Youth-Serving Organizations

​

• Be aware that background checks are only a start, not a guarantee, to protecting the children you serve.

• When constructing policies for sexual safety of children, remember that other children and teens are as likely to cause sexual trauma as adults.

• Educate staff on the prevalence of child-on-child and sibling sexual harm, so that they will be ready to believe evidence or disclosures of sexual abuse caused by siblings or other children.

• Include the possibility of child-on-child or sibling-caused sexual abuse in mandatory reporter training.

• Have information, resources, and referrals ready in case a child reports sexual abuse, including that caused by a sibling, other child, or other family member.

• Provide opportunities to educate parents about effective prevention of child sexual abuse.