This document discusses sexual assault and provides statistics about teen sexual abuse. It notes that 54% of female victims are abused before age 18, most often by someone they know. It then gives tips for teens on establishing boundaries and trusting their intuition. The document also lists potential signs of abuse in teens and stresses the importance of family support for recovery. Finally, it discusses common parental reactions and provides local crisis hotline resources.

2. Sexual Assault: the sexual exploitation,
forcible penetration, or an act of sexual
contact on the body of another person,
male or female, without his or her
consent.
Rape: forced sexual intercourse,
including vaginal, anal, or oral
penetration. Penetration may be by a
body part or an object.

3.  54% of female Americans who are raped experience sexual abuse for
the first time before they are 18.
 93% of juvenile sexual assault victims know their attacker .
 69% of the incidences of teen sexual abuse occur in a residence.
 23% of all sexual offenders are under the age of 18.
 3% of boys grades 5-8 and 5% of boys in grades 9-12 said they had
been sexually abused.
 Female victims of teen sexual abuse while in grades 9 through 12 are
more likely than others to experience eating disorders, suicidal
behavior, pregnancy and risky sexual behaviors.
 For full stats click here.

4. .

5. Know their own wishes, limits, and
values, and clearly communicate them to
their dates. They should listen to their
dates' limits and respect them.
Notice if their date is not respecting
their limits and wishes or if their date's
behavior doesn't seem right.

6.  Trust their feelings and intuition; if they
are feeling pressured into having sex then
they probably are! Both boys and girls
have the right to say NO.
 Be assertive and act immediately if their
limits are being reached and not
respected—even if it means making a
scene.
 Understand that it is never too late to say
no and never too late to hear no.

8. act unusually irritable, moody, or cranky
seem angry, frightened, or confused
feel depressed, anxious, or nervous,
especially about being alone
withdraw from friends and family
have trouble sleeping
have changes in appetite
be unable to concentrate in school or to
participate in everyday activities

9.  If your teenager shares with you they have
been raped or sexually assaulted, they are
taking a big step towards recovery.
 How you respond to this disclosure is very important and
will impact their recovery.
 Your teenager has a better chance of a good recovery
with support, help and understanding from her or his
family.
 You may not feel confident in how to help your teenager,
but let them know you will support however you can. The
first step is to call the Crisis Hotline at the end of this
training to let a professional provide you with
information, support and guidance. Communicate to your
teenager that TOGETHER you will get through this!

10.  Believe them:
• Let them know you believe what they are saying.
• Be careful to avoid asking too many questions, this might lead them
to think you don’t believe them.
 Listen:
• Allow them to talk about it when they are ready, and at their own
pace.
• You may want to hear all the details, but they may not be ready to
share everything at first.
• Don’t make assumptions about what happened or how the child feels.
• Be open to hearing what they have to say, even if it may be upsetting
for you.
 Do not blame:
• Let your child know they are not to blame for what happened,
regardless of the circumstances. Blame rests entirely with the
perpetrator.
• When talking about the assault, do not ask “why” questions.
• Your child will shut down if they feel you are blaming them for the
attack.

11.  Be supportive:
• Your teenager needs to feel loved, safe and secure. What
this means will vary between individuals. Your child may want
your company or they may seek privacy.
• In general, maintaining their usual routine, looking after their
physical health and keeping the home environment stable will
assist in their recovery.
• This is a very stressful time for everyone. Try not to
significantly change the way you relate and interact with your
child.
• Your child may question their own self worth. Give your child
positive messages, including how much you love them.
• It is natural to want to protect them from future incidents,
but it is important your child does not feel confined.
Encourage them to redevelop a sense of freedom and
confidence, including going out with friends, to work, etc.

12.  Understand the trauma:
• Rape is a violent crime.
• Everyone responds differently.
• Your child may have some signs of PTSD, trouble
sleeping, headaches, and fatigue.
 Allow them to make decisions:
• Being raped is an experience that is not in your
child’s control and can lead to feeling powerless.
• You can help them regain a sense of power and
control over their own life by allowing them to make
informed decisions about what actions to take
following the assault.

13.  Parents may feel upset, angry, guilty, confused.
 It is common to blame yourself for not
protecting your child. It is NOT your fault.
 It is common to blame your child. It is NOT
their fault; it is the sole responsibility of the
offender.
 You may feel so angry you want to seek revenge
against the offender. It is important to think
about the consequences. Your child may not tell
you about a rape if you have always stated, “I
will kill anyone if they ever touch you.” Your
child needs you by their side, not dealing with
your own legal issues.

14.  You may feel shocked. It will take time to
process what has happened.
 You may not know what to say or how to
respond. It’s ok to ask your child, “What
do you need from me right now?” “How can
I best help you?”
 You may want to just forget what
happened, while your child to talk about it
and pursue legal action. Or vice versa.
 You may feel more protective and find
yourself limiting his or her activities.

15. Abuse & Rape Crisis Shelter of
Warren County
513-695-1985 1-888-860-4084
1-877-695-NEED (6333) 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

16. Jane B. Conn,VFC Director
Megan Crouch,VFC Prevention Education Coordinator
Pat Clark,VFC Prevention Education
Ohio Department of Health
Ohio Domestic Violence Network
Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Find us at:
www.arcshelter.org
www.facebook.com/ViolenceFreeCoalition
“This publication/material was supported by the 5VF1CE001114-3 from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessary represent the official views of the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention”