Online Prevention Resources:
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
While nothing can guarantee your child’s safety, there are actions you can take today to significantly reduce the risk and protect their innocence.
Our Approach
Preventing child sexual abuse is a collective effort—one that requires intervention at every level. It’s about taking preventative action, reaching those who may cause harm before they do, and empowering parents with the tools to recognize warning signs and protect their children. At The Grant Foundation, we are dedicated to helping parents navigate this heartbreaking issue, providing the resources and support needed to make meaningful change. Every step we take together can help build a safer world for our children one where they are free to grow and thrive without fear.
Talk
Communicate about everything and anything with your child often.
Educate
Be your child’s trusted source for all things related to their bodies and sex.
Monitor
Pay attention to what your child is doing and with whom they’re doing it.
Support
Help your child navigate the emotional ups and downs that are part of the human experience.
What Is Child Sexual Abuse?
Child sexual abuse does not have a universal definition, as laws vary across regions, making it challenging to accurately identify the number of children affected. However, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of what sexual abuse is in order to effectively combat it.
The Grant Foundation defines sexual abuse as any instance where an adult or peer forces, coerces, or manipulates a child or adolescent into sexual activity, which may or may not involve physical contact. Sexual abuse is a form of child exploitation, typically driven by personal gratification and/or financial gain.
Impacts of Child Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse affects children across all cultures, ethnicities, environments, genders, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds. While it's critical to understand that this issue transcends every community and corner of the world, we want to draw special attention to the word impacts.
The trauma of sexual abuse can leave lasting scars that hinder a child's ability to focus on their education or cope with life's challenges. The effects can be profound, often leading to increased risks of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and even suicidality. Sexual abuse robs a child of the chance to simply be a child.
No child should ever bear the weight of such trauma. Every child deserves a childhood free from fear, harm, and the lasting consequences of abuse.
What If My Child Has Been Impacted by Sexual Abuse?
Sometimes parents and children do all the right things and still find themselves navigating the traumatic impacts of child sexual abuse. If this is the circumstance you are facing, you may be feeling a mixture of overwhelming emotions and have a lot of questions. Our overview for responding when a child has been sexually abused can help you identify the next steps and provide the reassurance you and your child need.