Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Child Sexual Abuse Facts & Stats
Learn the facts and stats about Child Sexual Abuse in our one-pager.
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Learn more about how Child Sexual Abuse can be prevented in our one-pager.
PCANC POLICY
Learn more about our work in policy.
PCANC Policy Priorities
Read more about our Policy Priorities.
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is the involvement of a minor in sexual activity for which they did not or cannot legally consent. Approximately 1 in 10 children United States experience child sexual abuse and over 90% of sexual abuse occurs at the hands of someone the family/child knows and trusts.
Adults are responsible for ensuring that children have safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments. There are effective evidence-based strategies to help protect children from child sexual abuse. These strategies can include organizational policies and CSA prevention training for adults who work or volunteer where children are present. It is vital that organizations create a culture where child sexual abuse is discussed, addressed and prevented.
For Parents & Caregivers
Learn more about supporting your child’s safety and healthy development with tips and conversation starters about bodies and boundaries—because it’s never too early to begin teaching your child about body safety. You can also make a big difference by encouraging your child’s school, afterschool program, or youth-serving organization to adopt strong safeguarding policies and practices that help prevent child sexual abuse and promote safe environments.
For Organizations Serving Families and Children
Based on the information included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Guide Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Within Youth-Serving Organizations, Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina has created a toolkit designed to serve as a guide to help you create a basic child safeguarding policy to make your organization a safe space for children and families.
For Medical Professionals
Nurses, physicians, therapists, advanced practice providers, and other medical personnel can protect children by learning about and sharing evidence-informed child sexual abuse prevention resources. These resources can be used for staff education, parental guidance, and public distribution. Use your skills, knowledge, and voice to help build a statewide ecosystem of protection for children—before any harm occurs.
For Survivors
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual abuse, help is available.
- Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network: Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit https://rainn.org/
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: Access resources (including assistance removing CSAM content from the internet) for child sexual exploitation survivors at https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/csam-resources
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Call 800-422-4453 or visit https://www.childhelphotline.org/
- Courage First Athlete Helpline: Call or text 1-888-279-1026 or visit https://www.athletehelpline.org/
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center: resources for survivors can be found at https://www.nsvrc.org/survivors/
- Sexual Assault Kit Initiative: Find national and local resources at https://www.nsvrc.org/survivors/
- VictimConnect Resource Center: visit the referral helpline at https://victimconnect.org/
- Adult Survivors of Child Abuse: resource center can be found at https://www.ascasupport.org/resources/
Perpetration Prevention
An important area of child sexual abuse prevention is perpetration prevention. Perpetration prevention focuses on individuals who may be at risk of harming a child. Growing evidence suggests that prevention an begin by reaching those with harmful or problematic sexual thoughts or behaviors.
Learn more about perpetration prevention from the Moore Center for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins University.
If you are concerned about problematic sexual thoughts or behaviors — yourself or someone else — please reach out for help. Stop It Now! is an excellent resource, offering a hotline to offer guidance.
Prevent First NC
Prevent First NC is a statewide coalition uniting leaders across sectors to prevent child sexual abuse before it occurs. Co-led by Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina and Child Advocacy Centers of North Carolina, Prevent First NC brings prevention expertise, frontline system experience, and long-standing relationships across the state. Learn more about Prevent First NC and get involved.
Recognize & Respond
Learning the signs of child maltreatment is the first step in being able to recognize and respond quickly and appropriately. PCANC is dedicated to making sure North Carolina’s citizens and professionals have the most effective and up-to-date tools to prevent and respond to abuse and neglect. Our workshops, trainings, and webinars offer the latest information, research, and strategies to help you strengthen families and increase protective factors to help all children thrive.
Take our FREE online trainings, Recognizing & Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment, and What is Prevention? to learn more.
Additional Resources
Below is a list of other resources that you may find helpful relating to child sexual abuse prevention.
- PCANC & CACNC Flyer – Positive Childhood Alliance NC and Child Advocacy Centers of NC have co-created a flyer about preventing abuse and neglect.
- Darkness to Light – Darkness to Light empowers adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse through comprehensive training and education programs aimed at reducing stigma and increasing awareness.
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center – The National Sexual Violence Resource Center provides comprehensive resources and tools for preventing child sexual abuse.
- The Redwoods Group – The Redwoods Group provides resources and training to prevent child sexual abuse, focusing on education, policy implementation, and community involvement to ensure the safety of youth in various organizations.
- National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation – The National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, also known as Prevent Together, is a collaborative organization that aims to end child sexual abuse and exploitation through education, advocacy, and the promotion of evidence-based prevention strategies.
- kNot Today – kNot Today is dedicated to ending the sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking of children by raising awareness, advocating for prevention strategies, and partnering with restorative service providers. Founded by Frank and Linda Reich, the organization also supports law enforcement with technology and resources to combat these crimes effectively.
- Prevent Child Abuse America – Prevent Child Abuse America is the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect before it happens.
- Prevent Child Abuse Vermont – Our partners at Prevent Child Abuse Vermont promote and support healthy relationships within families, schools, and communities to prevent child abuse. Check out their online training opportunities and other resources.
- Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Carolina – Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Carolina (CACNC) is dedicated to developing, supporting, and maintaining high-quality Children’s Advocacy Centers and Multi-Disciplinary Teams across the state. They provide statewide advocacy, legal and medical guidance, training, technical assistance, and networking opportunities to ensure a comprehensive response to child abuse and support for affected children and caregivers.
- Praesidium – Praesidium is dedicated to preventing sexual abuse in organizations by providing a comprehensive suite of risk management solutions, including training, background checks, policy assessments, and consulting services.
- National Children’s Advocacy Center – The National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a coordinated, multidisciplinary response to child abuse through prevention, intervention, and treatment services.
- The Oak Foundation – The Oak Foundation is a philanthropic organization committed to addressing global social and environmental issues through grant-making and strategic partnerships. It supports innovative programs and initiatives that promote human rights, climate justice, and sustainable development to create lasting positive change.