Hot Topic: Responding to Child Sex Abuse

In light of the serious child sex abuse allegations involving the football program at Penn State, this special Hot Topic highlights resources on what those who work with children need to know in order to recognize abuse, respond to it, and hopefully prevent it. Above all, this Hot Topic reminds us to speak out, report suspected abuse and protect the children in our care.

Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect
The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. Each State has a system to receive and respond to reports of possible child abuse and neglect. Professionals and concerned citizens can call statewide hotlines, local child protective services, or law enforcement agencies to share their concerns.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/responding/reporting.cfm

How to Report Suspected Child Maltreatment
Anyone can report suspected child abuse or neglect. Reporting abuse or neglect can protect a child and get help for a family—it may even save a child's life. In some States, any person who suspects child abuse or neglect is required to report. Provides state-specific information on how to report suspected abuse.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/responding/how.cfm

The Role of Professional Child Care Providers in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect
This manual provides information on the roles and responsibilities of child care providers in preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect within and outside early childhood programs. It also presents an overview of prevention efforts, reporting laws, caring for maltreated children, and ways to support parents and professionals who work with families.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/childcare/

Child Sexual Abuse
This resource from the American Humane Association provides a research-based overview of child sexual abuse, what it is, how to prove it, what to look for if you suspect sexual abuse, and what you can do to help or report suspected abuse.
http://www.americanhumane.org/children/stop-child-abuse/fact-sheets/child-sexual-abuse.html

Recognizing and Preventing Child Abuse
This resource provides information and other resources for understanding child abuse, the warning signs that a child is being abused, how to help the abused child and how to report child abuse and break the cycle of abuse.
http://helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm#breaking

Characteristics and Behavioral Indicators of Adults Who Molest Children
This fact sheet from the Minnesota Department of Corrections outlines the characteristics of child molesters. It outlines common ways that an adult who molests children approaches the victim and what parents can do to encourage their children to discuss their true feelings so that they will be more likely to reveal any situations that could place any child at risk.
http://www.doc.state.mn.us/level3/pdf/characteristics%20and%20behavioral%20indicators%20of%20adults%20who%20molest%20children.pdf

While focused on protocol and procedures in Nevada,
the following resources from the University of Nevada
Cooperative Extension provide important information for
those working with children in other states.

Creating Safety Zones for Child Care Providers
This fact sheet address what caregivers and youth leaders can do to help prevent child abuse and protect youth as well as protecting themselves from false allegations.
http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/cy/other/fs9513.pdf

What is Child Abuse?
This fact sheet describes the four kinds of child abuse and neglect: physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and sexual abuse.
http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/cy/other/fs9702.pdf

Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting: A Self-Study Guide for People Working with Children
The goal of this self-study guide is to help people who work with youth gain an understanding of child maltreatment and related implications. The self-guide defines four general types of child maltreatment, and provides an overview of the indicators of child abuse and/or neglect and how to report suspected child abuse.
http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/cy/2009/sp0911

Responding to a Disclosure of Child Abuse
This fact sheet is aimed at child care providers and youth workers providing tips for how to respond and report suspected child abuse or maltreatment.
http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/cy/2001/fs0160.pdf