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Child sexual abuse occurs when a person forces a child to
have any form of sexual contact or makes a child perform
sexual acts. |
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Types of
Sexual Abuse |
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Child sexual abuse can be physical, verbal or emotional and
includes: |
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Sexual touching
and fondling |
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Exposing
children to adult sexual activity or pornographic movies and
photos |
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Having children
pose, undress or perform in a sexual fashion on film or in
person |
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Symptoms |
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Children may have some of the following symptoms as a result
of abuse: |
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Nausea/upset
stomach |
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Crying |
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Changes in
sleeping patterns |
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Clinging to
parents |
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Changes in
school performance |
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Sexually
inappropriate behavior |
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Lying |
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Change in
appetite |
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Nightmares |
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Anger and mood
changes |
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Avoidance of
school/friends |
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Aggressiveness |
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Fears and
phobias |
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Attention
seeking |
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Suicide attempts |
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Depression |
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Why Children
Don’t Tell |
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Often children do not tell anyone about sexual abuse because
they: |
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Are too young to
put what has happened into words |
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Were threatened
or bribed by the abuser to keep the abuse a secret |
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Feel confused by
the attention and the feelings accompanying the abuse |
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Are afraid no
one will believe them |
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Blame themselves
or believe the abuse is punishment for being “bad” |
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Feel to ashamed
or embarrassed to tell |
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Worry about
getting into trouble or getting a loved one into trouble |
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Support |
| How
to support a child who discloses abuse to you |
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Keep calm. It is
important to remember that you are not angry with the child,
but at what happened. Children can mistakenly interpret
anger or disgust as directed towards them. |
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Believe the
child. In most circumstances children do not lie about
sexual abuse. |
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Give positive
messages such as “I know you couldn’t help it,” or “I’m
proud of you for telling.” |
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Explain to the
child that he or she is not to blame for what happened. |
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Listen to and
answer the child’s questions honestly. |
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Respect the
child’s privacy. Be careful not to discuss the abuse in
front of people who do not need to know what happened. |
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Report the abuse
to the proper authorities. |
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Get help from a
professional counselor. |
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Resources |
| For
more information contact these local and national
organization: |
ND
Council on Abused Women’s Services/
Coalition Against Sexual Assault
418 East Rosser Avenue, #320
Bismarck, ND 58501-4046
888-255-6240 or 701-255-6240
[Email]
Red Flag Green Flag
PO Box 2984
Fargo, ND 58108-2984
701-293-7273
[Website]
Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota
418 East Rosser Ave #303
Bismarck, ND 58502-1213
800-403-9932 or 701-223-9052
[Email]
National Children’s Alliance
1319 F Street NW, Suite # 1001
Washington, DC 20004 1106
202-639-5097
[Website]
National Children’s Advocacy Center
200 Westside Square, Suite # 700
Huntsville, AL 35801
256-533-0531
[Website] |
