • • • • •

Touching$a$child’s$private$parts$$ Making$a$child$touch$someone$else’s$private$parts$$ OralUgenital$contact$in$either$direcNon$ Rape$or$any$penetraNon$with$objects$or$body$parts$ Kissing$–$prolonged$or$open$mouth$ Making$children$touch$each$other$

– Visual"" • • • • •

Watching$a$child$undress$or$go$to$the$bathroom$U$voyeurism$ Exposing$private$parts$to$a$child$U$exhibiNonism$ Asking$a$child$to$play$sexual$games$and$expose$themselves$ Showing$pornography$or$making$a$child$watch$sexual$acts$ Taking$sexual$pictures$

– Verbal" • Using$obscene$or$sexual$language$around$children$

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Cycle$of$Abuse$

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Alice$Miller$

Consequences$ $

Child$sexual$abuse$is$a$direct$source$of$a$number$of$problems$ facing$us:$$www.acestudy.org$ $

▫ 70U80%$of$survivors$report$excessive$drug$and$alcohol$use.$ ▫ Young$girls$who$are$sexually$abused$are$more$likely$to$develop$eaNng$ disorders.$ ▫ More$than$60%$of$teen$first$pregnancies$$are$preceded$by$experiences$of$abuse$ or$rape.$ $

Children$who$are$sexually$abused$may:$

$ • Blame$themselves$for$the$abuse,$$feel$abandoned$by$their$parents$and$adults,$ doubt$that$they$are$worthy$of$being$loved.$ • Feel$afraid,$even$when$they$are$safe,$fear$all$relaNonships,$even$friendships.$ • Disregard$personal$safety$in$dangerous$situaNons,$feel$betrayed$by$their$bodies.$ • Feel$unbearable$personal$shame.$ Svava$Brooks$2015$educte4change.com$

Break$The$Silence$ $

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You$are$more$likely$to$help$others$break$the$silence$if$you$do$it$yourself.$$The$ first$step$in$healing$is$speaking$about$the$abuse$to$a$trusted$adult,$friend$or$ a$therapist.$$Key$to$healing$is$to$be$willing$to$get$help.$$ CommiR$to$healing$–$you$will$feel$beRer.$$You$are$worth$it!$

Great$Books$for$survivors:$$ The$Courage$to$Heal$–$Ellen$Bass$ Breaking$the$Cycle$–$Sandra$Riggins$ Repair$your$life$–$Marjorie$McKinnon$ $ Web$sites:$ $www.survivormanual.com$ www.thelamplighters.org$ www.malesurvivors.com$ www.1in6.org$ www.educate4change.com$ $ $ $

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Resources$ • Report$Abuse$–$911$and$local$Child$ProtecNve$ Agency$ • Suspect$Abuse$U$1U800U4AChild$ • Concerned$About$Inappropriate$Thoughts/Behaviors$

– Stop$it$Now!$–$1U888UPREVENT$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$2012$$educte4change.com$