● Abusers often try to earn the trust of potential victims and their families so that they can more easily gain access to children. ● Abusers are commonly found in settings where they have easy access to children (sports leagues, schools, parks). ● More than 80% of sexual abuse occurs in one-adult/one-child situations. Parents/ caregivers should be cautious about leaving their children alone with one adult. If they must leave their children alone with one adult for such activities as music lessons or tutoring sessions, they should drop by unexpectedly and often. ● They should monitor their children’s Internet use. Abusers may use the Internet to contact and interact privately with children so that they can lure them into meeting with them privately. ● They need to talk to their children about their daily activities and maintain open and honest communication. ● They should teach their children about their bodies and what constitutes abuse. ● They should teach their children that no one has a right to touch them in ways that make them uncomfortable.
Children who are sexually abused often keep the abuse a secret for the following reasons (Prevent Child Abuse America, n.d.): ● They are afraid of upsetting their parents or making them angry. ● They may be embarrassed or believe that the abuse is their fault. ● The abuser may threaten to hurt the children or their families. ● Young children may not realize that what the abuser is doing is wrong. The abuser may have told them that it is a game or a way of showing affection. Healthcare consideration: Children may not talk directly about the abuse but may say something like “I don’t like to be near my teacher” or “My babysitter won’t let me take my nap.” Children may draw pictures indicating abuse or tell adults other than their parents about the abuse. They may also provide information but with conditions attached such as “I’ll tell you about something bad if you promise not to tell my parents” (Prevent Child Abuse America, n.d.).
ERIN’S LAW
In 2019, New York governor Andrew Cuomo signed Erin’s Law to help prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation. New York was the 37th state to enact this law (https://www.erinslaw.org/ erins-law/). This legislation (S.4070-B/A.2577-B) requires public schools to teach child sexual abuse and exploitation prevention classes to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Erin’s Law is named for Erin Merryn, an abuse survivor and activist against child sexual abuse
who has advocated for similar laws nationwide for over a decade. This legislation mandates that these prevention classes include practical and age- appropriate instruction on how to recognize the warning signs of child sexual abuse and exploitation and resources on how to find help. The law took effect on July 1, 2020 (New York State Office of Children and Family Services, 2019).
INTERVENTION AND REPORTING CHILD ABUSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK STATE
To report child abuse, social workers should immediately call the New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment at (800) 635-1522, and they will take down information and notify the local child protective services within 48 hours. Information on the form includes all children in the household; the basis
of the suspicion; and if any medical examination, photographs, radiographs, or other images have been taken (New York State, Office of Children and Family Services, 2019; Office of Children and Family Services, Summary for Mandatory Reporters, 2019).
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