Child Sexual Abuse
Teen Sexual Abuse and Assault
Incest
For additional information visit:
www.wcasa.org
Sexual Assault is any forced, unwanted sexual contact
and is against the law.
Sexual assault can happen to anyone, at any time, at any place.
It can happen to people of any age, sex, race, income level, sexual orientation or physical ability. The majority of sexual assault survivors are assaulted by someone they know.
ASTOP offers emotional safety, support, and information for anyone who has experienced sexual assault or any unwanted sexual attention.
You were assaulted if…
-
you were sexually involved with a member of
your family, or a close family friend/acquaintance against your
will.
-
you were raped, experienced date rape or you
were involved in any sexual contact against your will.
-
you were touched in ways that were secretive
and confusing by anyone without your permission.
-
you were asked to touch the offender in a
sexual way.
-
you were watched while undressing for the
gratification of the offender.
-
the offender acted out sexually in some way,
knowing that you could see or hear the behavior.
- the offender talked inappropriately when you could hear what was being said.
Click the links below to read more about...
What Parents Can Do...
Parents are in a key
teaching role to help prevent their children from being sexually abused.
Parents often do not talk with their children about sexual abuse because
they do not believe that their child is at risk. They also are fearful
of frightening their child or showing their own anxiety about the topic
of sexual abuse. If a parent or close adult does not talk about sexual
abuse it is unlikely that any other adults will.
What Can Parents Do…?
·
Use sexual education
resources such as books to teach about age appropriate sexual
information.
·
Provide appropriate
supervision for your child’s age.
·
Teach the “First Rule of
Safety” or “The 3 W’s”: Where the child is going; who the child will be
with; and, when the child will be back.
·
Check out child-care
centers and baby-sitters, drop in unannounced, use references, ask your
child about likes/dislikes.
·
Encourage your child to
express their need/desire for privacy. As children grow older their need
for privacy becomes greater.
·
Talk about different
touches, model expressing your feelings about touches you like/don’t
like and teach your values. Talk about TV shows, nightmares, media.
·
Learn to listen and
question, i.e. “show me’ or “tell me more.” Listen to your intuitive
sense as a parent and at the same time teach the child to listen to
their intuitive sense or “Early Warning Signs” if something doesn’t feel
safe.
·
Take opportunities to
talk about secrets that are okay and not okay.
·
Assist your child in
establishing a personal network of trusted people they could talk with
including adults outside the home, if they are feeling unsafe or
uncomfortable about something.
·
Encourage assertiveness,
permission to say no, to make decisions about giving affection and
touches i.e. to whom, when and how. Use “Even if’s…” to establish a
habit of problem solving i.e. “What could someone do to feel safe even
if they come home from school, find the door locked, no one is home and
they don’t have a key?” or “What are some touches that could feel safe?”
“What are some touches that may feel uncomfortable?” “How could someone
keep themselves safe even if they were being touched in ways that felt
uncomfortable/confusing/yucky?”
Although there is a great deal of controversy around the effectiveness
of formal prevention education programs, especially for young children,
sexual abuse prevention programs do not appear to hurt children.
Parents can learn about formal prevention education programs such as
Protective Behaviors and use the principles with their children. The
Protective Behaviors program provides specific strategies for children
to confidently face personal safety issues. For more information call
ASTOP at 926-5395.
430 E. Division St.
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
920-926-5395