What is child sexual abuse?

Child sexual abuse is any sexual contact between a child and an adult (or older child/teen) that results in sexual stimulation and gratification for the adult. Child sexual abuse includes:

 Rape
Incest
Sodomy
Indecent assault
Sexual touching or fondling of the child’s genitals
Exposing children to adult sexual activity
Exposing the child to adult movies and photographs
Sexualized talk
Having the child pose, undress, or perform in a sexual nature.
Voyeurism
Forced prostitution

How often does child sexual abuse occur?

It is generally believed that an estimated 1 in 4 girls will be sexually abused by her 18th birthday. Boys are abused at the rate of about 1 in 6. Usually, the abuse begins gradually and then increases over time. It is rarely a one-time incident. Often, it continues for years, until the abuser is found out or the child grows up and moves away.

What adults need to know . . .

It can happen right under your nose and you may never know - less than one victim in ten will tell.  The perpetrators are not usually “dirty old men hiding in the bushes”. Thirty-four percent of those who sexually abuse children are family members.

A further 59% are friends and acquaintances of the child and his family.

You probably do not realize how big the problem is 67% of the victims of all sexual assaults (including adults) are children.

And we are not talking about young teenagers having consensual sex, the median age for sexual abuse is just nine years of age.

Child sexual abuse is not just a bad experience.

Child sexual abuse wrecks young lives.

Victims of child sexual abuse are at far greater risk for all sorts of psychological disorders including PTSD, depression, substance abuse and relationship problems, often lasting into adulthood.

For More Information

1-800-500-2849 or 814-944-3585

All services are strictly confidential as outlined in the agency’s Confidentiality Policy.  As required by this policy, Family Services Incorporated must report all cases of suspected child abuse to Childline, the 24-hour Department of Public Welfare hotline.