Information for Parents & Providers

Be Aware & Protect Children!

1 out of 3 women worldwide will be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.  In some countries, the rate is as high as 70% of all women.

Every 26 seconds, it's estimated that someone, at times a child or baby, will be raped in South Africa, where the rate of rape is the highest in the world.

As these shocking numbers illustrate, violence against women & girls is one of the most pervasive major human rights violations worldwide.  Despite recognizing the gravity & scope of these violations, the global response to violence against women remains woefully inadequate.

The statistics are shocking!

• 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18.
• 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18. 
• 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet. 
• Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children 17 & under. 
• An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today.

Even within the walls of their own homes, children are at risk for sexual abuse

• 30-40% of victims are abused by a family member.
• Another 50% are abused by someone outside of the family, whom they know & trust.
• Approximately 40% are abused by older or larger children whom they know. 
• Therefore, only 10% are abused by strangers.

Sexual abuse can occur at all ages, probably younger than you think

• The median age for reported abuse is 9 years old.
• More than 20% of children are sexually abused before the age of 8. 
• Nearly 50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object & forcible fondling are children under 12.

Most children don't tell even if they have been asked

• Evidence that a child has been sexually abused is not always obvious.
• Many children do not report that they have been abused.
• Over 30% of victims never disclose the experience to ANYONE.
• Young victims may not recognize their victimization as sexual abuse.
• Almost 80% initially deny abuse or are tentative in disclosing.  Of those who do disclose, approximately 75% disclose accidentally and more than 20% eventually recant, even though the abuse occurred.
• Fabricated sexual abuse reports constitute only 1%-4% of all reported cases.  Children only fabricate ½% of the time.

Consequences of child sexual abuse begin affecting children & families immediately.  They also affect society in innumerable & negative ways.  These effects can continue throughout the life of the survivor so the impact on society for just one survivor continues over multiple decades.  Try to imagine the impact of 39 million survivors.

Health &/or Behavioral Problems:

• The way a victim's family responds to abuse plays an important role in how the incident affects the victim.
• Sexually abused children who keep it a secret or who "tell" and are not believed are at greater risk than the general population for psychological, emotional, social & physical problems often lasting into adulthood.
• Children who have been victims of sexual abuse are more likely to experience physical health problems (e.g., headaches).
• Victims of child sexual abuse report more symptoms of PTSD, more sadness & more school problems than non-victims. 
• Victims of child sexual abuse are more likely to experience depression as adults. 
• Young girls who are sexually abused are more likely to develop eating disorders as teens.
• Adolescent victims of violent crime have difficulty in the transition to adulthood, are more likely to suffer financial failure & physical injury, and are at risk to fail in other areas due to problem behaviors and outcomes of the victimization.

Drug &/or Alcohol Problems:

• 70-80% of sexual abuse survivors report excessive drug & alcohol use.
• Young girls who are sexually abused are 3 times more likely to develop psychiatric disorders or alcohol & drug abuse in adulthood, than girls who are not sexually abused.
• Among male survivors, more than 70% seek psychological treatment for issues such as substance abuse, suicidal thoughts & attempted suicide.  Males who have been sexually abused are more likely to violently victimize others.

Teenage Pregnancy & Promiscuity:

• Children who have been victims of sexual abuse exhibit long-term & more frequent behavioral problems, particularly inappropriate sexual behaviors.
• Victims of child sexual abuse are more likely to be sexually promiscuous.
• More than 75% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused.
• Women who report childhood rape are 3 times more likely to become pregnant before age 18.
• An estimated 60% of teen first pregnancies are preceded by experiences of molestation, rape, or attempted rape.  The average age of their offenders is 27 years.

Crime:

• Adolescents who suffer violent victimization are at risk for being victims or perpetrators of felony assault, domestic violence & property offense as adults.
• Nearly 50% of women in prison state that they were abused as children.
• Over 75% of serial rapists report they were sexually abused as youngsters.
• Most perpetrators don't molest only one child if they are not reported & stopped.
• Nearly 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims; at least 20% have 10 to 40 victims. (23)
• An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime.

Statistic references were taken from Darkness to Light

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse is a Job for ADULTS,

YOU Can Prevent Child Sexual Abuse!

Sexual abuse has enormous costs: children are hurt, the reputations of organizations are destroyed & insurance settlements are astronomical.  Learn what you can do to Protect their only Childhood!

Time To Speak Up

Time To Speak Up's web page offers resources on helping you talk with & help a child, teen, adult, coworker or elder who might be getting abused. 

When you're concerned, they'll offer help with identifying signs of abuse, tips on how to help & where to find help.

Click here to get help. 

The Parenting Network & Darkness to Light
are Collaborating to Offer:
Stewards of Children Workshops in Milwaukee

The Parenting Network (TPN) is leading the Awareness to Action (A2A) initiative in Milwaukee.  A2A is an initiative focused on preventing child sexual abuse by helping adults & communities take action to protect children through:

• Awareness
• Education
• Prevention
• Advocacy
• Action

Their initiative utilizes Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children program to help adults learn how to keep the children in their lives safe.

Stewards of Children is a FREE, 2.5 hour, evidence-based program that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize & react responsibly to child sexual abuse.  Participants receive a workbook: Darkness to Light's 7 Steps to Protecting Our Children booklet, and a list of community resources.

Parents, teachers, youth workers, coaches, scout leaders, childcare providers, volunteers working with children & anyone else working with children or who has an interest in protecting children should attend.

This training can benefit your organization as well.  An organization that sends members to receive this training reduces their risks and is alert, aware & educated in helping stop child sexual abuse. 

Stewards of Children is also able to offer your organization guidance on the development of child sexual abuse prevention policies and procedures.  Both the training and the policies & procedures are important steps toward creating environments that are safe for children.

Never before in Milwaukee has there been an opportunity to experience this training, but now TPN is offering them for free!

To attend a free Stewards of Children workshop or to schedule a free Stewards of Children workshop for your organization in the Milwaukee area, please call Ruth at The Parenting Network at (414) 671-5575 x30.

Click here for more information from TPN's website.

TPN serves as the lead agency for the Awareness to Action program in Milwaukee.  Awareness to Action is a program of the Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin with funding provided by the Children’s Hospital & Health System’s Child Abuse Prevention Fund and the Wisconsin Children’s Trust Fund. 

Click here to learn more about A2A online.