​Believe and support the child and STAY CALM. 

Children​ ​may​ ​read​ ​your​ ​reaction​ ​to​ ​their​ ​statement​ ​of​ ​abuse​ ​as​ ​one​ ​of​ ​fear,​ ​disgust, anger,​ ​or​ ​concern​ ​and​ ​feel​ ​this​ ​is​ ​directed​ ​at​ ​the​m.​ ​Even​ ​though​ ​you​ ​may​ ​tell​ ​a child​ ​your​ ​feelings​ ​are​ ​not​ ​directed​ ​at​ ​her/him,​ ​emotionally​ ​this​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be​ ​felt​ ​by​ ​her/him.  ​

If​ ​a ​child’s​ ​disclosure​ ​does​ ​not​ ​already​ ​provide​ ​the​ ​following​ ​information,​ ​please ​ask​ ​only these​ ​4​ ​questions:

What​ ​happened?
Where​ ​did​ ​it​ ​happen?
Who​ ​did​ ​it?
And​ ​When​ ​did​ ​this​ ​happen?

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It’s normal for you to feel like you need to ask more questions and get more information, but these​ ​4 questions​ ​allow​ ​you​ ​to​ ​get​ ​the​ ​necessary​ ​information​ ​to​ ​begin​ ​the​ ​process​ ​of​ ​finding​ ​out what​ ​happened and getting the right help for you and your child.​ ​Even​ ​if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​concerned​ ​about​ ​the​ ​accuracy​ ​of​ ​the​ ​statement​ ​provided, please​ ​do​ ​not​ ​start​​ ​asking​ ​more​ ​than​ ​the​ ​four​ ​questions​ ​above.​ ​Asking more​ ​than​ ​this​ ​can​ ​cause​ ​more​ ​confusion​ ​on​ ​your​ ​part​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​the​ ​child’s​ ​part.

​Even​ ​if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​concerned​ ​about​ ​the​ ​accuracy​ ​of​ ​the​ ​statement​ ​provided, please​ ​do​ ​not​ ​start​​ ​asking​ ​more​ ​than​ ​the​ ​four​ ​questions​ ​above.​​​

​Who do I call and what do I do?

Depending​ ​on​ ​your​ ​local​ ​laws,​ ​you​ ​may​ ​be​ ​required​ ​to​ ​call​ ​law​ ​enforcement​ ​and​ ​a​ ​child protection/social​ ​service​ ​agency.​ ​Or​ ​you​ ​may​ ​only​ ​be​ ​required​ ​to​ ​call​ ​one​ ​or​ ​the​ ​other.​ ​It’s usually​ ​advisable​ ​to​ ​call​ ​both​ ​and​ ​let​ ​the​ ​agencies​ ​determine​ ​if​ ​it​ ​is​ ​reportable​ ​to​ ​them. 

If​ ​the​ ​person​ ​who​ ​has​ ​allegedly​ ​abused​ ​the​ ​child​ ​is​ ​responsible​ ​for​ ​the​ ​child’s​ ​care​ ​or is​ ​living​ ​in​ ​the​ ​child’s​ ​home,​ ​then​ ​you​ ​will​ ​certainly​ ​need​ ​to​ ​involve​ ​a​ ​child​ ​protection/social service​ ​agency.​ ​An​ ​easy,​ ​online​ ​way​ ​to​ ​find​ ​contact​ ​information​ ​for​ ​your​ ​local​ ​child protection/social​ ​service​ ​agency​ ​in​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States​ ​is​ ​​www.childwelfare.gov​​ ​or​ ​you​ ​can​ ​call the​ ​Childhelp​ ​USA​ ​hotline​ ​at​ ​1-800-4-A-Child​ ​(18004224453). 

Also,​ ​if​ ​the​ ​abuse​ ​involves​ ​allegations​ ​of​ ​sexual​ ​abuse​ ​or​ ​some​ ​other​ ​crime​ ​harming​ ​a​ ​child (visible​ ​physical​ ​abuse,​ ​neglect),​ ​you​ ​will​ ​need​ ​to​ ​call​ ​the​ ​law​ ​enforcement​ ​agency​ ​of​ ​where​ ​the crime​ ​occurred​ ​(which​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be​ ​where​ ​you​ ​live).​ ​An​ ​easy,​ ​online​ ​way​ ​to​ ​find​ ​contact information​ ​for​ ​any​ ​law​ ​enforcement​ ​agency​ ​in​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States​ ​is​ ​​www.policeone.com  

Other helpful resources:

When Your Child Discloses Sexual Abuse: A Step-By-Step Guide for Parents

Dedicated Forensic Interviewer Chris Schopen, brings her years of experience to this scary topic to make it easy for parents to understand what’s going on. This guide is your go-to resource that will walk you through what happens after your child discloses sexual abuse – so you can get your child the help he or she needs and you can start to heal – as a family. 

National​ ​Center​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Sexual​ ​Behavior​ ​of​ ​Youth

​​www.ncsby.org​​
​
​​(Click​ ​on​ ​the​ ​tab​ ​labeled 
“parents”​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​more​ ​about​ ​children,​ ​their​ ​sexuality​ ​and​ ​how​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​this​ ​topic.)

Association​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Treatment​ ​of​ ​Sexual​ ​Abusers​

www.atsa.com

 ​(Click​ ​on​ ​the​ ​tab​ ​labeled​ ​“What We​ ​Do”​ ​and​ ​look​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Prevention​ ​Publications​ ​and​ ​Handouts​ ​to​ ​get​ ​more​ ​information​ ​on prevention​ ​education​ ​and​ ​services.)

Arizona Child & Family Advocacy Network​

www.acfan.net

(Click on the “Advocacy Centers” tab to find a list of all the Advocacy Centers in Arizona. To find the Center nearest you, click on the link found on the left side “Map of Locations” to find your local Advocacy Center if you live in Arizona.)

NEARI​ ​Press​

​​www.nearipress.org​

Another​ ​helpful​ ​website​ ​that​ ​provides​ ​prevention resources​ ​for​ ​families​ ​and​ ​professionals. ​

National​ ​Children’s​ ​Alliance​

www.nationalchildrensalliance.org

​(Enter​ ​your​ ​zip​ ​code​ ​to​ ​find​ ​an Advocacy​ ​Center​ ​[near​ ​you]​ ​to​ ​help​ ​you​ ​better​ ​navigate​ ​what​ ​happens​ ​next,​ ​after​ ​a​ ​child​ ​abuse disclosure.) ​

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