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For Parents

What We Do:

The Mutual Ground Prevention Team is dedicated to providing education and resources to prevent sexual violence and domestic violence. Our mission is to create a safe and supportive community through awareness and advocacy. We aim to empower individuals to recognize, address, and prevent violence in all its forms. By working together, we can create a future free from violence and fear.​

Objectives:

  • Erin’s Law: Why Sexual Abuse Programs Are Necessary

  • What Parents Need to Know about Preventing & Responding to Sexual Violence

Why Sexual Violence Prevention is Important

  • Sexual violence happens to people of all genders, races, religions, ages, and socioeconomic groups

  • 93% of child victims can name the abuser

  • About 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18​

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Data from RAINN and CDC

Erin's Law Requires...

Children:

  • Programs in grades Pre-K through 12 should include techniques to teach children to recognize child sexual abuse, equip them with skills to reduce their vulnerability, and encourage them to report the abuse

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Parents & Educators:

  • Educators will be trained on child sexual abuse prevention, effects of child sexual abuse on youth, handling disclosures, and mandated reporting

  • Parents will be informed about characteristics of offenders, grooming behaviors, and how to discuss this topic with their children

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More about Erin's Law: Key Components of Erin's Law

What is Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA)?

Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse that includes sexual activity with a minor. A child cannot consent to any form of sexual activity, period. When a perpetrator engages with a child this way, they are committing a crime that can have lasting effects on the victim for years. Child sexual abuse does not need to include physical contact between a perpetrator and a child. Some forms of child sexual abuse include (but are not limited to):

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  • Exhibitionism, or exposing oneself to a minor

  • Fondling, molestation

  • Intercourse

  • Masturbation in the presence of a minor or forcing the minor to masturbate

  • Obscene conversations, phone calls, text messages, or digital interaction

  • Producing, owning, or sharing pornographic images or movies of children

  • Sex of any kind with a minor, including vaginal, oral, or anal

  • Sex trafficking

  • Any other contact of a sexual nature that involves a minor

What is Grooming?

  • Luring a child into a sexual situation by building trust

  • Offenders choose their victims carefully​

    • Will this child say no?

    • Will this child tell?

    • Will they have access to this child?

    • Can they gain the trust of the child and family?

  • ​Grooming generally takes time; offenders do not want to scare the child away and do not want to get caught

  • Offenders use tricks

    • Drugs & alcohol​

    • Secrets

    • Gifts

    • Breaking rules

Who can be an Offender?

The majority of perpetrators are someone the child or family knows. As many as 93% of victims under the age of 18 know the abuser. A perpetrator does not have to be an adult to harm a child. They can have any relationship to the child including an older sibling or playmate, family member, a teacher, a coach or instructor, a caretaker, or the parent of another child.

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According to 1 in 6, “[Child] sexual abuse is the result of abusive behavior that takes advantage of a child’s vulnerability and is in no way related to the sexual orientation of the abusive person.”

Abusers can manipulate victims to stay quiet about the sexual abuse using a number of different tactics. Often an abuser will use their position of power over the victim to coerce or intimidate the child. They might tell the child that the activity is normal or that they enjoyed it. An abuser may make threats if the child refuses to participate or plans to tell another adult. Child sexual abuse is not only a physical violation; it is a violation of trust and/or authority.

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  • Anyone can be an offender BUT they are usually NOT strangers!

    • Over 30% are family members

  • Most offenders are male

  • Most offenders are or have been married and identify as heterosexual

  • 65% are middle income or above

  • Have between 6-9 victims in their lifetimes

  • In cases where victim was younger than 6, 43% of the offenders were juveniles

Tips for Parents and Caregivers

  • Know the people your child is spending time with. Minimize one-on-one situations

  • Help children set respectful boundaries

  • Keep vigilant about technology. Know your child’s passwords and monitor their accounts

  • Explain that secrets can be harmful, and if someone asks them to keep a secret, they should tell you about it

  • Learn and teach older children the appropriate laws about sexual crimes, consent and technology use

  • Understand why children are afraid to tell

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  • ​LISTEN to your child! Create an environment of trust

  • Start the conversation at a young age and use the proper names for private parts

  • Tell children what parts of the body others should not touch

  • Have open conversations with children about our bodies, sex, and boundaries

  • Teach children that they have the right to tell any person“NO” to unwanted or uncomfortable touch.

  • Tell children it is not OK for adults or older youth to use sexual words with them, or to act in a sexual way.

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  • The rate of false report for elementary age children is 0.5%

  • Many children don’t tell because their offenders convince them they will not be believed

  • Research tells us that children who are believed and supported are best able to recover from abuse

  • If a child discloses abuse​:

    • Remain calm

    • Listen, support, & praise

    • Seek medical help

    • Report

    • Counseling

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More tips about talking to your children about CSA: Early, Open, Often "How To Start"

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