By Susan Skime

 Child Sexual abuse not only includes sexual contact, but also
includes other actions like exposing oneself, sharing obscene
images or taking inappropriate photos or videos of a child.

 A crime this serious has a very negative impact on a child's

behavior. It affects the life and the development of the child,
and may also affect the survivor later in life.

 Every 8 minutes, government authorities respond to another

report of child sexual abuse.
• Sexual behavior that is
inappropriate for the
child’s age.
• Bedwetting, or soiling
the bed ( if child has
already out grown this
behavior).
• Not wanting to be left
alone with certain
people or being
afraid to be away
from primary care
giver, especially if this
is a new behavior.
• Tries to avoid
removing clothing to
change, or bathe.
• Students who talk inappropriately
about sexual issues.
• Dramatic change in behavior,
either towards the positive or the
negative.
• Resuming behaviors that student
has already grown out of.
• Excessive worry or fearfulness.
• Distracted or Distant.
• Personal hygiene.
• Substance abuse.
• Rainn/ Need help?
Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be
connected with a trained staff
member from a sexual assault
service provider in your area.

• La Crosse County Crime Victim

Resources. Local Resources for
Victims. La Crosse County DA’s
Victim Services
› 333 Vine Street, Rm. 1100
› La Crosse, WI 54601
› Phone: (608) 785-5750
› Fax: (608) 789-4853
› Victim/Witness Coordinator:
Donna Walters
› donna.walters@da.wi.gov
• Maintain the student's normal status within the class. Do not
treat them differently from the rest of the class or do things
that will set them apart from their peers.

• Maintain consistency and practicability in the classroom

routine, your teaching style and in your expectations of
their behavior and performance.

• Abused students and those undergoing significant family

upheaval will benefit from structure built into activities,
lessons and set work. These students may need direction
from you about what to do until they can again mobilize
their own resources.

• Respect and maintain the student's privacy. A major fear

of abused students is that their abuse will become
common knowledge within the school.

• Clearly define what is acceptable behavior. Disruptive or

anti-social (which may include sexual promiscuity if the
student has been sexually assaulted) behavior should be
consistently discouraged and appropriate behavior
encouraged.

• Develop a sense of belonging in the classroom where

students can feel included and accepted. Seat the
abused student with friends or other caring and supportive
students and foster the development of peer relationships.

• Look for opportunities to incorporate specific self-esteem

activities and positive learning strategies within your daily
program. Activities which include concepts of co-
operative learning, peer support and cross age tutoring
can be useful. Self-esteem resource references may
provide further suggestions.

• Give students information or feedback about themselves

to assist their positive development of their identity. For
example, 'You are someone who makes friends easily'. 'You
really try hard to solve difficult problems'. 'You are always
on time'.

• Respect students' personal space. Show you care by

refraining from touching. (It may be misinterpreted by the
student). Instead, use other forms of encouragement such
as smiles or nods.

• Model an appropriate child/adult relationship by

establishing sound adult/child behavioral boundaries and
adhering to them consistently.
• In a 2012 maltreatment report, of
the victims who were sexually
abused, 26% were in the age group
of 12–14 years and 34% were
younger than 9 years. 9

• Approximately 1.8 million

adolescents in the United States
have been the victims of sexual
assault. 4

• Research conducted by the

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
estimates that approximately 1 in 6
boys and 1 in 4 girls are sexually
abused before the age of 18. 1

• 35.8% of sexual assaults occur when

the victim is between the ages of
12 and 17. 1

• 82% of all juvenile victims are

female. 5

• 69% of the teen sexual assaults

reported to law enforcement
occurred in the residence of the
victim, the offender, or another
individual. 5

• Teens 16 to 19 years of age were 3

½ times more likely than the
general population to be victims of
rape, attempted rape, or sexual
assault.6

• Approximately 1 in 5 female high

school students report being
physically and/or sexually abused
by a dating partner. 7
Cites: