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WHAT TO DO.... The American Academy of Pediatrics says that the first important action to take if a child tells you about sexual abuse is to take what the child says seriously. Many children who report sexual abuse are not believed, and when a plea for help is ignored, the child may not risk telling again. If the abuser is a friend or family member, parents will often try to stop sexual abuse themselves, but the AAP reports that a parental intervention is almost always unsuccessful. Instead, they recommend reporting abuse to a local Child Protection Services, and also asking for crisis support help. Also, discussing the problem with the child's pediatrician, who can offer support and counseling, can help. After sexual abuse is reported, what happens depends on the circumstances of the case. The risk of further abuse to the child is the first concern for authorities. The offender and the entire family may be required to attend a treatment program, and the offender may even face criminal charges. If the child's safety is in question, authorities can take the offender or victim out of the home during the investigation. In order to prevent sexual abuse, the AAP suggests teaching children what sexual abuse is. Tell them they can and should say "NO" or "STOP" to adults who may threaten them sexually. Make sure they know that it's okay to talk about any attempt to molest them, NO MATTER WHOM THE OFFENDER MAY BE. The AAP also suggests that prevention measures should begin early since a number of child abuse cases involve preschoolers. They offer guidelines for age - appropriate topics to discuss with children.
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