Be a “Safe-Community Promoter”
Communities need to take responsibility to prevent child sexual abuse. That means not only parents, but elected officials, school leaders, youth organizations, foundation leaders/ funders, sports clubs, faith-based groups, etc. must become more aware of the risks of sexual abuse and how to reduce them to ensure your community is a place where children can live and learn, play and grow safely.
First, choose one of the pledges below. Then, fill out the information box so we can automatically send you an email with resources specifically matched to your selected pledge. These resources will help you build your knowledge and skills so that you can confidently carry it out.
Pledge 1
I, as a leader of a school or youth organization, pledge to begin learning how to strengthen our policies to prevent child sexual abuse!
Learning about sexual abuse is the critical first step in preventing it, however, clear policies that support prevention are essential if schools and youth organizations are to be truly safe havens where children and teens can learn, play, and grow.
Pledge 2
I, as a foundation leader or funder, pledge to encourage the youth-serving organizations we support to implement child sexual abuse prevention policies and practices.
The extent and impact of sexual abuse on children’s academic achievement, social-emotional learning and health/mental health, compels foundations and funders to ensure that youth-serving grantees have training and policies in place to keep youth safe. Increases in claims for sexual misconduct and abuse filed against these organizations further oblige funders to ensure that grantees are adopting prevention strategies that will also reduce their legal and financial liabilities.
Pledge 3
I pledge to speak to my child’s coach, private tutor or instructor and ask about their program’s safety rules!
Parents have the power to ensure that the individuals and programs that serve their children or teens are aware of the risks of sexual abuse and have prevention policies and practices in place. You can share your concerns in a constructive and supportive way with the right facts and influence the adoption of safe child policies by your child’s sport program or private instructor.
Pledge 4
I pledge to promote policies to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse in my community’s schools and/or local youth organizations!
There are six basic standards that schools and youth organizations should adopt and be working to implement to make their institutions safer from sexual abuse. Promoting these standards with your community’s child and youth-serving programs is an effective way to help them become places where the sexual abuse and exploitation of children is openly prohibited and where boundary-violating behaviors by adults with children are reported and addressed constructively.
Pledge 5
I pledge to promote policies to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse in my community’s programs that serve children and teens with disabilities!
Children and youth with disabilities face at greater risk of child sexual abuse for many reasons. Programs and organizations that serve these children and youth will want to explore these reasons, learn specific ways to reduce the risks, and also reduce their own organization’s liability when addressing sexual abuse and exploitation.
Pledge 6
I pledge to promote policies to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse in my town’s youth sports & recreational programs!
Town officials, coaches, parents and other volunteers who support these programs e.g. youth sports, after-school programs, summer camps, etc. have a responsibility to protect children from the risks of sexual abuse – risks that are inherent in any youth-serving program that provides the cover and access to children that abusers require. What are the training options and policies municipalities should consider to better protect youth and also to reduce the legal liability of their city or town?
Pledge 7
I pledge to promote policies to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse within my own faith community!
Communities of faith are particularly challenged by the problem of child sexual abuse since inherent in their mission is the duty to provide solace and support, not only for the victims of sexual abuse but also to those who seek it because of their past abuses. This requires faith-based groups and institutions to become especially knowledgeable about the problem and about prevention policies they can adopt to keep the children and teens in their programs safe from abuse.
Pledge 8
I pledge to volunteer with an organization in my area that is working to prevent child sexual abuse!
Get involved with an Enough Abuse Campaign site in your state, a member organization of Prevent Together – The National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, or a Prevent Child Abuse America state chapter.