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How can child abuse be prevented ? |
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Child abuse tends to
be cyclical, repeated generation after generation. A
child who has experienced the trauma of child abuse
may repeat the pattern by growing into an adult who
delivers abuse to the next generation. The only way
to stop such a cycle is to work with parents,
prospective parents, and other caregivers who seek
help or who are referred for help. |
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Mental health
professionals and others can prevent child abuse by: |
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Establishing educational programs to teach
caregivers good parenting and coping skills.
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Making people aware of alternatives to abusive
behaviors so that they seek help for their own
abusive tendencies. |
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Educating the public about abuse so that people
report abuse early enough for intervention.
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Establishing relationships of trust with
children so that they feel comfortable disclosing abuse. Then someone can intervene
early on. |
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Act: |
1.
View child
sexual abuse as a health problem.
2.
Be the
capable adult who will help a child with
this problem.
3.
Protect
the child physically. Separate the child from his or
her
abuser.
4.
Protect
the child emotionally: |
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It
is NEVER the child's fault,
repeat this fact often to the child.
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As a parent, say you will always
love the child. Show the child that
this is true with
words and behavior.
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Tell the
child that very likely, other children in the
classroom have this problem.
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Tell the
child that very likely the abuser has a health
problem, and may need medicine and other treatments.
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Let the
child know that he or she never has to be in the
same room with the abuser -even a father, brother,
uncle - if the child doesn't wish it.
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Take the
child to a therapist who specializes in the
treatment of sexually abused children.
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Protect
the child victim, especially boy
victims, from developing a sexual
interest in younger children with a
second-step to good health. Be sure,
with the help of a sex-specific
therapist, that a boy victim
(especially a boy who has been
repeatedly sexually abused) does NOT develop a sexual interest in
younger children. Be aware that this sexual interest
in younger children might lie dormant until the
onset of puberty and then become a health problem
for the child
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