Crisis Intervention for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse

Research indicates that sexual abuse can happen to ANY child at ANY time regardless of age, race, or socio-economic class.

The grim reality is that incidents of child sexual abuse are frighteningly common. Crisis Intervention for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse provides short -term counseling for the victim and their family immediately after the disclosure of abuse. This can be one of the most tumultuous periods of the victim's recovery and healing process. Crisis Intervention works with children from 3 - 18 years of age and has Spanish speaking counselors. Individual sessions provide treatment, support and information to the victim and their family.

Another daunting obstacle that is faced by the victim of sexual abuse is court proceedings. For this purpose Crisis Intervention has integrated court preparation, and when requested court accompaniment, into the program.

Group sessions for the victims, their siblings and their parents/caregivers are held twice a month. A typical group session may involve a guest speaker from the Prosecutor's Office or simply discussion about the rigors of coping with the effects of abuse and consequent healing. The group provides a safe and supportive atmosphere for all the individuals involved in the victim's healing process and reminds them that they are not alone.

The program also offers counseling for abuse reactive children, very young kids who act out sexually. Children with special needs are also eligible for abuse reactive counseling.

During 2005, PEI Kids's Crisis Intervention Program provided more than 5,000 counseling hours, and since its inaugural year in 1987 has seen approximately 3,000 children and their families. The program regularly has a waiting list.

 

Some tips for parents, click here.

What is child sexual abuse?

Touching a child's sexual or private parts
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Ridiculing a child about their body or sexual parts
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Showing a child a movie about sexual contact
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Having a child pose in sexual photographs
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Kissing a child in a lingering manner
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Physical contact with a child's body/sexual parts and the perpetrator's body/sexual parts
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Stimulating oneself in front of a child
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Stimulating oneself with a child
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A bigger, older or more powerful person using a child to satisfy his/her sexual needs, desires or interests