Low Risk vs High Risk

This week, Jessica Siekmeier (DCAC Prevention Specialist) takes up the pen to talk with us about risk and how to spot children that may be at higher risk than others and to share a bit about our Prevention Program.

When is a child at highest risk?  When is a child at lowest risk?

At DCAC we would gladly close our doors if it meant that there was no longer a need for our services because child abuse did not exist.  In the DCAC Prevention Program we’re working to put ourselves out of business!  The fewer children that walk through our doors the better if it means that they are no longer in harm’s way.  In the meantime, we will continue to help families and comm,unities protect all children from abuse.  

Children from all economic, social, racial, religious, and ethnic groups are at risk for childhood sexual abuse, but certain factors make it more likely that a child may be abused while other factors reduce the chances that it will.  Protect your child and all children from sexual abuse by understanding these risks.

Kids are at high risk when. . .

. . .they don’t have strong relationships with their families

. . .they don't have strong relationships at school or with friends

. . .they suffer from mental illness

. . .they use or abuse substances

. . .they associate with sexually aggressive peers

Families are at high risk when. . .

. . .there is a lack of strong family relationships

. . .there is violence or other types of abuse in the home

Communities are at high risk when. . .

. . . there is systematic or institutional oppression

. . .there is a general tolerance of sexual violence in the community

. . .the media and social norms are supportive of sexual violence

. . .there are weak laws and policies against sexual violence

What factors reduce the likelihood that a child will be sexually abused?

Kids are at low risk when. . .

. . .they have strong family relationships and community ties

. . .they have opportunities to learn and have social interaction

. . .they have positive and supportive parenting

. . .they have access to resources

Families are at low risk when. . .

. . .the family members have close relationships with one another

. . .men and women play equal roles in the family

. . .the children do not witness violence in the home

. . .the family is connected to the community

Communities keep families and children safe from abuse when. . .

. . .everyone fights against childhood sexual abuse

. . .they have positive youth development

. . .there is communication and collaboration between ethnic groups

. . .community members have access to the resources that they need

Source:  Sexual Abuse Prevention Fund 2007 Implementation Manual

Thanks, Jessica, for these helpful insights into abuse prevention and risk identification.  If you have questions regarding these facts or other indicators of abuse, please contact DCAC at info@DenverCAC.org.  

Jessica Siekmeier, Prevention Specialist
Jessica joined DCAC in 2010 to work with at-risk children and families in the Denver Safe from the Start program. Jessica graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a degree in Spanish, Journalism and International Development. As part of her studies, she spent six months abroad living with a Honduran family. Since then, Jessica has worked as a field interviewer for social ministry in a network of Grand Rapids congregations, and as a family educator and advocate with the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan to help inner city families prevent lead poisoning. Jessica has recently returned from Ecuador where she served as the liaison between medical staff and patients in a rural hospital.