NCJ Number
95692
Date Published
1983
Length
305 pages
Annotation
This manual provides background information on child sexual assault and includes guidelines for undertaking a Child Assault Prevention (CAP) project.
Abstract
Several myths are debunked, including the following: Child sexual assault is a rare occurrence; most victims are assaulted by strangers; most child sex abusers are mentally ill or mentally retarded; women exploit male children as frequently as men sexually abuse female children; incest occurs only in poor, inner-city families and uneducated Appalachian families; and most victims invite the abuse. The need to educate children in identifying the threat of sexual assault is emphasized, and the importance of instructing children about their personal rights is noted. The basic elements of a community-based assault prevention program are identified, and suggestions are offered for coordinating a project. An outline of an adult workshop on child assault prevention is provided, along with the parent and teacher/staff components. Goals of the children's workshop are described, including the following: Help children identify potentially threatening situations; enable children to devise realistic options; model alternative behavior; and provide children with practice in alternative behavior. The need for workshop leaders to be trained in crisis-intervention counseling skills and legal rights is emphasized. Twenty-eight references and additional resources are listed.