As a prospective adoptive parent, you may
have some valid concerns about sexual abuse.
You may wonder what the special needs are
of children who have been sexually abused
and whether you will be able to meet those
needs. By acquiring more knowledge, you will
feel more confident in taking on the challenges
and rewards of adopting a child with special
needs.
Many parents who have already adopted sexually
abused children feel that their greatest obstacle
was lack of information about sexual abuse
in general; about their particular child's
history; and about helpful resources such
as support groups, skilled therapists and
sensitive reading materials. This article
will provide you with some basic information
about child sexual abuse as well as some special
considerations for parents who adopt these
children.
What Is Child Sexual
Abuse?
Child sexual abuse is any forced or tricked
sexual contact by an adult or older child
with a child. Usually the adult or older child
is in a position of power or authority over
the child. Physical force is generally not
used, since there is usually a trusting relationship
between the adult or older child and the child
who is abused.
There are various types of sexual activity
which may take place. It can include open
mouth kissing, touching, fondling, manipulation
of the genitals, anus or breasts with fingers,
lips, tongue or with an object. It may include
intercourse. Children may not have been touched
themselves but may have been forced to perform
sexual acts on an adult or older child. Sometimes
children are forced or tricked into disrobing
for photography or are made to have sexual
contact with other children while adults watch.
Child sexual abuse does not always involve
physical touching. It can include any experience
or attitude imposed on a child that gets in
the way of the development of healthy sexual
responses or behaviors. For example, a child
may be a victim of "emotional incest." If
a mother tells her son, in great detail, about
her sexual exploits, or if a father promises
his daughter that she will be his life partner
when she turns 18, these would be scenarios
in which the child could be considered sexually
abused. Siblings who are aware of a brother
or sister's victimization, but are not actually
abused themselves, may also suffer many of
the same effects as an abused child.
In addition, some children experience ritualistic
and/or satanic abuse. Ken Wooden, founder
of the National Coalition for Children's Justice,
defines ritualistic abuse as a bizarre, systematic
continuing abuse which is mentally, physically,
and sexually abusive of children, and for
the purpose of implanting evil.
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How Often Does Child Sexual
Abuse Occur?
Estimates are that approximately 1 in 4 girls
and 1 in 8 boys experience sexual abuse in
some way before they are 18. Data on how many
of these children live in foster or adoptive
homes are not available. Foster care and adoption
social workers are now saying they believe
the percentages of boys and girls in foster
care who have been sexually abused are much
higher than in the general population, perhaps
as high as 75%. Many came into foster care
initially because of sexual abuse and others
are children who were re-victimized while
in foster care, either by an older foster
child or by an adult.
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What Behaviors or Signs
Might You See in a Child Who Has Been Sexually
Abused?
While no one sign or behavior can be considered
absolute proof that sexual abuse has occurred,
you should consider the possibility of sexual
abuse when one or several of these signs or
behaviors are present.
Physical Signs
- Scratches, bruises, itching, rashes, cuts
or injuries, especially in the genital area
- Venereal disease
- Pregnancy in (young) adolescents
- Blood or discharge in bedding or clothes,
especially underwear
Behavioral Signs
- Aggressive behavior towards younger children
- Advanced sexual knowledge for the child's
age
- Seductive or "sexy" behavior towards adults
or peers
- Pseudo-mature behavior (for instance,
a girl who is eight and dresses like a 16
year-old, wears makeup and generally acts
"too old for her age," or a young boy who
attempts to be his mother's "man" in every
sense of the word)
- Regressed behavior (for example, the child
who has been toilet trained starts wetting
the bed)
- Excessive masturbation, masturbation in
public places, difficulty with being re-focused
to another behavior
- Poor relationships with peers
- Fear of a particular person, place or
thing (for example, if the abuse occurred
in the bathroom, the child may show fear
in that room)
- Sudden or extreme changes in behavior
(for instance, a previously good student
starts having trouble with school work,
a child who was not sad before starts crying
frequently or acting sad, or a formerly
cooperative child acts defiantly or is uncooperative
or unusually overly cooperative)
- Eating disorders (overeats, undereats)
Additional Behavioral Signs in Pre-teens
and Adolescents
- Self-mutilation (the child may repeatedly
pick at scabs, cut him/herself with a razor
blade, bite his/her finger or arm, burn
him/herself with a cigarette)
- Threatening or attempting suicide
- Using drugs or alcohol
- Becoming promiscuous (a child is sexually
active without discrimination, or just has
that reputation)
- Being prudish (the child avoids any sexuality,
does not see him/herself as a sexual being
in any way)
- Prostitution
- Fire-setting
- Lying, stealing
- Running away
- Isolating self or dropping friends
- Pre-occupation with death (the child may
write poems about death, may ask a lot of
questions about death, such as "What does
it feel like and where do people go?")
