The Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County recognizes that to protect children from abuse, prevention services must address individuals, families and the community.

• Most children who are sexually abused are victimized by someone they know (9 of 10); this includes relatives (30%-40% of our cases), family friends, clergy, teachers, and babysitters. No valid profile of a perpetrator exists – it can be anyone.
• Some children and adolescents sexually abuse other children (20-30% of our cases).
• Perpetrators can be of any race, religious belief or sexual orientation.
• Your child should know this rule: No one should touch a child’s private body parts except to keep them clean or for medical purposes.
• Many perpetrators are well-educated and respected members of the community.

• Work to gain trust and friendship of child and often of the entire family; they are patient.
• Appear to be someone the entire family can trust and turn to for help.
• Often prey on single parents and exploit mother’s fear that their child(ren) don’t have a father figure or stable home life.
• Once trust is established with the child and the family – find ways to be alone with child.
• Pay attention to what children like and dislike.
• Often begin abuse by “testing” child’s ability to protect himself/herself by telling sexual jokes, horseplay, back rubs, kissing, etc.
• Take advantage of child’s natural curiosity – if child seems comfortable and/or curious about touching, the perpetrator will slowly increase the sexual contact.
• When the perpetrator is a parent, he/she may isolate children from the other parent by blocking communication and acting like the good guy.

• Talk with children early and often throughout their development about sexual abuse and inappropriate touching.
• Use the correct names for private body parts. Be sure to tell them that inappropriate touching is NEVER the child’s fault.
• Talk with children early and often throughout their development about healthy sexuality.
• Listen and believe your children if they are trying to tell. Children RARELY lie about sexual abuse.
• If something is not right about a child’s relationship with an adult or another child, act on it.