Champaign County Children's Advocacy Center

Michael Williams, Executive Director

Parents & Clients Info

Dear Parents/Caregivers
What is the Children's Advocacy Center?
What is Child Sexual Abuse?
The Offender & Steps They Take to Access Children
What Are the Effects of Sexual Abuse on My Child?
How Should I Act Toward My Child?
How Parents Sometimes Feel When Abuse Has Been Reported
The Investigation & Facts About the Investigation
Your Team of Professionals
What Happens in Criminal Court?
What To Say To Others
Comments You Can Expect From Others About the Abuse
Related Documents

THE OFFENDER & STEPS THEY TAKE TO ACCESS CHILDREN

People who abuse children come from all economic and ethnic groups and a variety of social and educational backgrounds.

According to research, approximately 90% of all sexual abuse of children is perpetrated by someone the child knows. Many abusers are people who are trusted and loved by the child such as a relative, friend, or neighbor.

You cannot recognize abusers by their appearance. They do not fit any stereotypes such as dirty old men, perverts, or loners. Abusers may be married and have children. They may have criminal records or they may be outstanding citizens.

Although it is difficult for adults to believe, children are sometimes sexually abused by other children. Sometimes, sexual contact between children is curiosity. But if one child is much older or bigger than the other, the behavior may be abusive. Pay attention to sexual behavior between children; if it seems unusual or abusive, intervene.

Some parents wonder how it is possible for their children to be abused. Offenders use many tactics to gain access to children.

They:

• Seek out an approachable child, one who is easy to get to such as a relative, neighbor, or friend.
• Establish a relationship with the child by spending time playing with them, volunteering to babysit, becoming their buddy, or buying them games or presents.
• Break down the child’s resistance to touch by playing games that involve touching such as wrestling and tickling. As a result, children are often confused when the touch becomes sexual.
• Find ways to be alone with the child such as babysitting, inviting them to sleep over, or taking them camping.
• Blame the child and coerce them to keep the secret by making the child feel responsible so they won’t tell. They say things like:
• “You know you like the way I touch you.”
• “If you tell, people will think you’re bad.”
• “If you tell I will go to jail.” or
• “If you tell your mother, she won’t love you anymore.”

Revised August, 2010

If you suspect abuse, call your local police department or
the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
at 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873)