What Child Care Providers Need to Know about Identifying Sexual Abuse

Sad girl

The possibility that a child could be experiencing sexual abuse is frightening for many child care providers. Knowing how to identify the signs of sexual abuse is an important first step in helping a child who is being victimized.

What Child Care Providers Should Know about Sexual Abuse

  • Sexual abuse includes a wide range of behavior: fondling a child’s genitals, intercourse, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism and commercial exploitation through prostitution or pornography. Sexual abuse may begin with inappropriate touching or fondling