Some Additional Behavioral Signs in Children
Who Have Been Ritualistically/Satanically
Abused
- Bizarre nightmares
- Sadistic play (for example, mutilation
of dolls or small animals)
- Self-mutilation
- Pre-occupation with death
- Increased agitation on certain dates which
represent satanic high holy days
- A constant fear of harm and extreme fear
of being alone
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Are All Children Affected
Equally by Child Sexual Abuse?
There is a myth that all children who have
been sexually abused are "damaged goods" and
that the damage is for life. In fact, with
guidance and support a child who has experienced
sexual abuse can certainly recover and go
on to live a happy, successful life with loving
and trusting relationships. However, there
are many factors which influence the extent
of the child's trauma and subsequent healing
process. Some of these are:
The age of the child when the abuse began.
Children abused very early in life may carry
body or sensory memories of the abuse but
will not have the words to express their rage.
One adult survivor of sexual abuse figured
out, with the help of therapy, that the reason
she became sexually stimulated when she heard
and felt a room fan was because a fan had
always been on when she was molested as a
child. Children who are abused pre-pubescently,
during the time when their sexuality is emerging,
may carry greater effects of the abuse.
The relationship of the primary perpetrator
to the child. A child's trust of his/her
primary caretaker is central to their relationship.
Therefore, when abuse occurs in this context,
the betrayal is intensified.
How long the abuse occurred. The longer
the abuse occurred, the more likely the victim
is to feel that he/she should have been able
to stop it and thus he or she feels more "guilty."
Whether there was violence involved.
In most cases where the abuse included violence
or potential violence (that is, the victim
was made to understand that without cooperation
there would be violence) the child will have
experienced additional trauma and therefore
damage to his/her development
The social system available to the child
at the time of abuse. The child who had
someone to tell about the abuse will suffer
less than the child who had no one to tell.
And even in some cases where the support system
is available, the child may choose not to
tell for fear of the consequences. For example,
the child may think, "If I tell my father
that my brother is abusing me and he believes
me, then my father may do something drastic
like hurt my brother or send me to jail."
When children reveal their secrets, the response
of adults will vary. It is important to stay
as calm as possible so as not to further traumatize
the child. The rage you may feel is natural,
but the child may perceive that it is directed
at him or her. The child needs a safe, supportive
atmosphere in which to talk. Children also
benefit enormously from hearing that this
has happened to other children, male and female.
Ego development of the child at the time
of the abuse. If the child has a firmly
established concept of his or her sexual identity,
the abuse will have less impact. Children
who are abused by a same sex perpetrator often
have deeply felt fears about whether this
means they are homosexual. One way in which
parents can help allay this fear is to explain
that our bodies have many nerve endings. If
these nerve endings are stimulated, they will
react. For example, if a bright light hits
your eyes, your first response will be to
blink or to shade them from the light. A simple
concept to use with children is that of tickling.
If a child is ticklish, he or she will laugh
when tickled. It does not matter whether the
person tickling is male or female; the child
is reacting to the experience.
If the perpetrator is of the opposite sex,
questions of identity may also come into play.
For example a boy who is abused by a woman
and is not aroused, may doubt his masculinity.
If he is aroused physically, but not emotionally,
he may equally doubt his masculinity. The
same identity issues for girls may hold true.
If the child has a positive self-concept,
that is, if he or she feels valued at the
time the abuse occurred, there will be fewer
repercussions. In fact, children with good
self-esteem are more likely to feel they can
say no and/or tell someone about the abuse.
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Do Boys Who Are Abused
Have Special Issues?
Boys who are sexually abused face some additional
problems because of persistent myths in our
society. Males are rarely viewed as fitting
the victim role. When boys get hurt, they
are often told "act like a man," "don't be
a sissy," "control your emotions." The message
to boys is to stand on their own two feet
and to take care of themselves. Under these
circumstances, a male victim is less likely
to tell and therefore cannot begin a healing
process. This increases the chances that he
may take on the role of the victimizer in
an attempt to master his own experience.
