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What Is Child Sexual Abuse?
Who Are the Victims?
Who Are the Perpetrators?
What Are the Effects?
Can Children Recover?
Protecting Children
What To Do
Where To Go for Help
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Understanding Child Sexual Abuse
Education, Prevention, and Recovery
| What To Do If You Think a Child
You Know Has Been the Victim of Sexual Abuse |
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Give
the child a safe environment in which to talk to you or another trusted adult.
Encourage the child to talk about what he or she has experienced, but be careful
to not suggest events to him or her that may not have happened. Guard against
displaying emotions that would influence the child's telling of the information. |
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Reassure
the child that he or she did nothing wrong. |
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Seek
mental health assistance for the child. |
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Arrange for
a medical examination for the child. Select a medical provider who has experience
in examining children and identifying sexual and physical trauma. It may be necessary
to explain to the child the difference between a medical examination and the abuse
incident. |
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Be aware
that many states have laws requiring that persons who know or have a reason to
suspect that a child has been sexually abused must report that abuse to either
local law enforcement officials or child protection officials. In all 50 states,
medical personnel, mental health professionals, teachers, and law enforcement
personnel are required by law to report suspected abuse. |
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Where To Go for Help 
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