The S.C.A.R. Foundation

The most important thing to keep in mind when looking for signs of child sexual abuse is to keep an eye on sudden changes in behavior. If a child tells you that someone makes them uncomfortable, even if they can’t tell you anything specific, listen.

Emotional signs: - Change in eating habits, mood or personality, such as increased aggression - Decrease in confidence or self-image - Excessive worry or fearfulness - Increase in unexplained health problems such as stomach aches and headaches - Self-harming behaviors

Behavioral signs: - Excessive talk about or knowledge of sexual topics - Keeping secrets - Regressive behaviors or behaviors they had grown out of such as thumb-sucking - Sexual behavior inappropriate for the child’s age - Trying to avoid removing clothing to change or bathe

Physical signs: - Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) - Signs of trauma to the genital area, such as unexplained bleeding, bruising, or blood on the sheets, underwear, or other clothing

It’s not always easy to spot sexual abuse because perpetrators often take steps to hide their actions. If you notice something that isn’t right, it’s important to trust your gut. Here is a thread with some of the warning signs:

One tool common to those who sexually abuse minors is grooming: manipulative behaviors that help them gain access to a potential victim, coerce them to agree to the abuse, and reduce the risk of being caught.

Grooming behaviors are used to not only gain the trust of the victim, but also the family and community. The abuser does this to hide their behavior and avoid suspicions, maintaining access to the victim.

Children are at risk. One in 9 girls and one in 53 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault at the hands of an adult.

Child sexual abuse is more common than you think. Every 73 seconds, another person in America is sexually assaulted and every 9 minutes, that victim is a child.

It’s not strangers—it could be someone you know and trust. 93% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator and 34% of those times, the perpetrator is a family member.

Child sexual abuse can have long-lasting physical, emotional, and psychological effects on the victim. If this has happened to you, you are not alone and it’s never too late to start healing.