A further complication for boys is that the
media portray boys who have sexual experiences
with older women as going through a "rite
of passage" rather than as victims of sexual
exploitation. Movies such as "Summer of '42"
and "Get Out Your Handkerchiefs" are prime
examples of this.
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What About Juvenile Sex
Offenders?
Some children who have been sexually abused
go on to abuse other children. While this
is a serious problem, the exact percentage
of sexual abuse victims who become abusers
is not known.
It is important to realize that these children
are victims as well as offenders and need
to receive counseling from qualified therapists
who understand both aspects of the problem.
The therapist must be able to be empathic
and understanding of the "victim" but confrontational
with the "victimizer."
Victimizers have triggers that precede their
behavior. For example, a child may abuse another
child when he or she finds him or herself
in a vulnerable or stressful situation. Sometimes
this is because he or she lacks control or
power. This may be when the child gets called
a name at school or believes he or she is
being punished unfairly. The therapist must
help the child to not only recognize his/her
own individual triggers but also, to understand
the consequences of acting out these impulses.
In other instances, past experiences have
left the child overly sexually stimulated.
The child needs education and suggestions
of alternative positive behaviors to replace
the sexually victimizing behavior.
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What Do Parents Need
to Know When Adopting a Child Who Has Experienced
Sexual Abuse?
Parents who adopt children who have experienced
sexual abuse need the wisdom of Solomon, the
strength of Hercules and the patience of Mother
Theresa. If you fall short in any of these
areas, do not despair. You are in good company.
Perhaps, more important is your desire to
help a young person grow into a healthy, trusting
adult. This is a privilege and one which brings
real satisfaction to those who have adopted.
What Do Parents Need to be Aware of About
Themselves?
It is very important for you as prospective
adoptive parents to be honest with yourselves
and with your adoption worker about a number
of things:
Is there a history of sexual abuse in either
the mother or father's past? If there is,
how were those experiences resolved? Did you
decide to "just forget about it" and chalk
it up as one of those things that just happened?
Or did you get help, from your parents, a
teacher, a minister, a therapist or someone
who could help you work through your feelings
about having been abused? Parents with unresolved
abuse experiences in their history may be
at greater risk for either abusing the child
again, or for keeping too much physical and
emotional distance, for fear of abusing the
child. Parent/Survivors in local support groups
regularly address these phenomena.
How comfortable are you as prospective parents,
with your own sexuality and with your sexual
relationship(s)? Can you talk comfortably
about sex? Do you give yourselves permission
to acknowledge your own sexual feelings, thoughts,
fantasies and fears? Do you have a well-established
relationship which allows for direct and open
communication? A child who has been sexually
abused may need to talk about what happened
to him or her. The child's behavior may be
seductive or blatantly sexual at times. A
parent must be able to deal with this.
In addition, there are some other issues
that are important for adoptive parents to
consider. They are:
A willingness to "be different," or experience
embarrassing situations, at least for a while.
Children who have been sexually abused may
behave toward their adoptive parents in ways
which are different than non-abused children.
For example, Lisa, age 8, began shouting loudly,
in public places like the supermarket, that
her father had abused her. In fact, it was
her biological father and not her adoptive
father who had abused her, but the strangers
in the supermarket obviously did not make
the distinction.
An ability to wait for the child's commitment
while not putting off making your own.
An abused child is often untrusting and tied
to the past. A child may repeatedly test your
commitment to him or her. She or he may feel
that if you really and truly saw her or him
as they are, with all the scars, that you
would not really want him or her.
Many parents have the hope that their love
will immediately ease the mistrust their child
has of the world and all its adults. What
one adoptive parent learned was "love has
a different meaning for my daughter. To her,
it's simply a deal: You do this for me and
I'll do that for you. What a shock to discover
that love is not enough." A true, trusting
love based on more than just bargaining can
come to pass with a sexually abused child,
but it will take time, consistency and patience.
A sense of humor. As with most situations
in life, a good hearty laugh helps.
What Do Parents Need to be Aware of About
Their Child Who Has Been Sexually Abused?
