FACT:
It is as important for children to receive information about sexual assault for their own safety as it is for them to receive information about fires, crossing the street, and swimming.

FACT:
It is potentially more damaging and/or dangerous to withhold information from children. Children who do not have any information about sexual assault may not know what to do if someone tries to manipulate or force them into some type of sexual contact. Because children have inaccurate or limited information, victims may be embarrassed or afraid to report sex crimes and hesitant to seek treatment.

FACT:
It is frightening to children to have inaccurate or only sketchy information; and they would feel more comfortable if the subject of sexual assault could be discussed more openly. The fear around the topic can be dealt with by balancing frightening types of touch, relationships, or people with possible types of touch, relationship, or people. Adults do not give children information about sexual assault because they don't want to scare them. Similarly, children do not give information to adults because they don't want to upset or scare the adults. Many victims feel compelled to hide any occurrence of assault or abuse from everyone.

FACT:
It is important to discuss the differences between good and bad types of touch, confusing touch, and permission to say "NO" to unwanted touch. The older children are, the more taboos and fears they will have around touching. It is important adults do not project their uncomfortable feelings or fears of touch onto children.

FACT:
Most sex offenders use a subtle approach, playing on the child's affection needs, guilt, and fear.

FACT:
It is less likely for boys to tell about sexual abuse. It is now estimated that 1 in every 4-7 boys will have been sexually abused by the time they are 18. 1 in every 4 girls will have been sexually abused by the time they reach 18.

FACT:
The main reason that sexual abuse came to the attention of the public was because of the people who spoke of long-term after affects in their adult lives. Addictions, sexual acting out, relationship problems, depression, and even physical illness often surface as problems for untreated adult victims. Sexual abuse can be physically and psychologically damaging to the victim and also stressful to family members. For the victims, the emotional consequences are usually very low self-esteem, depression, guilt, and confusion and ambivalence concerning sexuality.

FACT:
While legal interventions are difficult for the child, and can be traumatic, it is known that assaults will usually continue unless there is outside intervention.

FACT:
Only 1% of all children lie about being sexually abused, even though they may lie about other things. When disclosing abuse, they are taking the chance of being rejected, losing their home, and being badly thought of. They are more likely to lie and say that it didn't occur than to tell when it actually did occur.

FACT:
Children who are sexually abused are taught by the very act that they must pay for affection with their body. Often, seductiveness is a sign that the child has already been abused.

FACT:
Responsibility for the abuse lies solely with the adult. The notion of the sexually proactive child is a myth, which lays the blame for the assault on the victim. The child's behavior is neither an excuse nor an explanation for the abusive actions of the adult offender. Incest victims are trained at an early age to submit to displays of affection, which over time become increasingly sexual in maturity. They are also taught to obey authority. Consequently, the child may not be able to distinguish between physical affection and sexually exploitive attention. The child's confusion may be augmented by his/her own feelings of complicity. NO child can be held responsible for the sexual advance of an adult.

FACT:
In at least 80% of all sexual abuse cases, the victim knew the perpetrators and in many cases was a relative.

FACT:
Sexual offenders who have not been reported generally continue. If there is not outside intervention, offenders often go on to molest other children.

FACT:
Many molesters go to church regularly, seem to be very moralistic, and are often highly thought of by people who know them.

FACT:
Most perpetrators will tell you that they had the availability of an adult partner, but were attracted to children. Some will wait until their partner is asleep and leave the room to molest a child within the house.

FACT:
Sexual abuse is most often about power, control, and extreme affection needs. Hostility and deep-seated anger sometimes play a part. There is often a driven or obsessive quality present in the offender.

FACT:
While a person may be in prison, he/she is out of society and children may be safe during that time. However, the motivations for the offender involve compulsive qualities and without treatment, the molester will most likely offend again. Treatment is necessary.

FACT:
Sex offenders can be young, old, tall, short, rich, poor, men, women, good-looking, unattractive -- sex offenders can be anyone.