PCA Iowa Expands Sexual Abuse Prevention Programming

Since 1982, through the Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program, PCA Iowa has provided instruction to children to help keep them safe from sexual abuse. Thanks to an additional $200,000 from the 2007 Iowa Legislature and $50,000 from an Anonymous donor, PCA Iowa now offers child sexual abuse prevention programming in 66 of Iowa’s counties. Read more about the expansion here.

With this additional funding, PCA Iowa can provide education to more children as well as begin teaching adults how they can protect children from sexual abuse.

PCA Iowa is also developing a series of articles about sexual abuse prevention.
Part 1: Understanding Healthy Sexual Development
Part 2: Responding to Children’s Sexual Behaviors

PCA Iowa plans to ask for still more funding from the 2008 Iowa Legislature to continue growing these important programs. Read PCA Iowa’s 2008 legislative agenda here.

What Can I Do to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse?

Teach your child about his/her body, including the correct names for private parts. Talk with your child about sex, sexual abuse, and self-protection, based on age and maturity level.

How to Talk to Children about Sexual Abuse (Prevent Child Abuse Massachusetts)

Talking to Your Children (Darkness to Light)

Say No! Protecting Children Against Sexual Abuse (New York Office of Children and Family Services)

How to Talk with Your Child About Sex (Planned Parenthood)

Understand healthy sexual development in children and youth so you know when some behavior is unusual.

What is Normal Childhood Sexual Development? (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States)

Healthy Sexual Development Fact Sheet (Stop It Now!)

Understanding Children’s Sexual Behaviors (Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota)

Sexual Development 0-18 (Peel Public Health)

Learn and address the risk factors or warning signs in an adult, adolescent, or a child who may become sexually abusive.

Let’s Talk: Adults Talking to Adults about Sexual Abuse (Stop It Now!)

Adult Alert Signals Fact Sheet (Stop It Now! Minnesota)

What to Watch Out for When Adults or Youth are with Children (Stop It Now! Minnesota)

Youth Sexual Behavior Warning Signs (Stop It Now! Minnesota)

Insist that groups involving your children train their staff to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.

Adults Taking Responsibility for Protecting Children (Darkness to Light)

Child Protection Resources for Child Care Providers (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

Minimize Opportunity (Darkness to Light)

Sample Child/Youth Protection Policy (GuideOne Insurance)

Preventing Child and Youth Sexual Harassment, Abuse and Assault: A Resource for Iowa Families (Iowa Collaboration for Youth Development)

Know that child sexual abuse includes both touching and non-touching behaviors.

Here is how some state and national organizations describe child sexual abuse:

American Psychological Association

American Academy of Pediatrics

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network

Rape Victim Advocacy Program

Child Welfare Information Gateway

 

Here is how Iowa law defines many different types of behavior as sexual abuse .

Talk with legislators about the importance of funding more sexual abuse prevention efforts.

For general comments and questions, please contact:

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa
505 Fifth Avenue, Suite 900
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Phone: 515-244-2200
Toll Free: 800-237-1815
Fax: 515-280-7835
Email:

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