Children who have experienced sexual abuse
will probably need help in learning new behaviors
and ways of relating. Some of the behaviors
and emotions you may see expressed by your
child are:
Withdrawal: Overwhelmed by the feelings
she or he has experienced, the child may retreat
physically or emotionally. As a parent, you
may feel confused or resentful. It can be
very isolating to have someone close to you
tune you out. Unless you think there is danger
of physical harm to the child or others, the
best course of action is to reassure the child
that you care and that you will provide the
limits and boundaries that your child needs.
Mood Swings: A moment's tenderness
can quickly explode into anger. The child
may be full of confidence one day, only to
sink into despair the next. It is difficult
to see someone you care about in pain, but
you cannot control the feelings of someone
else. Point out that these mood swings are
occurring. Do not allow yourself to be unfairly
blamed. Try to stay calm and accepting that
sometimes the child does not even know when
or why his/her mood swings are occurring.
Crying jags can be part of these mood swings.
Accept that it is beyond your power to make
it all better. Sometimes when a parent tries
to rescue a child from his or her pain, he
or she ends up feeling guilty, resentful and
frustrated when it does not work. When a caterpillar
is emerging from the cocoon, it must have
a period of time to build strength in its
wings. If the butterfly is released from its
cocoon before its time, its strength will
be diminished and it will not be able to survive
on its own.
Anger: The first target for the child's
angry feelings may be the person he or she
has come to feel the safest with -- you. When
a person's angry feelings are completely out
of proportion to what is going on, it probably
has nothing to do with the present situation.
Something in the present is triggering and
re-stimulating old memories and feelings.
The safety of the current situation allows
these feelings to be expressed. Recognize
that this is actually a sign of health, but
do not accept unacceptable behavior; and never
expose yourself to physical violence.
You can assure your child that you are willing
to work out the problem at hand, but in a
safe and supportive manner. For example, a
child may be offered a pillow to beat on in
order to vent his or her anger.
Unreasonable Demands: Some children
learn the survival skills of manipulation
and control. They may feel entitled to make
unreasonable demands for time, money or material
goods. It is important not to play into or
get trapped by these demands. You need to
maintain a healthy relationship with your
child. This will help the child reduce these
demands.
Sexual Behaviors: Since the abuse
was acted out sexually, the child needs help
in sorting out the meaning of abuse, sex,
love, caring and intimacy. Some children may
try to demand sexual activity, while others
may lose interest in any form of closeness.
Think of all the needs that are met through
sex: intimacy, touch, validation, companionship,
affection, love, release, nurturance. Children
need to be re-taught ways that these needs
can be met that are not sexual.
A child who has been sexually abused may
feel:
- I am worthless and bad
- No person could care for me without a
sexual relationship
- I am "damaged goods" (no one will want
me again)
- I must have been responsible for the sexual
abuse because
- it sometimes felt good physically
- it went on so long
- I never said "no"
- I really wasn't forced into it
- I never told anyone
- I hate my body
- I am uncomfortable with being touched
because it reminds me of the abuse
- I think I was abused but sometimes I think
I must have imagined it
- I blame my (biological) mother or father
for not protecting me but I can't talk about
it; I don't want to hurt him/her
A child who has been sexually abused will
benefit from clear guidelines that set the
rules both in the home and outside. These
kinds of rules will help provide the structure,
comfort and security which all children need
to grow into healthy adults. Experts in the
field of adoption and child sexual abuse believe
these guidelines are particularly important
during the first year after placement, when
the child is working hard to establish new
relationships with his/her adoptive family
and to build trust.
The following guidelines address topics with
specific reference to children who have been
sexually abused.
Privacy: Everyone has a right to privacy.
Children should be taught to knock when a
door is closed and adults need to role model
the same behavior.
Bedrooms and Bathrooms: These two
locations are often prime stimuli for children
who have been sexually abused, since abuse
commonly occurs in these rooms.
By the time children enter first grade, caution
should be used about children of the opposite
sex sharing bedrooms or bath times.
It is not advisable to bring a child who
has been sexually abused into your bed. Cuddling
may be overstimulating and misinterpreted.
A safer place to cuddle may be the living
room couch.
Touching: No one should touch another
person without permission. A person's private
parts (the area covered by a bathing suit)
should not be touched except during a medical
examination or, in the case of young children,
if they need help with bathing or toileting.
Clothing: It is a good idea for family
members to be conscious of what they wear
outside of the bedroom. Seeing others in their
underclothes or pajamas may be overstimulating
to a child who has been sexually abused.
Saying "No": Children need to learn
that it is their right to assertively say
"no" when someone touches them in a way they
do not like. Help them to practice this.
