The agency’s Education and Outreach Program is committed to providing professionals, parents, caregivers and the community with knowledge about the dynamics and myths of the complex issue of child sexual abuse, as well as, what to look for and how to respond if sexual abuse is suspected.
One first step toward reducing the staggering number of abuse victims is through education and awareness. Too many cases of child sexual abuse go unreported.
Many adults charged with safeguarding our most vulnerable population don’t recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse or don’t know how to respond. Some are afraid to get involved not realizing the devastating consequences to a child when an adult doesn’t have the courage to take action on a child’s behalf.
Parent & Caregiver Education
Most parents do not think twice about teaching their children how to cross the street safely. Teaching children how to keep their bodies safe from sexual abuse should be just as natural.
Topics include: Abuse statistics, facts/myths, caretaker choices, how to talk to your child (including proper terms for private body parts), signs and symptoms of child abuse, and how to respond to a disclosure or suspected abuse.
Understanding Trauma and the Impact on Children
According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, two-thirds of children in the U.S. are exposed to a traumatic event before the age of 16. Exposure to such events can have a lasting impact with a wide range of emotional, physical, behavioral, and psychological symptoms which can be described as childhood traumatic stress.
Training topics include defining and understanding trauma, the impact of trauma across the lifespan, effects of trauma on the brain, common trauma reactions, best practices for responding to children after a traumatic event, and the importance of self-care for individuals working with trauma-exposed children.
