A program of SASSMM since 2017
Help Now
Call the HelpLine at 1-800-871-7741 if you need to talk to someone about child sexual abuse. The HelpLine answering service will ask you for your name and county to connect you to the nearest sexual assault center. An advocate will call you back from a blocked number and will support you. The advocate can help you process your emotions, walk you through the reporting process, provide resources, and many other things.
Responding to Disclosures
Children rarely disclose immediately after CSA. Girls usually take two years. Boys usually don’t disclose until their 30s or 40s, if ever. Children often believe that abuse is their fault or that they will destroy their family if they disclose. Children should never be blamed for "not telling sooner" or given any negative feedback about what they did or didn't do before the abuse came to light. They did what kept them safe in that situation.
Children tend to make “mini-disclosures” to test the water before fully disclosing. They might say that they don’t like going over to someone’s house or that they don’t like how affectionate someone is. Children rarely fully disclose if they don't feel supported or believed in these mini-disclosures.
Here is a step-by-step guide on responding to disclosures.
Call the HelpLine at 1-800-871-7741 if you need to talk to someone about child sexual abuse. The HelpLine answering service will ask you for your name and county to connect you to the nearest sexual assault center. An advocate will call you back from a blocked number and will support you. The advocate can help you process your emotions, walk you through the reporting process, provide resources, and many other things.
Responding to Disclosures
Children rarely disclose immediately after CSA. Girls usually take two years. Boys usually don’t disclose until their 30s or 40s, if ever. Children often believe that abuse is their fault or that they will destroy their family if they disclose. Children should never be blamed for "not telling sooner" or given any negative feedback about what they did or didn't do before the abuse came to light. They did what kept them safe in that situation.
Children tend to make “mini-disclosures” to test the water before fully disclosing. They might say that they don’t like going over to someone’s house or that they don’t like how affectionate someone is. Children rarely fully disclose if they don't feel supported or believed in these mini-disclosures.
Here is a step-by-step guide on responding to disclosures.
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