Sex Education: All children, including
the child who has been sexually abused, need
basic information about how they develop sexually.
They also will benefit from an atmosphere
in which it is OK to talk about sex. Appropriate
words for body parts, such as penis, vagina,
breasts and buttocks, will give the child
the words to describe what happened to him
or her. Suggestive or obscene language is
sometimes a trigger for old feelings for a
child who was sexually abused, and should
not be allowed.
No "Secrets": Make it clear that no
secret games, particularly with adults, are
allowed. Tell children if an adult suggests
such a game, they should tell you immediately.
Being Alone With One Other Person:
If your child is behaving seductively, aggressively
or in a sexually acting out manner, these
are high risk situations. During those times,
it is advisable not to put yourself in the
vulnerable position of being accused of abuse.
In addition, other children may be in jeopardy
of being abused. Therefore, whenever possible
during these high risk situations, try not
to be alone with your child or allow him/her
to be alone with only one other child.
Wrestling and Tickling: As common
and normal as these childhood behaviors are,
they are often tinged with sexual overtones.
They can put the weaker child in an overpowered
and uncomfortable or humiliating position.
Keep tickling and wrestling to a minimum.
Behaviors and Feelings: Help children
differentiate between feelings and behaviors.
It is normal to have all kinds of feelings,
including sexual feelings. However, everyone
does not always act on all the feelings he
or she has. Everyone has choices about which
feelings he or she acts on, and everyone (except
very young children) must take responsibility
for his or her own behavior.
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Will Our Child and
Family Need Professional Help?
It is very likely that at some time or other
parents of a child who was sexually abused
will need professional help and support for
themselves and their child. The type of therapy
that will be the most helpful, that is, individual,
couple or family therapy, will depend on a
family's particular situation. When a child
is being seen in individual therapy, it is
important that the parents, who have the primary
responsibility for the child, be in close
contact with the therapist, or included in
the therapy. Try to choose a therapist who
is knowledgeable about both sexual abuse and
adoption issues and with whom you feel comfortable.
If parents are not familiar with the therapy
resources in their area, they may want to
ask their adoption agency or local mental
health center for a referral. There are also
some resources listed at the end of this paper
which may be helpful with referrals to therapists
who are knowledgeable about sexual abuse.
Support groups for adoptive parents or sexually
abused children and support groups for victims/survivors
are another helpful resource. Adoptive parents
who have had a chance to talk with others
who understand the experience of parenting
a sexually abused child say that this kind
of sharing is very useful. Dr.Nicholas Groth,
a leading psychologist in the field of sexual
abuse, along with many children and adult
victims/survivors, say that groups for children
can be most effective in the healing process.
The opportunity to talk and share with other
children who have also experienced sexual
abuse reduces a child's sense of isolation
and belief that he/she is the only one to
whom this has ever happened.
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Is the Healing Ever
Completed?
Recovery from child sexual abuse is an on-going
process. As this process unfolds, the child
will ideally move from victim to survivor
to thriver. Developmental stages, particularly
adolescence and young adulthood, may trigger
old feelings about the abuse. For example,
the time when an adolescent's body begins
to develop physically, or when he or she marries,
or becomes a parent may restimulate old feelings
and memories.
As discussed earlier, so many factors can
influence the extent of the damage to the
abused child. While adoptive parents cannot
erase what happened to their child earlier
in his/her life, you have a wonderful opportunity
to provide your child with new, healthier
experiences. Those who have made the commitment
to parenting a sexually abused child say that
the rewards of helping a child grow into a
healthy, vibrant adult are very satisfying
indeed.
Recommended Readings
For Children
Freeman, Lory. It's
My Body. Parenting Press, Inc., Seattle,
WA, 1982.
Gil, Eliana. I
Told My Secret: A Book for Kids Who Were Abused.
Launch Press, California, 1986.
Hindman, Jan. A
Very Touching Book...for Little People and
for Big People. McClure-Hindman Associates,
Durkee, OR, 1985.
Satullo, J. It
Happens to Boys Too. RCC Berkshire
Press, 1989.
Sweet, Phyllis. Something
Happened to Me. Mother Courage Press,
Racine, WI, 1981.
Sweet, Phyllis. Alice
Doesn't Babysit Anymore. McGovern
and Mulbacker, Oregon, 1985.
