To Report Suspected Child Abuse Call the DCF Central Intake Line at 1-800-649-5285
Child Abuse & Prevention Resources
Below are some helpful links to resources for child abuse and prevention
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National Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Prevent Child Abuse America
Healthy Families America
Stop It Now!
National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds
National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
Darkness to Light
Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA)
Prevention Institute
National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont
Check out the National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC) for additional resources and information. The NCAC models, promotes, and delivers excellence in child abuse response and prevention through service, education, and leadership.
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For a comprehensive reading list, check out this list of NCAC suggested books for parents.​
​Talking about abuse is one of the prevention steps that can and should be taken before there is a concern that a child is being sexually abused.
Start early and talk often.
By becoming educated about child sex abuse, you are already becoming a proactive and protective adult.
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Trust your gut. You may be the only one who can take action.
Studies show that in as many as nine out of ten cases, kids don’t tell anyone when they are being sexually abused. It’s up to adults to recognize behaviors that make kids vulnerable to sexual abuse.1
If something makes you uncomfortable, speak up. Your voice is the first line of defense in keeping kids safe. Talk to family members and other adults about safeguarding children.
1 Stop It Now https://www.stopitnow.org/help-guidance/prevention-tools
Grooming allows offenders to slowly overcome natural boundaries long before sexual abuse occurs. On the surface, grooming a child can look like a close relationship between the offending adult, the targeted child and (potentially) the child’s caregivers.
The grooming process is often misleading because the offender may be well-known or highly regarded in the community. As a result, it’s easy to trust them.1
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When we talk to children in age appropriate ways about our bodies, sex, and boundaries, children understand what healthy relationships look like. Let them know if ANYONE makes them feel uncomfortable, whether it’s a family member, friend, or youth worker, they can come to you any time.
It also teaches them that they have the right to say “no.” They become less vulnerable to people who would violate their boundaries, and are more likely to tell you if abuse occurs.
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Learn more about grooming and red flags here.
​1 D2Lhttps://www.d2l.org/child-grooming-signs-behavior-awareness/
