CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: The Impact on Our Community

 Thank you for being here  We are here today to look at how child sexual abuse affects our community Welcome - 2 -

 The emotional impact of child sexual abuse  The economic burden of child sexual abuse  The resolve to end child sexual abuse in our community What You Will See Today - 3 -

A Short Film Presentation  And, now…. Darkness to Light’s “Into the Light”

 Significant economic burden on society  As taxpayers we all carry the economic burden In Addition to the Human Emotional Toll - 5 -

6 Even if you were not sexually abused as a child…

7 Even if no one in your family was sexually abused…

8 Child sexual abuse impacts your life.

9 The average lifetime cost per victim of sexual abuse is $210,012. Source: Fang, et al., 2012 Institute of Justice, 1996

10 These expenses are largely paid for by the public sector – the taxpayer.

11 In fact, the US spends $124 billion annually for the costs of child sexual abuse. Source: Fang, et al., 2012

12 These costs include: health care costs criminal justice costs child welfare costs special education costs productivity losses

13 Add to this the fact that child sexual abuse is a root cause of many other devastating and expensive societal problems.

14 For instance, 45% of pregnant teens report a history of child sexual abuse. Source: Noll, J.G. et al., 2009

15 Young girls who are sexually abused are three times more likely to develop psychiatric disorders and/or substance abuse problems in adulthood than girls who are not sexually abused. Source: Day, A. et al., 2003 Institute of Justice, 1996

16 Male survivors of child sexual abuse are 70% more likely to seek psychological treatment for issues such as substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide.

17 Except for murder, child sexual abuse is the most expensive victim crime in the U.S.

18 Who pays?

19 You do.

20 It only costs $10 to train an adult to improve their child-protective behaviors.

21 What if the average trained adult better protects ten children from sexual abuse in the years after training?

22 That’s $1 to better protect a child.

23 That training would result in THOUSANDS of children better protected from abuse.

24 You do the math.

25 Prevention is the answer.

 Name of your initiative here  Sponsored by {your org name} with extensive community involvement  Thanks to the generosity of the community we have a full-time coordinator to manage the initiative – absolutely essential to success So What Do We Do About It?

 A network of volunteers (facilitators) and supporters carry out the work of the initiative  Consists of Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children prevention training Core program of the initiative Facilitator-led and online Evidence-based Our Initiative

Tipping Point  If a small group of people adopt an idea or change a behavior in a community then like a virus that idea or change will spread  D2L proposes that if we educate 5% of the adults in a community, we can achieve a tipping point and momentum that with continued work will create a social change

 Our goal is to train (#) adults in (#) years  So far, {enter the number of people you have trained} adults have been trained over the last {enter the number of years} years  This year, our goal is to train {enter the number of people expect to train this year} Our Initial Goal

 Each progressive year has seen larger numbers of people trained and more community awareness  The initiative is “catching on” with the community  We are seeing shifts in community awareness and values Our Progress

Our Coalition  Can achieve exponentially more with an energized community coalition of partners  Our coalition includes representatives from schools, faith communities, youth-serving organizations, youth sports organizations, agencies that deal with child sexual abuse, local business, parents and funders

 5 target groups Schools and educational institutions; educators Faith centers Youth-serving organizations Youth sports organizations Parents  Also great success with municipalities Police, firefighters, rec centers, libraries Who Is Involved?

 Our initiative is on solid ground Tremendous progress  Our work does not end Will evolve as momentum builds and cultural shift occurs What’s outside the norm becomes the norm  We all have a role to play Beyond Tipping Point

 “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Prevention is the answer! Final Thoughts

How Can You Help?  Join the movement today to end child sexual abuse by going to  Experience the training online or attend one of our local trainings  Talk to other youth serving organizations

QUESTIONS?