Tips to Parents
Although the vast majority of this nation's preschools and child care centers are perfectly safe places, recent reports of child sexual abuse in these settings are a source of great concern to parents.
* Check to make sure that the program is reputable. State or local licensing agencies, child care information and referral services, and other child care community agencies may be helpful suources of information. Find out whether there have been any past complaints.
* Find out as much as you can about the teachers and caregivers.Talk with other parents who have used the program.
* Learn about the school or center's hiring policies and practices. Ask how the organization recruits and selects staff. Find out whether they examine references, background checks, and previous employment history before hiring decisions are made.
* Make sure you are informed about every planned outing. Never give the organization blanket permission to take your child off the premises.
* Ask whether and how parents are involved during the day. Learn whether the center welcomes and supports participation. Be sensitive to the attitude and degree of openness about parental participation.
* Ensure that you have the right to drop in and visit the program at any time.
* Prohibit in writing the release of your child to anyone without your explicit authorization. Make sure that the program knows who will pick up your child on any given day.
Perhaps the most critical child sexual prevention strategy for parents is good communication with your children. This is not only challenging to every parent but also can be very difficult.
* Talk to your child every day and take time to really listen and observe. Learn as many details as you can about your child's activities and feelings. Encourage him or her to share concerns and problems with you. Let them know that you are there for them.
* Explain that his or her body belongs only to them alone and that he or she has the right to say NO to anyone who might try to touch them.
* Tell your child that some adults may try to hurt children and make them do things the child doesn't feel comfortable doing. Often these grownups call what they're doing a secret between theselves and the child. Let them know its OK to tell you. You are there for them.
* Explain that some adults may even threaten children by saying that their parents may be hurt or killed or that they may get taken away from their parents if the child ever shares the secret with anyone. Emphasixe that an adult who does something like this is doing something that is WRONG.
* Tell your child that adults whom they know, trust and love or someone who might be in a position of authority (like a babysitter, an uncle, an older sibling, a teacher or even a policeman) might try to do something like this.
Try not to scare your children -- Emphasize that the vast majority of grownups never do this and that most adults are deeply concerned about protecting children from harm.
The Mighty Phoenix
My Personal Page
Odyssey Family Counseling Center
Prevent Child Abuse Ga.
Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Assault
No Contact Order
Incest Survivor Information Sheet
Civil Legal Remedies for Sexual Assault Survivors
Nurturing Yourself
Securus House
Good Touch/Bad Touch
GBI Sex Offender Registry
Ga. Penal Statutes for Sex Crimes
Ga. Sex Offenders.com
