Did You Know....

I participated in a great training yesterday. Here are some highlights. Look into it, talk about it......get educated:

What is child sexual abuse?
Any sexual act between an adult and a minor or between two minors when one exerts power over the other.

Some Facts:
-Experts estimate that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthdays.
-1 in 5 children are sexually solicited while on the internet.
-Nearly 70 % of all reported sexual assaults , including assaults on adults, occur to children ages 7 and under.
-The median age for reported sexual abuse is 9 years old.
-Most child victims never report the abuse.
-30-40% of children are abused by family members.
-As many as 60% are abused by people the family trusts- abusers frequently try to form a trusting relationship with parents.
-Approximately 40% of sex offenders report sexual abuse as children.
-Approximately 70% of sexual offenders of children have between 1and 9 victims. 20-25% have 10 to 40 victims.
-Serial Child molesters may have as many as 400 victims in their lifetimes.

So what now? 7 steps:
1- Learn the facts and understand the risks
2-Minimize Opportunity
3-Talk About It
4-Stay Alert
5-Make a Plan
6-Act on Suspicions
7-Get Involved

The training is from a grass-roots national non-profit organization called Darkness to Light.
Please go to their web-site and learn more. And consider getting the training for yourself, friends, group, church, school etc.... anyone who knows kids. They are our future and they need us to protect them.

I know this is a heavy and can be a scary topic. Don't let it bring you down, but focus on what we can do to help.

Have a great day!!