For Parents and Professionals
Bass, Ellen and Davis, Laura. The
Courage to Heal, A Guide for Women Survivors
of Child Sexual Abuse. Harper &
Row, New York, 1988.
Father Flanagan's Boys Home. Sexually
Abused Children in Foster Care. Boys Town,
Nebraska. May be ordered by contacting Father
Flanagan's Boy's Home, Boys Town Center,
Family Based Programs, Boys Town, NE, 68010,
(402) 498-1310.
Gil, Eliana. Outgrowing
the Pain. Launch Press, California,
1983.,
Gil, Eliana. Children
Who Molest: A Guide for Parents of Young Sex
Offenders. Launch Press, California,
1987.
Lew, Mike. Victims
No Longer: Men Recovering From Incest and
Other Sexual Child Abuse. Nevraumont
Publishing Company, New York, 1988.
Maltz, Wendy and Holman, Beverly. Incest
and Sexuality : A Guide to Understanding and
Healing. Lexington Books, Lexington,
MA, 1986.
McFadden, Emily Jean. Fostering the Child
Who Has Been Sexually Abused. Eastern
Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, 1986.
McFarlane, Kee and Cunningham, Carolyn. Steps
to Healthy Touching: A Treatment Workbook
for Kids 5-12 Who Have Problems With Sexually
Inappropriate Behavior. Kidsrights,
Mount Dora, FL, 1988.
Parents Anonymous of Delaware. All In
My Family. Parents Anonymous, DE, 1987.
For Professionals
Burgess, Ann; Hartman, Carol; McCormick,
Arlene; and Janus, Mark David. Adolescent
Runaways, Causes and Consequences.
Lexington Books, Lexington, MA, 1987.
Finkelhur, David. Child
Sexual Abuse, New Theory & Research.
The Free Press, New York, 1984.
James, Beverly. Treating
Traumatized Children. Lexington Books,
Lexington, MA, 1989.
James, Beverly and Nasjleti, Maria. Treating
Sexually Abused Children and Their Families.
Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc., Palo
Alto, CA, 1983.
MacFarlane, Kee and Waterman, Jill. Sexual
Abuse of Young Children. The Guildford
Press, New York, 1986.
Sgroi, Suzanne. Handbook
of Clinical Intervention in Child Sexual Abuse.
Lexington Books, Lexington, MA, 1988.
Other Resources
The National Resource Center on Child
Sexual Abuse provides information, resources
and technical assistance to organizations
and professionals on child sexual abuse. It
publishes the "Round Table" Magazine and offers
training for professionals. It also maintains
lists of treatment programs for victims in
various parts of the country. Write to the
Center at 106 Lincoln Street, Huntsville,
AL 35801, or call (205) 533-KIDS (533-5437).
The
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and
Neglect collects and disseminates
information on child sexual abuse. It will
do research upon request on a particular subject
at a very low cost. It also has general publications
which you can request. Write to the Clearinghouse
at 330 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20447
or call at 1-800-394-3366. Website: http://www.calib.com/nccanch/
The
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
maintains a list of adoption experts who have
expertise in many areas of adoption, including
the adoption of children who have experienced
sexual abuse. Contact the Clearinghouse for
referrals to these experts by writing the
Clearinghouse at 330 C Street, SW, Washington,
D.C. 20447 or by calling 703-352-3488 or 1-888-251-0075.
The
C. Henry Kempe National Center for the Prevention
and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect
provides training, consultation, research
and program development on all forms of abuse
and neglect. Write to the Center at 1205 Oneida
Street, Denver, CO 80220, or call at 303-321-3963.
The National Adolescent Perpetrator Network
is housed at the C.
Henry Kempe Center (see above). It can
provide professionals and parents with a bibliography
on juvenile sex offenders and with referrals
to treatment programs for adolescent offenders.
It also operates a Perpetration Prevention
Project which provides training to professionals
and para-professionals on "Understanding the
Sexual Behavior of Children." Write to the
Network at 1205 Oneida Street, Denver, CO
80220, or call at 303-321-3963.
The
National Runaway Switchboard is a
24 hour crisis line for runaway youth and
children considering running away. The Switchboard
offers limited problem solving in a confidential,
non-judgmental manner. It also offers a message
service and a referral service for youth in
need of shelter. Call 1-800-621-4000.
For more information, contact the National
Adoption Information Clearinghouse at naic@calib.com.
