Child Sexual Abuse: What Adoptive Families Need to Know (for Professionals)

As families prepare to welcome a child through adoption, it is important that they consider the possibility that their child was or will be exposed to sexually inappropriate contact. This training provides information about sexual abuse prevalence, dynamics and offender characteristics, as well as about how children talk about it and how parents can most effectively respond to a child who is disclosing sexual abuse or exhibiting problematic sexual behaviors. Tips for establishing healthy body safety boundaries and messages to empower children to talk to their parents if they are exposed to sexually inappropriate contact is also discussed.

Alyssa Layne, MSW, LCSW – Adoption Social Worker, Holt International Children’s Services

Course length: 60 minutes

After attending this course, professionals will be able to:
• Recognize sexual abuse prevalence, dynamics, and offender characteristics
• Describe how children talk about sexual abuse, and how parents can most effectively respond to a child who is disclosing sexual abuse or exhibiting problematic sexual behaviors
• Give examples of ways to establish healthy body safety boundaries and messages that empower children to talk to their parents if they are exposed to sexually inappropriate contact

Course level: Beginning, Intermediate

Cost to register: $15
If you are a NCFA member, look for your discount code in the membership portal.