Child molestation is a form of child abuse and occurs in both family settings and youth-serving programs
- 28% of children are sexually abused by their 18th birthday –
victimsofcrime.org/media/reporting-on-child-sexual-abuse/child-sexual-abuse-statistics - 75% of molested teens know their assailant well
- Boys are at most risk for abuse at the onset of puberty
- The risk to girls increases through adolescence
- Some molestation can be perpetrated by children on other more vulnerable children
Source: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. “Managing the Risk of Minors on Campus” 2012
Sexual Abuse of children can include non-physical contact such as:
- Exposure of genitals
- Voyeurism
- Sharing pornography
- Telling “dirty” jokes or jokes of a sexual nature inappropriate for the child’s age
There are three conditions that create opportunity for child molestation:
1) Access to Children
- Youth-serving programs offer opportunities for molesters to have access to children
2) Privacy
- Molesters seek opportunities to be alone with a child (e.g., one-on-one tutoring, driving, invitation to the staff member’s home or trips/errands)
3) Control
- Molesters are skilled at manipulating adults and children by gaining trust through a grooming process
- Adults are groomed to “look the other way” or to excuse questionable behavior or to not report because the molester is considered trustworthy
- Children are groomed by developing either trust bonds via special gifts, treats, or privileges; or by fear by engaging in misconduct with the child (e.g., alcohol or drugs) and threatening the child not to tell to avoid punishment or threatening to harm the child’s family members or pets
Source: “Managing the Risk of Minors on Campus”, 2012, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Who is the typical child molester?
- I am probably well known and liked by you and your child
- I can be a man or a woman, married or single
- I can be a child, adolescent or adult
- I can be of any race, hold any religious belief, and have any sexual preference
- I can be a parent, stepparent, relative, family friend, teacher, clergyman, babysitter or anyone who comes in contact with children
- I am likely to be a stable, employed, respected member of the community
- My education and my intelligence don’t prevent me from molesting your child
“I can be anybody”
This information originally appeared in “Protecting Your Children: Advice from Child Molesters,” developed by Vermont Department for Children and Families
Source: “Managing the Risk of Minors on Campus”, 2012, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Prevention
Keys to a successful prevention and detection system in youth-serving programs:
- Policies
- Screening and selection
- Training
- Monitoring and supervision (follow the Authorized Adult Code of Conduct)
- Participant and parent participation
- Feedback systems
- Appropriate institutional response
- Effective administrative processes
Effective protocols for monitoring and supervision:
- Refer to the Code of Conduct for guidance about acceptable behaviors
- Conduct regular training about the rules and invite discussion and questions about appropriate boundaries
- Conduct unannounced checks on interactions between adults and children
- Hold staff and volunteers accountable for all rule violations
