Abuse - Assessments for Children

When does my child need to have an Abuse Assessment completed?

• Is your child displaying sexualized behavior inappropriate for his/her age?
• Do you suspect your child has been sexually abused?

Learn the warning signs for child sexual abuse

• Sexual behavior that is inappropriate for the child’s age
• Bedwetting or soiling the bed, if the child has already outgrown these behaviors
• Not wanting to be left alone with certain people or being afraid to be away from primary caregivers, especially if this is a new behavior
• Tries to avoid removing clothing to change or bathe
• Excessive talk about or knowledge of sexual topics
• Resuming behaviors that they had grown out of, such as thumb sucking
• Nightmares or fear of being alone at night
• Excessive worry or fearfulness

Taking action isn’t easy, but it’s important

It’s not always easy to identify child sexual abuse. If a child tells you that someone makes them uncomfortable, even if they can’t tell you anything specific, listen. Even though an abuse assessment is not 100% conclusive, given the limited nature of children’s ability to recall facts, talking to a trained professional is very important to give you guidance on how to proceed in order to protect your child.