This document provides an overview and summary of a presentation about child sexual abuse prevention education and response. It discusses Maine state law requirements regarding child sexual abuse prevention training for school personnel and students. It covers understanding child sexual abuse, sexual development in children, responding to sexual behaviors, and a school's response and referral system for suspected abuse cases. The presentation aims to increase understanding and awareness of child sexual abuse, appropriate responses, and local resources for support.

1. Presented by:
Andrea Marecaux and Meagan Soule

2. Outcomes:
• Provide overview of the state law and policy regarding child sexual abuse
prevention education and response
• Increase understanding of child sexual abuse
• Increase awareness of sexual development, including appropriate and
inappropriate behaviors
• Increase ability to effectively respond to student disclosures, sexual
behaviors, or suspicions of child sexual abuse
• Understand school district’s response and referral system to incidences
of suspected child sexual abuse
• Increase awareness of local resources

3. Group Agreements
Parking lot
Challenges

4. Overview of law

5. • Child sexual abuse (CSA) response and reporting
procedures
• CSA awareness training and prevention education
for school personnel
• Age-appropriate CSA prevention education for
students, and delivered by qualified instructors

6. • School district CSA response and reporting
procedures
• Resources a victim of CSA or non-offending
caregivers of a victim of CSA may access for
services and support

7. 7
https://www.childrenssafetypartnership.org/supporting-
systems.html

9. Understanding Child
Sexual Abuse

10. Definition of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA)
Any sexual activity between an adult and child or
adolescent is abusive and illegal. It is an
exploitation of power and usually of trust. Sexual
activity between two children of significantly
unequal power or development can also be
abusive. Sexual abuse includes both touching and
non-touching acts.
http://www.childrenssafetypartnership.org/your-questions.html

12. CSA Statistics
• The vast majority of sexual abuse
is never reported
• Research shows that children rarely
make up accusations of sexual abuse

14. Who sexually abuses children?
???

15. Understanding Sexual
Development

16. Educate ourselves about how to distinguish
between:
developmentally expected sexual behaviors
and
potentially problematic sexual behaviors

17. Developmentally Expected Behaviors
Infancy (ages 0 – 2)
From birth to age two children are learning and
exploring the world around them– including their
bodies.
Some behaviors include:
• Explore whole body, including genitals
• Touch genitals for pleasure (masturbation)
• Physical response to stimulation
• Enjoy being naked

18. Early childhood (ages 3 – 5):
During this age, children's world expands:
● Make friends and begin connecting with more adults
beyond the family
● Become more and more mobile and verbal
● Want to explore and learn about everything
Some expected behaviors include:
• Touch genitals for pleasure (masturbate)
• Play games like doctor to explore physical differences
between boys and girls
• Ask questions about where babies come from and
how they are born
Developmentally Expected Behaviors

19. In younger children, signs/behaviors of those
who may be experiencing CSA include:
• Knowing about sex acts that are out of the ordinary or
unexpected for their age
• Saying, drawing, or doing anything sexual toward people,
animals, or things
• Masturbating until they are hurt, many times a day, or
using items or thrusting
• Problems with sleep, self-harm, fear of certain adults, or
not wanting to be alone

20. In older children (6+), signs/behaviors of those
who may be experiencing CSA include:
• Early sexual activities with peers
• Frequent sexual activity
• Problems with eating
• Committing unlawful, dangerous, or risky acts
• Running away
• Substance use
• Self-destructive activities

21. Responding to Sexual Behaviors

22. ● communication
● empathy
● accountability
These are protective factors for healthy development.
Model for Responding to Children’s Sexual Behaviors

23. Examples: Assess the Situation and Respond
1.Model communication:
“I see you __________________.”
2. Foster empathy:
“It makes me feel _________________.”
3. Promote accountability:
“Your friend asked you to stop ____________.”

24. ●Stay calm
●Don’t ignore the behavior
●Avoid shaming
●Avoid probing questions
●Redirect when you can (child - child)
http://www.childrenssafetypartnership.org/supporting-students.html
Tips for Responding to Sexual Behaviors
(Heard about or Observed)

26. Response and Referral
System

27. Who is required to make reports?
All school personnel - school faculty, staff, coaches and
activities advisors – as well as school volunteers.
What gets reported?
Any time abuse is known or suspected.
This includes threats to a child’s health or welfare by
physical, mental or emotional injury or impairment,
sexual abuse or exploitation, deprivation of essential
needs or lack of protection from these.

28. How do I make a report?
Mandated reporters in Maine are required to report
known or suspected abuse directly to the Maine DHHS or
a District Attorney.
Check your school’s policies and procedures.
If individuals don’t report directly, but instead report to a
school’s designated reporter, they must confirm in
writing that a report was made on their behalf.

29. How soon do I make the report?
Reports must be made immediately, and
followed up in writing within 48 hours on
request.
Every report is documented, however not
every report is assigned to a caseworker for
investigation.

30. Considerations
• Written documentation should be strictly
limited, and only include required
information, rather than personal
assessments or conclusions.
• Individuals should discuss their concerns
with as few other people as possible.

31. What if you suspect an adult of CSA?
• Inappropriate behaviors one might see
• How to refer vs intervene
• Resources on partnership page
Know you school/districts response and
referral system!

32. Connections

33. Know Your Resources
• Center Name
• Center Address
• Center Address
• Catchment area
• Email address
• Phone number
Sexaul Assault Support
Services of Midcoast Maine
(207) 725-2181
Maine Sexual Assault Helpline
1-800-871-7741
www.childrenssafetypartnership.org/contact.html

34. Families & Communities
http://www.childrenssafetypartnership.org/community.html