THE ISSUES
Child Sexual Abuse
.jpg)
What is Child Sexual Abuse?
Child sexual abuse is any sexual activity with a child. Child sexual abuse can be perpetrated by an adult or by a child who exerts power over another child. Sexual activity can be touching or non-touching actions and may include: fondling, rape, incest, sexual talk, voyeurism (watching), exhibitionism (showing), pornography or internet crimes.
Did You Know?
-
One out of four girls and one out of six boys will be sexually abused by the time they are 18 years old.
-
90% of children who are sexually abused are abused by someone they know or by someone their family knows loves or trusts.
-
Only 10% of children are abused by a stranger.
-
70% of the children who are sexually abused never tell anyone!
-
A child who is the victim of sexual abuse can experience emotional and psychological problems that can be devastating to the child and last into adulthood.
Children need adults to be aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and they need adults who are willing to do something about it.
Child sexual abuse can happen to any child. Children need adults to help protect them from all abuse!
Raising Awareness & Taking Action
The protection of all children is everyone’s responsibility! Child sexual abuse is a community problem that not only affects the child and family involved, but the entire community as well. Child sexual abuse can be prevented.
-
Educate yourself about child sexual abuse.
-
Recognize the signs and symptoms. Pay attention to the care of all children.
-
Teach children how to protect themselves. Make sure they know they have the right to not let anyone touch them if they do not want to be touched.
-
Be involved in your children’s activities.
-
Know where your children are and who they are with.
-
Let children know they can talk to you about anything that makes them feel uncomfortable. If a child tells you about abuse, believe them.
-
Educate your community about child sexual abuse and child sexual abuse prevention. Call them to action to do something about it, host a Darkness2Light “Stewards of Children” Training in your community.
-
Help strengthen your community by volunteering your time to organizations that help protect children.
-
Join or start a Child Abuse Prevention Coalition in your community.
-
Advocate for legislation that supports children.
-
Make child abuse prevention a priority!
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training
This training teaches participants how to prevent child sexual abuse. The training will provide an overview of the facts, signs and symptoms, how to respond, and how to prevent child sexual abuse from happening. This training is for parents, professionals, and anyone who wants to learn how to better protect children.
Stewards of Children
Stewards of Children is a training program that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. PCA Illinois staff are certified facilitators of this program. Click Here To Learn More
For more information contact about Prevent Child Abuse Illinois'
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention program, including D2L's Stewards of Children, please contact:
Jennifer Samartano
630-790-6869
630-701-4710
Northern Region Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Coalition
The Northern Region Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Coalition consists of individual, program, and agency representatives from both the public and private sector, coming together from seven counties in and around the Chicago/Cook County region of the state.
The goals of the Northern Region Child Sexual Abuse Prevention (NR CSAP) Coalition are to:
1. raise the visibility and level of dialogue about child sexual abuse within the
prevention community and the community at large; and
2. increase community awareness and local prevention education in order to engage
communities to create a movement to help end child sexual abuse.
We all uniquely offer different approaches to one goal: Ending Child Sexual Abuse.
For more information about the NR CSAP Coalition, contact Jennifer Samartano at
630-701-4710 or jsamartano@preventchildabuseillinois.org.
Resources
Warning Signs
Warning signs may include physical signs and sudden changes in behavior and emotions. However, children who have been sexually abused may show no signs at all. And remember, these signs may be caused by other things than sexual abuse.
Internet Safety
The Internet can be a dangerous place for children. Here are some tips and resources to help keep your kids safe. Learn More
Resources
Links to online resources. Click Here
Child Advocacy Center
The goal of a CAC is to help children who have been sexually abused and/or severely physically abused by providing a safe comfortable place to interview and support them. Learn More
Registered sex offenders in Illinois
A listing of the registered sex offenders in Illinois can be found on the Illinois State Police website. Click Here
Erin's Law
Find out more information about the landmark legislation that is the first US child sexual abuse prevention education law requiring children be educated in schools.
New Resource Sheets
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Child Sex Trafficking