Creating a Family Adoption & Foster Care Education

In this toolkit, which includes a video, facilitator guide, handouts, and resource guide, parents will learn important information about helping children heal from sexual abuse. Understanding the definitions and signs of sexual abuse and how it impacts a child’s developing brain will equip parents to lead their children toward healing. This toolkit also offers insight on the protective factors parents can put in place, both short- and long-term for children who might have experienced sexual abuse, as well as specific steps parents can take to help their children heal from sexual abuse.

Parents will leave the support group with a better understanding of the following topics.

• What constitutes sexual abuse of a child
• The signs or symptoms parents should know if they are concerned that a child may have experienced sexual abuse
• The protective factors that parents can put into place when welcoming a child into their home if that child has a suspected history of sexual abuse
• Action steps that parents can take when sexual abuse is disclosed or discovered, that will cultivate a safe space for the child to heal