Did you know that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted before the age of 18? For 90% of sexually abused children, the perpetrator is someone the child knows and trusts. That means that in a classroom of 28 students, about six or seven students have been the victims of sexual abuse.

When children make reports to adults, the first response is critical, and can be the difference between feeling believed and supported, and being shamed or embarrassed, or even recanting true information.

JRI's River Run Academy at the Susan Wayne Center of Excellence in Thompson, Connecticut has partnered with the Children's Advocacy Center of Windham County to provide Minimal Facts Training free of charge for public and private schools in Connecticut.  Minimal Facts teaches mandatory reporters not only how to recognize signs of abuse, but also what to do (and what not to do) once it has been reported.  This training generally takes approximately 30 - 90 minutes.

To schedule this training or for more information, please reach out to Stacey Forrest, M.Ed., Assistant Executive Director of JRI Connecticut, sforrest@jri.org or (860) 928-5900.

Training Overview

Child sexual abuse is disturbing, complex and extremely difficult to investigate.  How professionals react and respond to a suspected child sexual abuse allegation will have a direct impact on the child’s recovery from the traumatic act and on the integrity of the subsequent investigation.  This training is designed to give school and childcare personnel, along with medical, mental health and other therapeutic providers the tools needed to optimally respond when a child discloses or indicates that he or she may be a victim of sexual abuse.  The training is approximately 1 hour long and includes handouts that can be used by the professional in his or her respective agency/setting.

Outline:

• Definition of “Discoverer”.
• What happens in CT when a child sexual abuse report is made?
• Child sexual abuse information.
• DCF definitions and reporting requirements.
• Obtaining info. about the suspected abuse without interviewing the alleged victim.
• Responding to and supporting the child.