Child Sexual Abuse Prevention – Information for Educators January 2017 Please contact sexualhealth@gov.nu.ca if you need support to talk about this topic.

Child Sexual Abuse: The Facts Child sexual abuse – any sexual act (looking, showing, communicating, or touching) between an adult and a minor, or between two minors, when one exerts power over the other (ie. age, size). 52% of Inuit women and 22% of Inuit men in Nunavut experienced sexual abuse during childhood. (Inuit Health Survey 2007-2008)

Be Safe! Program (Red Cross) Be Safe! encourages children to develop respect for themselves, their boundaries, and the boundaries of others. Helps prevent child sexual abuse by teaching children about safe and unsafe touch, and what to do Designed for Kindergarten-Grade 4 Teaching kits are available in every school in Nunavut (Inuktitut coming soon!)

Be Safe! Program Training for Be Safe! Kit is available for free online and sometimes in communities through Embrace Life Council http://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/violence--bullying-and-abuse-prevention/educators/child-abuse-and-neglect-prevention/program-for-young-children--be-safe--can-help-prevent-sexual-abuse-of-children

What’s Included? Eight lessons and lesson cards Trusty the puppet Your Body is Yours! book “My Body” and other songs Say “NO!” Go! Tell! poster and UN poster Stickers Resource Guide Quick Start Guide Keeping our Kids Safe digital booklet for parents Be Safe! Overview for Administrators

Be Safe! Lessons Children have rights! Who are safe friends and safe adults? Everyone has a body. What is public? What is private? Your body is yours! Touching can be safe or unsafe. Secrets can be safe or unsafe. Say “NO!” Go! Tell!

Tips for Using “Be Safe!” Engage parents and community – information sessions, radio programs, Keeping our Kids Safe booklet, Today we learned letter Pair up with a teacher, mental health worker, social worker, or nurse. Teach between November-March Self-care (Employee Assistance Program)

How has “Be Safe!” been used in Nunavut? Kimmirut – double click on the picture

Who is responsible to prevent child sexual abuse? All adults have the responsibility to try to prevent child sexual abuse – children shouldn’t have to protect themselves

Adults preventing child sexual abuse: Talk about it Inuit parents in Nunavut want to protect their children from sexual abuse, but don’t know how to do so (Healey, 2014). One of the best ways to protect children is to talk about personal safety and body parts.

Talk about it Use proper names for body parts (penis, vagina, bum). Tell children to trust their gut feelings. Teach children that they have the right to say “No” to any unwanted or uncomfortable touch. Talk to other adults about how to prevent child sexual abuse.

Recognize a Disclosure Children who disclose sexual abuse often tell a trusted adult other than a parent. Children may ask questions about bodies, interactions, or sex, rather than talk directly about something they’ve experienced. Children may tell parts of what happened, or pretend it happened to someone else to check your reaction. Children will often shut down if you respond emotionally or negatively.

How to respond if a child discloses sexual abuse Do Stay calm and open Say “I believe you.” Say “Whatever happened is not your fault.” Say “It took a lot of courage for you to tell me this. I’m proud of you.” Don’t Ask leading questions about the details (who, what, where, when, how) Promise that you will keep the child’s secret Make promises about the future

When to react If a child discloses sexual abuse – call social services/ RCMP If you discover sexual abuse – call social services/ RCMP If you suspect sexual abuse – at a minimum, set limits or ask questions. Consider reporting. Identify the behavior. Set a limit. Move on. “It doesn’t look like Sarah is enjoying being tickled. Let’s stop the tickling. Sarah, do you want to come and join the other kids?”

Keep an eye out for… A child sexual abuse prevention training module for adults in Nunavut Anticipated availability: mid-late 2017 Contact sexualhealth@gov.nu.ca for more information

Need Support? GN Employee Assistance Program – 1-800-663-1142 Kamatsiaqtut Help Line – 1-800-265-3333 Your local health centre