June is National Child Abuse Prevention month

Did You Know?
Teach Kids to Protect Themselves at Home
We consider our homes to be safe places for our children. But being home alone can pose risks for children. Here are a few
tips to teach kids that will help keep them safe when you are not with them at home: Never answer the door if alone. Do not
invite anyone in the house without the permission of a parent or babysitter. Don't tell anyone on the phone that your
parents are not home. Instead tell them that your parents can't come to the phone, and take a message. For more tips, please
visit www.kidsafe.com.

Did You Know?
Internet Safety for Kids
The Internet has become the new schoolyard for child molesters seeking girls or boys to victimize. Internet "chat rooms"
provide a teenager with an opportunity to engage in a "live" conversation with friends from school or church, or with other
teenagers from around the world. A chat room is similar to an old-style telephone party line, except that the teens are
typing. Law enforcement has found that child molesters use chat rooms to gain easy and safe access to teens. Because of the
seemingly caring and seductive talent of child molesters, teenagers should be warned that when they are in a chat room, they
should never provide anyone with private information, personal information, and especially their specific physical location.

Did You Know?
Can You Pass the "Blog Beware" Quiz?

Internet blogs and other social networking sites have recently exploded in popularity and in the news.  The number of
MySpace.com users is currently estimated at more than 67 million.  The majority of activity on these and other youth-related
Web sites is positive.  However, we've all read stories of how those who would harm children use these sites to lure
children and teens into inappropriate discussions.  To combat this danger, www.netsmartz.org offers a wide range of Internet
safety resources for parents and children.  Start by taking the "Blog Beware" quiz.  For kids, there's a related site
www.netsmartzkids.org.

Five Steps to Safer Environments

The Archdiocese mandates that all people who work with children and youth in our parishes and schools must undergo child abuse prevention training through the VIRTUS program.  The training details five steps to prevent child sexual abuse:

1.  Know the warning signs of an inappropriate relationship with a child.

2. Control access to children by carefully selecting the adults who work with children and youth.

3. Monitor all programs for the safety of children and youth.

4. Be aware of and sensitive to what is going on in the lives of children.

5.  Communicate concerns to the appropriate person in authority.

Know the Warning Signs of Abuse

Child molesters look like everyone else.  They don’t look like scary people that anyone should know to avoid.  Rather, they live with their families in our neighborhoods.  One of the most important ways to ensure the safety of children in our environments is to know the warning signs of adults who present a risk of harm to children.  Among these signs are when the person (1) always wants to be alone with children in areas where no one can monitor the interaction, (2) allows children to do things their parents would not permit, (3) is always more excited to be with children than with adults, and (4) discourages others from participating in activities involving kids.

Did You Know?
The Prevalence of Abuse in Society
In surveys of adults, one out of five women and one out of ten men reported that they were sexually molested before they
were 18 years old. This means that an estimated 40 million adult survivors of child sexual abuse are living in the United
States today. An estimated 9.6% of all school children will be molested by an educator or an employee of a school between
kindergarten and 12th grade. Between 13 and 34% of all females will be victims of sexual assault before the age of 18, and 7
to 16% of all males will also be victimized before they are 18.
Source: D. Finkelhor, "Current Information on the Scope and Nature of Child Sexual Abuse," The Future of Children 2 (1994):
31-53.

Did You Know?
Test Your Knowledge of Abuse Prevention: True or False?
True or false: It is common for both child and adult victims of sexual assault to wait some time before telling someone
about the abuse. True. It is common for victims of sexual assault to wait some time before telling someone. When the person
was assaulted as a child, he or she may wait years or decades. The reasons for this are numerous: victims may want to deny
the fact that someone they trusted could do this to them; they may want to just put it behind them; they may believe the
myth that they caused the assault by their behavior; or they may fear how other people will react to the truth.


Did You Know?
How Old Does a Child Need to Be in Order to Stay Alone?
Don't assume that when your child understands what you're saying, he's ready to walk out the door by himself. Besides the
fact that many states have laws against leaving children of certain ages alone (for example, younger than 12), experts say
children shouldn't be left by themselves until they're capable of fighting off an abductor or handling a crisis situation.
Experts also say children do not have the mental maturity to cross busy streets by themselves until they're about 10 or 12
years old. (Did you know that pedestrian injuries rank third in child fatalities, behind traffic accidents and drowning?)
Finally, parents who are certain their young children would never walk away with a stranger will be shocked to learn that
studies show they probably will. Stay alert and vigilant, even if you believe your child is aware of possible dangers from
others.
Source: "Know the Rules . . . After-School Safety Tips for Children Who Are Home Alone," www.missingkids.com.

Did You Know?
Learn to "Stop" Inappropriate Activity Before It Happens
Child safety tip: Teach your child to respect the word "stop!" Teach your preschooler that "stop" means "stop," and that
your child has the right to stop people from touching his or her body. Obviously, exceptions will have to be made for
doctors and parents, but even parents must listen when a child doesn't want to be tickled or hugged anymore. Reinforcing
this excellent lesson gives your child the power to recognize-and to stop-"bad touching" by others if it should happen.
Source: "Know the Rules . . . After-School Safety Tips for Children Who Are Home Alone," www.kidsafe.com.

Did You Know?
Recognizing Signs of Child Sexual Abuse
Changes in behavior, extreme mood swings, withdrawal, fearlessness, excessive crying, bed-wetting, nightmares, fear of going
to bed, sleep disorders, and a fear of certain places, people, or activities can be signs that a child has been traumatized
by sexual abuse.
Source: Philip J. Lazarus, "Trauma and Children: A Parent Handout for Helping Children Heal," VIRTUS, May 12, 2003.