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• As many as 90% of abusers are known and trusted by the child and his or her family.

• Child sexual abuse occurs when an adult or an older child coerces a child into sexual activity.

• Child sexual abuse may include fondling a child’s genitals, masturbation, oral-genital contact, ­digital penetration, vaginal and/or anal intercourse, ­exposure, voyeurism, and child pornography.

• Child sexual abuse occurs in all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic groups, ages, and neighborhoods.

• Abusers and victims can be either male or female.

•Victims of child sexual abuse are at far greater risk for residual emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and social symptoms that can persist and contribute to a host of psychiatric problems throughout life. These include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, high-risk sexual behavior, substance abuse, relationship problems, and suicide.

• A 1996 National Institute of Justice study estimated that each year child sexual abuse in America costs the nation $23 billion in medical, mental health, special education, and legal costs.








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