7 Steps to Protect Your Child

(from darkness2light.org)

What is child sexual abuse?

• Any sexual act between an adult and a minor or between two minors when one exerts power over the other.
• Forcing, coercing or persuading a child to engage in any type of sexual act. This, of course, includes sexual contact. And it also includes non-contact acts such as exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism and communicating in a sexual manner by phone or Internet.
• An agonizing and traumatic experience for its victims.
• A crime punishable by law.

Each step is linked to the darkness2light web site where you can obtain more information.

Step 1. Learn the facts. Understand the risks. Realities—not trust—should influence your decisions regarding your child.

Step 2. Minimize opportunity. If you eliminate or reduce one-adult/one-child situations, you’ll dramatically lower the risk of sexual abuse for your child.

Step 3. Talk about it. Children often keep abuse a secret, but barriers can be broken down by talking openly about it.

Step 4. Stay alert. Don’t expect obvious signs when a child is being sexually abused.

Step 5. Make a plan. Learn where to go, who to call and how to react.

Step 6. Act on suspicions. The future well-being of a child is at stake.

Step 7. Get involved. Volunteer and financially support organizations that fight the tragedy of child sexual abuse.