Mercer County Children's Advocacy Center

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Mercer County Children's Advocacy Center
  • Home
  • About Mercer CAC
  • What to Expect
    • Forensic Interview Services
    • Medical Exams
    • Trauma Treatment
  • For Families and Children
    • What is Child Abuse and Neglect?
      • Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect
      • Myths and Facts About Child Abuse and Neglect
      • Recognize the Signs of Abuse and Neglect
    • What is Child Neglect?
      • Preventing Neglect
      • Recognize the Signs of Neglect and Emotional Maltreatment
      • Reporting Neglect
      • Responding to Neglect
    • What is Child Physical Abuse?
      • Preventing Physical Abuse
      • Recognize the Signs of Physical Abuse
      • Reporting Physical Abuse
      • Responding to Physical Abuse
    • What is Child Sexual Abuse?
      • Preventing Sexual Abuse
      • Recognize the Signs of Sexual Abuse
      • Reporting Sexual Abuse
      • Responding to Sexual Abuse
    • Keeping your Child Safe
      • Domestic Violence and Kids
  • Resources
    • Reading Resources
    • Resource Guide for Working with Adolescents
    • Talking To Your Children About Sexuality
    • What is Age-Appropriate?
    • What to DO if you Suspect a Child is Being Abused
  • Internet Safety
    • Abbreviations and Text Terms
    • Cyberbullying & Sextortion
    • Facebook- How to Keep My Child Safe
    • Instagram- How to Keep My Child Safe
    • Snapchat- How to Keep My Child Safe
    • Social Media Safety

What is Child Sexual Abuse?

As adults, we are responsible for recognizing the signs of child sexual abuse and taking action to keep children safe.stop-child-abuse

Children are most often abused by someone they know and trust. In more than 90% of sexual abuse cases, the child knows their perpetrator personally – he or she is a family member, childcare provider, friend, neighbor or other trusted person. Perpetrators, who can be adults or youth, usually have permission to be around the child on a regular basis. If someone is “too good to be true,” ask more questions. Even a close friend or relative may not be a safe person for your children.

Signs That a Child May Be Sexually Abused

Children often disclose abuse through unusual behaviors or changes in behaviors, not words. Because many forms of abuse are not physically evident, adults should recognize certain behavioral cues as signs of potential abuse. Consider the possibility of abuse when a child:

  • is hesitant about being alone with a specific adult or child
  • has sophisticated or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior
  • suddenly refuses to change for or participate in physical activities
  • experiences nightmares, trouble sleeping or bed-wetting
  • shows signs of depression, anxiety, aggression or suicidal ideation, including cutting and other forms of self-harm
  • becomes pregnant or contracts a sexually transmitted infection, particularly if under 14
  • experiences pain when sitting, walking or using the bathroom
Kid needing help
Kid needing help

If you suspect abuse, call ChildLine (the child abuse hotline), 1-800-932-0313, right away. It is not your responsibility to investigate abuse, interview the child or get all the facts. Just contact the authorities with your suspicion so that children and families get the support and care they need. If a child is in immediate danger, also call 911.

Reasons Why Children May Not Tell

There are many reasons why children may not disclose abuse. Because most abusers have a close relationship with the child and his or her family, the child may worry about getting their abuser or themselves in trouble. Many abusers make threats to ensure that victims do not tell. Other reasons victims may not tell include:

  • shame or embarrassment
  • fear that they will not be believed
  • fear that they will be blamed
  • worry that their parents will be upset or angry
  • fear that disclosing will disrupt or separate the family
  • limited language or developmental ability

Remember, children often indicate something is wrong through behaviors, not words. It can take a child weeks, months, years or an entire lifetime to fully reveal abuse using words.

Signs That an Adult or Older Youth Is Abusing a Child

Adults and youth can perpetrate child sexual abuse. The following actions are sexual abuse and should immediately be reported to the authorities:

  • coercing a child to fondle him/herself or someone else
  • touching a child’s genitals, buttocks or breasts
  • exposing oneself
  • inappropriately viewing private behaviors of a child or teen (e.g., undressing, bathing)
  • taking sexually explicit or provocative photographs of a child
  • showing pornography or sexually suggestive images to children
  • talking in sexually explicit or suggestive ways to children in person, by phone, by internet or via text messages

If you see or have reason to believe an adult or older youth is perpetrating any of these behaviors, call ChildLine (the child abuse hotline), 1-800-932-0313. If a child is in immediate danger, also call 911.

 

Resources

  • What to DO if you Suspect a Child is Being Abused
  • Keeping your Child Safe
    • Domestic Violence and Kids
  • Resource Guide for Working with Adolescents
  • Reading Resources
  • Internet Safety
    • Social Media Safety
    • Facebook- How to Keep My Child Safe
    • Instagram- How to Keep My Child Safe
    • Snapchat- How to Keep My Child Safe
    • Abbreviations and Text Terms
    • Cyberbullying & Sextortion

Mercer County CAC

  • Abbreviations and Text Terms
  • About Mercer CAC
  • Awareness Month Blog
  • Behaviors to Watch Out for When Adults are with Children
  • Contact Us
  • Cyberbullying & Sextortion
  • Domestic Violence and Kids
  • Donation Confirmation
  • Donation Failed
  • Donation History
  • Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect
  • Facebook- How to Keep My Child Safe
  • Family Safety Plan
  • FAQ about Forensic Interview Services
  • For Families and Children
  • Instagram- How to Keep My Child Safe
  • Internet Safety
  • Keeping your Child Safe
  • Medical Exams
  • Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission
  • Mission Statement
  • Myths and Facts About Child Abuse and Neglect
  • Origins of the CAC
  • Preventing Neglect
  • Preventing Physical Abuse
  • Preventing Sexual Abuse
  • Reading Resources
  • Recognize the Signs of Abuse and Neglect
  • Recognize the Signs of Neglect and Emotional Maltreatment
  • Recognize the Signs of Physical Abuse
  • Recognize the Signs of Sexual Abuse
  • Reporting Neglect
  • Reporting Physical Abuse
  • Reporting Sexual Abuse
  • Resource Guide for Working with Adolescents
  • Resources
  • Responding to Neglect
  • Responding to Physical Abuse
  • Responding to Sexual Abuse
  • Snapchat- How to Keep My Child Safe
  • Social Media Safety
  • Talking To Your Children About Sexuality
  • Tip Sheet: How To Protect Your Child From Sexual Abuse In Program Settings*
  • Trauma Treatment
  • Welcome to the Mercer County Children’s Advocacy Center
  • What is Age-Appropriate?
  • What is Child Abuse and Neglect?
  • What is Child Neglect?
  • What is Child Physical Abuse?
  • What is Child Sexual Abuse?
  • What to DO if you Suspect a Child is Being Abused
  • What to Expect at the CAC
  • What to expect when calling ChildLine
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  • Home
  • About Mercer CAC
  • What to Expect
  • For Families and Children
  • Resources
  • Internet Safety