Keeping Children & Families Safe

Preventing child sexual abuse

Preventing sexual abuse starts with caring adults taking responsibility for protecting children and youth. Know the important things you can communicate to children, behaviors to watch out for and steps to take to keep children safe. Through lecture and group discussion, the presentation covers:

• how to communicate healthy sexual development
• the importance of teaching children the proper names for all body parts
• how to teach boundaries, privacy and consent
• behavioral warning signs in children, youth and adults
• ways to speak up during concerning situations
• creating a family safety plan
• resources on child development and sexual abuse
• how to define child abuse and child sexual abuse
• signs and symptoms of abuse, including the grooming process
• recognizing and intervening during concerning situations
• reacting to disclosures of sexual abuse
• trauma and its impact
• the mandated reporting process
• Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center’s role
• how to support children, families and yourself