The new year may bring a rise in child sex abuse (CSA) cases due to the pandemic that we are all currently living in, especially while a lot of children have not returned to school and are stuck at home with their abusers. 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused by the time they are 18 years old. This is more of an issue than people realize, and yet no one really wants to talk about it. CSA doesn't discriminate by race, religion or socioeconomic status.

We all know someone who has been or is being sexually abused, and it might very well be you as a victim or a survivor. 60% of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone, largely due to fear and shame. It's NEVER a child's fault.

The cost per CSA victim is about $210,012* in healthcare costs in their lifetime. Child sex abuse doesn't disappear in a child, it goes on forever, and can cost the United States billions of taxpayer dollars to help pay for the help that child needs to manage their trauma and find some kind of peace, and that is if the resources are available and someone believes them.  Is this big enough to pay attention to, or will we as a society continue to sweep this under the rug (this protects the predators) and not bring CSA to light?

We are stronger together! Knowing how to have the difficult discussions, raising awareness and using prevention education are how we can watch the statistics lower; in our nation, in our communities and in our homes. Talk to your children, see if there is a curriculum in your schools, or after-school programs, religious organizations, and community centers to educate children and adults about the importance of child sex abuse prevention. Help keep our children safe, and remember that kids voices matter!

*Fang, X., Brown, D., Florence, C., Mercy, J. (2012) The economic burden of child maltreatment in the United States and implications for prevent. Child Abuse & Neglect, 36:2,156-165