Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee a child’s safety from sexual abuse. There is no magic formula and everyone is at risk of experiencing sexual violence. These are difficult facts to accept but nonetheless a reality. Luckily parents/caregivers aren’t completely powerless either.
In recent years, research has come to light around resiliency, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and protective factors. Although these are “buzz phrases” used frequently by professionals in the field, they do hold meaning for those involved in the life of a child. In simple terms, protective factors are influences research shows have the ability to protect children from abuse. Some protection comes from a child’s environment, others from within.
Below is a list of the broad protective factors with links to more information on each.
This material is comprehensive and can be time consuming to sort through so check out the list of selected protective factors as they relate to sexual abuse below. If some areas are lacking, work to build those protections.
Your Child:
Your Family:
You:
Detailed information on Protective Factors
ACEs Study–A study about the long-term impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences
ACE’s Too High – news and the latest info on ACEs
Building Resiliency– Ideas on how to overcome ACEs
Parenting Tips – from Toddlers to Teens (Knowledge of Parenting)
Keeping Your Family Strong (all of the above)