Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Nihan Osmanağaoğlu, Samantha Tyler, & Christine Wang Presented on April 1st, 2013 Florida State University

Presentation Overview

1. What is child sexual abuse (CSA)?

2. How can I recognize CSA?

3. What can I do about it?

Social Awareness Film: Child Sexual Abuse in Family

PART 1: WHAT IS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE (CSA)?

Definitions

• Child sexual abuse (CSA) by adults • Child-on-child sexual abuse

(Briere & Elliot, 2003), (Deblinger, 2013), (Goldman, Salus, Wolcott, & Kennedy, 2003)

Statistics (Briere & Elliot, 2003), (Child Maltreatment, 2010), (Deblinger, 2013)

1 out of 4 girls

1 out of 6 boys

Sexual Abuse Myths

• Stranger danger!

• Only men sexually abuse children.

• Abused children always tell.

• CSA is a cultural or socioeconomic problem.

• A sexually abused child will grow up to be a sex offender.

(One with Courage, 2013b)

PART 2: HOW CAN I RECOGNIZE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE (CSA)?

WARNING

Activity

Sue has always had very low confidence and anxiety in social situations. She was getting good grades in the beginning of the year, but towards the end of the year her work deteriorated dramatically. When you ask her about it, she says that her mother and father are getting divorced, and her mother has a new boyfriend who she doesn’t like. When you press her, she says Jerry is “boring and stupid,” and she misses her dad.

Case Scenario – 1

You have known Adam and his parents for years. Adam is a troublemaker, and has been known to lie. His father is a friend of yours, is active in the community, and has a wonderful reputation. One day, Adam comes to you in tears and tells you his father has been making him pose for photographs in the nude. You think he is probably lying.

Case Scenario – 2

James is in first grade classroom. Two of the students have complained that James showed them his “privates” and tried to pull down their pants when they refused to show him their “privates.”

Case Scenario – 3

Warning Signs

1. Fear of and/or avoidance of certain places or people

2. Unexplained injuries (or unconvincing explanations) 

3. Changes in school performance 4. High risk-taking behaviors 5. General changes

in behavior 6. Regression 

(One with Courage, 2013a)

Effects of Child Sexual Abuse

• Maladaptive or unhelpful beliefs and attributions related to the abusive event(s)

• Acting out behaviors • Post-traumatic stress

disorder (PTSD) • Other mental health

disorders

(Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2012c)

PART 3: WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE (CSA)?

Role of Mental Health Professionals (Goldman, Salus, Wolcott, & Kennedy, 2003)

• Identify • Report • Evaluate • Testify • Consult • Provide treatment • Advocate

What should you do? What should you

avoid doing?

A child discloses to you during counseling that she or he is being

(or has been) sexually abused.

What to Do What to Avoid

• Stay calm • Listen carefully • Believe the child • Protect the child

• React negatively • Interrogate the child • Blame the child • Make promises you

cannot keep

Mandatory Reporting

(Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2012a), (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2012b)

Treatment (Hetzel-Riggin, Brausch, & Montgomery, 2007), (Saunders, Berliner, & Hanson (Eds.), 2004)

• Receiving treatment is better than no treatment

• Can refer to Treatment Guidelines (Saunders, Berliner, & Hanson (Eds.), 2004)

• Choose a type of therapy based on the child’s main presenting secondary problem

Treatment: TF-CBT (Cohen, 2013)

• TF-CBT = trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy

• Recognized by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Community Resources Hotlines for Help

Community Resources

Florida Network of Children's Advocacy Centers 850-671-4791

Florida Children's Home Society (CHS) Child Protection Team 850-921-0772

Refuge House Rape crisis center Local 24-Hour Hotline 850-681-2111

Hotlines for Help

* Important note! * If you see a child in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 right away. 

Florida Abuse Hotline - Department of Children and Families 1-800-96-ABUSE or 1-800-962-2873

Florida Council Against Sexual Violence Rape Crisis Hotline 1-800-956-RAPE or 1-800-956-7273 

Childhelp® National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)  

Were you paying attention?

1.What is child sexual abuse (CSA)?

2.How can I recognize it CSA?

3.What can I do about it?

Any questions?

Thank you!

References

• Briere, J. (1992). Child Abuse Trauma: Theory and Treatment of the Lasting Effects. London: Sage Publications.

• Briere, J. & Elliot, D. M. (2003). Prevalence and symptomatic sequelae of self-reported physical and sexual abuse in a general population sample of men and women. Child Abuse and Neglect, 27, 1205-1222.

• Child Maltreatment 2010, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administraton  on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau. 

• Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2012a). Mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau.

• Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2012b). Penalties for failure to report and false reporting of child abuse and neglect. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau.

• Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2012c). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children affected by sexual abuse or trauma. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau.

• Cohen, J. (2013). Questions and answers about child sexual abuse treatment. National Children Traumatic Stress Network.

References (continued)

• Deblinger, E. (2013). Questions and answers about child sexual abuse. National Children Traumatic Stress Network.

• Goldman, J., Salus, M. K., Wolcott, D., & Kennedy, K. Y. (2003). A coordinated response to child abuse and neglect: The foundation for practice. Washington, DC: National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. Retrieved from https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/foundation/foundation.pdf

• Hetzel-Riggin, M. D., Brausch, A. M., & Montgomery, B. S. (2007). A meta-analytic investigation of therapy modality outcomes for sexually abused children and adolescents: An exploratory study. Child Abuse and Neglect, 31, 125-141.

• One with Courage (2013a). Learn the signs. Retrieved from http://www.onewithcourage.org/learn-the-signs/

• One with Courage (2013b). Myths about child sexual abuse. Retrieved from http://www.onewithcourage.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/myths-about-abuse1.pdf

• Saunders, B. E., Berliner, L., & Hanson, R. F. (Eds.). (2004). Child Physical and Sexual Abuse: Guidelines for Treatment (Revised Report: April 26, 2004). Charleston, SC: National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center.