Child Sexual Assault
Rape Crisis Line Advocates help concerned adults learn more about the system, explore their options, and discuss ways to support the child victim/survivor.
Page Contents
Reporting Options | Helpful Responses | What Not To Do | Warning Signs | Referral & Support
Reporting Options
Child sexual abuse may be reported to:
- Local Department of Human Services office
- Iowa Child/Dependent Adult Abuse Hotline, 800.362.2178
- Local law enforcement
Professionals who are mandatory reporters may use this DHS Reporting Chart to help them determine how best to report suspected abuse. Remember never to assume another professional has made the report, and when in doubt, call the Department of Human Services for clarification.
Helpful Responses
Keep calm. Children may perceive anger at or disgust with the perpetrator as being directed towards them.
Believe the child. In most cases, children do not lie about sexual abuse. Let the child know that you believe her/him. Reassure the child that the abuse was not her/his fault.
Listen to the child. Let him/her tell you what happened in his/her own words. Expect that the story may not be complete and that more details may come out as time goes by.
Seek medical attention. The child may be suffering internal injuries that are not noticeable. A medical exam can also provide valuable evidence.
What Not To Do
Overwhelm the child Do not stand over him/her or invade his/her space. Do not pressure the child to talk. Remember, you are not trained to interview a child victim/survivor.
Make promises Don’t make promises that you are not sure you will be able to keep. Don’t promise things like: you will never be hurt again or the offender will, or will not, go to jail.
Confront the offender Confronting the offender, especially in front of the child, may be harmful or even dangerous. Leave this to the proper authorities.
Warning Signs
Because most children cannot or do not reveal sexual abuse, it is up to concerned adults to recognize the signs. None of these behaviors alone indicate abuse, however a combination of these over a period of time may strongly indicate that the child is being sexually abused.
Common signs of child sexual abuse:
- Physical complaints; “stomach” ache
- Fear or dislike of certain people or places
- Extreme changes in behavior
- Depression and withdrawal
- Sleep disturbances; nightmares
- Regression to infant-like behaviors
- Age-inappropriate interest in sexual matters
- Excessive masturbation
- Frequent genital infections or irritation
- Difficulty with bowel movements, urinating, or swallowing
In older children, you may see additional behaviors, such as:
- Self-mutilation
- Eating disorders
- Suicide attempts
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Sexually victimizing other children
- Discipline problems
- Running away
- Promiscuity
- Pregnancy
Referral & Support
To report abuse, contact the Department of Human Services (DHS) office in your area or call the Child/Dependent Adult Abuse Hotline at 800.362.2178 and ask them to page the on call social worker in your area.
For more information on helping children heal from child sexual abuse, visit the Healing page on our site.
For more detailed information on this topic, including: safety planning with your child, what is healthy sexuality in children, and how to keep kids safe, visit Stop It Now.
Concerned adults need all the support, encouragement and information they can get. Remember, you don’t have to take this on alone, and you’ll support the child better if you are getting support for yourself. A trained advocate is available on the Rape Crisis Line at 335.6000 or Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 800.284.7821 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
