FAQs About Preventing Child Sexual Abuse
Q: How does Prevent Child Abuse Georgia’s program Stop It Now!® Georgia help prevent child sexual abuse?
A: This program provides adults with useful information to help them understand behaviors and situations that may put children at risk for abuse. It also explains how to intervene before a child is harmed. The Web site, www.stopitnowga.org, and toll free HELPLINE 1-800-CHILDREN (244-5373), give adults a place to go for support and guidance if they have questions or concerns about sexual behavior they may be observing in someone they know.
Q: What is unique about Stop It Now! Georgia?
A: Stop It Now! Georgia encourages adults to be responsible for preventing child sexual abuse before a child is harmed. It teaches people to recognize potential sexual behavior problems and take action before it’s too late. Stop It Now! Georgia also helps people to understand and encourage healthy behaviors between adults and children, and between children themselves.
Q: What should adults be watching for?
A: There is no sure way to determine who will abuse a child. There are, however, behaviors that may lead to abuse. These might include:
- Refusing to let a child set personal boundaries and limits
- An unusual interest in much younger children
- Insisting on touching, tickling, or kissing a child even when the child doesn't want this attention
- An exaggerated interest in images of children
- Establishing relationships with children in isolation of others
- For a list of other possible behaviors, click here
Adults often have a “gut feeling” about someone’s behavior around children, but are afraid to say anything in case they’re wrong. When adults call the 1-800-CHILDREN HELPLINE, they can discuss their concerns with trained staff and volunteers who will assist them with next steps to keep a child safe.
Q: Is there a typical profile of someone who sexually abuses children?
A: No. Most child sexual abuse occurs between a child and adult or other child/youth who know each other. But it's very difficult to believe that your son, husband, sister, father or babysitter could be hurting a child. The media often portrays abusers as “monsters” or strangers in trench coats who hang around playgrounds. That image makes it more difficult to believe someone you know and love could be abusing a child. Because it's hard to believe, we often wait until a child has been abused before we take action. Stop It Now! Georgia encourages adults to trust their gut feelings and speak up so children don’t have to. Calling our HELPLINE is one way to take action and find out how to speak up and prevent child abuse from happening.
Q: What happens when a person calls the 1-800-CHILDREN HELPLINE?
A: A call might go like this: A caller may know both the possible victim and the adult who concerns them. The HELPLINE staff will talk with the caller and help him or her determine what actions to take. These actions can include:
- Practicing with the caller about how to talk with the adult about his/her concerns
- Documenting things that are seen and heard
- Creating rules for safety in the family and community
- Taking steps to ensure the child is safe
- Reporting the concerns to authorities
Callers may be adults concerned about another adult, their own child or someone else’s sexual feelings or behaviors. For these callers, the HELPLINE staff provides referrals to professionals who specialize in helping adults and youth with sexual behavior issues while also encouraging the caller to take appropriate steps to keep children safe from potential abuse.
Q: What's most important for preventing child sexual abuse?
A: All adults must know how to promote healthy sexual development in children, recognize behaviors that need intervention and learn how to discuss their concerns with one another. We can then be proactive rather than reactive, and prevent child sexual abuse before a child is harmed. Child sexual abuse is not inevitable - it is preventable.
If you have additional questions or concerns and would like to talk about it, please call Prevent Child Abuse Georgia’s toll-free, confidential HELPLINE at 1-800-CHILDREN (244-5373) Monday through Friday. We are here to help.
Stop It Now! Georgia is a member of the Stop It Now! national network. www.stopitnow.org. If you live outside of Georgia and need help, call 1-888-PREVENT