Responding to Disclosures
One of the factors that impacts a child's ability to recover from child sexual abuse is the response
of family members and others to the disclosure. There are some key concepts to keep in mind that
can reassure a child that he or she has done the right thing by disclosing the abuse.
- Let children talk. Let them tell you what happened. Just listen-don't ask questions.
- Avoid displays of shock or disgust. Although challenging at times, it is crucial that the child's experiences are being heard, and are not being judged. The adult abuser has probably already told the child that he or she will not be believed, so any strong reaction from the adults will confirm the child's fears and can result in the child recanting.
- Avoid questioning the child. Listen carefully to what the child says and write down the details provided in the disclosure such as names, times, dates, and places. However, do not ask the child any questions. Questioning of children MUST be left to professionals trained to conduct proper interviews. Following this rule will help protect children from extensive questioning, which can make a child feel as if adults don't believe him or her.
- Respect the child's privacy. Find a place to have the conversation with the child that is out of earshot of other children. Be careful to avoid placing yourself or the child at risk of harm by creating a situation where you are secluding the child. However, moving the discussion to an area where other children cannot easily overhear the conversation protects the child from the curious ears of-and speculation by-other children.
- Address the child's feelings. Let him or her know that you take the disclosure seriously and that the story will be reported and investigated. Part of the psychological grooming process used by a molester includes threatening the child with dire consequences if the child tells. Once a child overcomes the fear enough to talk with someone about what happened, the adult must realize how hard it is for the child to speak up and treat the disclosure as if it is completely true.
- Be honest with the child about what will happen next. Tell the child that the incident will be reported to the authorities and that someone will talk with him or her about what happened. Also be sure to tell the child that you will share the information with only those people who need to know in order to keep the child safe.
- Acknowledge the child's courage in coming forward. Let the child know that you realize how difficult it can be to talk about these kinds of things. Thank the child for speaking up and for trusting you to help.
- Reassure the child. Let the child know that coming forward was the right thing to do and that he or she will be loved and protected-no matter what.
Responding to a child's disclosure has three primary goals:
- Protect the child from further abuse.
- Stop the abuser from exploiting or hurting other children.
- Address the child's symptoms and the harm done to the child and the child's family.
Responding with loving compassion and reporting the disclosure to the proper state authorities are the
keys to fulfilling these goals.
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| Last Week's Poll
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Did you hear many stories of child sexual abuse before your organization began its child sexual abuse prevention awareness programs?
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Yes
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53.02%
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No
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46.98%
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Total Votes: 1871
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