What You Can Do to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

In light of the sex abuse scandal unfolding around the Penn State retired coach, Sandusky, I am sure that everyone is asking how can we keep our children safer? I know we cannot protect them 24-7, but is there anything we can do to prevent child sex abuse?

Darkness to Light is an organization that is devoted to ending child sex abuse. Their stated mission is to "empower people to prevent child sex abuse".

The organization runs programs to raise awareness about child sex abuse and educates adults on the steps they can and should take to "prevent, recognize and react responsibly to the reality of child abuse".

According to their website:

1. 1 in 4 girls will be abused before she turns 18
2. 1 in 6 boys will be abused before he turns 18
3. More than 90% of abusers are people that the children know, love and trust

As the statistics above show, the unfortunate reality is that most of us "know" a child who is being sexually abused and yet we are not aware of it.

The organization holds training sessions all over the country. Training is also available via an online module.

As a first step, read the 7 Steps to Protecting Our Children from Sexual Abuse.