FAQs

Defining Abuse

• WHAT IS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE?
• WHEN WOULD YOU CONSIDER SEXUAL ACTIVITY BETWEEN TWO CHILDREN ABUSE?

Frequency and Risk

• ARE ANY PARTICULAR CHILDREN AT INCREASED RISK?
• HOW COMMON IS SEXUAL ABUSE AMOUNG CHILDEN OF DIFFERENT AGES?
• WHO ARE THE MOST COMMON PERPETRATORS?

Healing and Recovering Together

• DOES EVERY CHILD WHO IS SEXUALLY ABUSED NEED TREATMENT?

Infant Safety Tips

• Car Safety
• Infant Safe Sleep
• Water Safety
• Window Fall Safety

Prevention

• IS THERE ANY WAY TO PREVENT ABUSE?

Steps in the Interview Process

• BEFORE THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW
• UPON ARRIVAL TO THE HAMPSHIRE COUNTY CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER

The Impact of Abuse on Children

• IS THE IMPACT OF SEXUAL ABUSE DIFFERENT IN ADOLESCENTS?
• WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS REACTIONS?
• WHAT IS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE?
• WHAT OTHER TRAUMA-RELATED BEHAVIORS MIGHT YOU SEE IN A TODDLER OR SCHOOL AGE CHILD?
• WHAT’S THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF SEXUAL ABUSE?

What Happens when you visit the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hampshire County?

• CAN I BE WITH MY CHILD DURING THE MEDICAL EXAM?
• CAN I SIT WITH MY CHILD DURING THE INTERVIEW?
• CAN I SIT WITH THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM DURING THE INTERVIEW?
• WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY CHILD ABOUT THE VISIT TO THE CAC?
• WILL THIS BE THE ONLY TIME MY CHILD WILL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?

What to do if your child discloses sexual abuse

• WHAT IS DISCLOSURE?
• WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SUSPECT MY CHILD HAS BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED?
• WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILD DISCLOSES SEXUAL ABUSE?
• I HAVE HEARD THAT SOME CHILDREN WHO DISCLOSE SEXUAL ABUSE LATER “TAKE IT BACK.” DOES THIS MEAN THEY WERE LYING?
• IS IT COMMON FOR CHILDREN NOT TO TELL EVEN THEIR PARENTS THAT THEY’VE BEEN ABUSED?
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THE IDEA THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN TO MY CHILD IS COMPLETELY OVERWHELMING. WHAT CAN I DO TO COPE WITH MY OWN FEELINGS?