Teen Sexual Abuse:What Professionals Need to Know for Prevention & Response

Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual AssaultKelly Moe LitkeRose Hennessy

Objectives

I. Become familiar with teen sexual abuse through data and media

II. Identify how rape myths impact teen victimsIII. Learn how to support teen victimsIV. Learn pro-active ways for schools to

intervene and prevent sexual assault

A reminder . . .

• Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault.

• Talking about sexual violence is difficult.

• Please take care of yourself.

DATAObjective 1

2013 Youth Risk Behavior SurveyNational Data

Forced Sexual Intercourse

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/overall.htm

10% of girls have experienced forced sexual intercourse

4% of boys have

experienced forced sexual intercourse

2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Sexual Dating ViolenceUNITED STATES• Percentage of youth experiencing

sexual dating violence (in the past 12 months):

– % of females : 14.4%– % of males: 6.2%

WISCONSIN• Percentage of youth experiencing

sexual dating violence (in the past 12 months):

– % of females : 15.7%– % of males: 4.0%

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs/

National Intimate Partner & Sexual Violence Survey

Lifetime prevalence in adults . . .

RAPE• 1 in 5 women• 1 in 71 men

• 1 in 21 men– (forced to penetrate)

SEXUAL VIOLENCE• 1 in 2 women• 1 in 5 men

Over a quarter of men experience their first rape before age 10

10 and under28%

Older than 10 years72%

Age of First Completed Rape Victimization in Lifetime AmongMale Victims – NISVS 2010

30% of women experience their first rape as adolescents

11 to 17 years30%

10 years and under12%

18 and older58%

Age of First Completed Rape Victimization in Lifetime Among Female Victims – NISVS 2010

An Important Time

Compared to girls who have not been raped, girls who have been raped are more than 2 times more likely to be raped as adults.

Being raped as a child increases

the likelihood of being raped as

an adult.

Systems of OppressionImpact Victims of Rape

Youth Development in Victims

MYTHS & MEDIAObjective 2

Myth: Teens lack the ability to make appropriate decisions

Reality: When provided support & options, teens can and do make good choices

Myth: Most sexual assaults are perpetrated by strangers

Reality: Most victims know their perpetrators

Myth: Adolescents frequently lie about being sexually assaulted

Reality: Very few sexual assault reports are false

Myth: Most victims will have complete recall of all details of the assault

Reality: Victims frequently have an incomplete memory of the assault

Myth: Most victims will identify what happened to them as abuse

Reality: Many teens lack understanding about sexual assault

Myth: Most teens will report the assault immediately to an adult

Reality: Delayed reporting is the norm

How do myths impact sexual assault response?

How do myths impact victims?

Victim-blaming attitudes have been identified as a major contributing factor in

violence against women.

SUPPORTING TEEN VICTIMSObjective 3

Five Ways to Help Teen Victims of Sexual Assault

#1 - Be proactive!• Have a plan

– Be familiar with mandated reporting & share with students

– Understand your policy– Think about what you might say– Explore support systems– Display information

Poster• http://www.loveisrespect.org/do

wnload-materialsHandout for Teen Victims• http://

nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/the_truth_about_sexual_abuse.pdf

#2 – Be cognoscente in how you respond

#2 – How you respond:What to Avoid

• Oh my gosh! • I can’t believe that happened.• Are you sure you remember that correctly?• It seems like this was not that big a deal.• This is what you should do.• I understand . . . • You’ll feel better if you . . .

Avoid using labels or words that the adolescent does not use – they may not be ready to identify the event as “sexual assault”

#2 – How you respond:What You Can Say

• I’m really sorry that happened to you.• No one deserves to be treated that way.• This wasn’t your fault.• You have every right to feel ________. (Responding to

feelings that are stated: If he says he’s angry, “You have every right to be angry.”)

• I know experts that can help with this sort of thing. Would you be interested in talking with them?

• Thank you for telling me. I can imagine that it must be very difficult to talk about something so hard.

#3 – Offer Options

• Have materials with local help available that you can provide or hand out

• Know the best person for referral within your school

#4 – Empower youth to make their own choices

– “What would you like to do?”– “What makes the most sense

for you?”– “I’m here to support you in

what you need.”

#5 – Learn how you can support the student in the classroom

– Complex Trauma: Facts for Educators• http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default

/files/assets/pdfs/complext_trauma_facts_educators_final.pdf

– Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators• http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/defau

lt/files/assets/pdfs/Child_Trauma_Toolkit_Final.pdf

WAYS FOR SCHOOLS TO INTERVENE AND PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULT

Objective 4

Become a leader in prevention!

1. Educate yourself about sexual assault– http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/speak#cart/cleanup– http://www.wcasa.org/– http://www.wcsap.org/e-learning-center

2. Incorporate prevention into your materials & classroom– http://www.tolerance.org/activities

3. Display prevention and intervention materials– See next slides

4. Model non-violence, consent, and healthy communication5. Get involved in community events like Sexual Assault Awareness

Month and encourage student activism6. Interrupt Violence in Your School

Hey Shortyhttp://www.feministpress.org/books/girls-gender-equity-gge/hey-shorty

Incorporate prevention in your materials & classroom

http://www.tolerance.org/activities

Posters & Materials

Download Free Resources• Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2015 Toolkit

– http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/preventing-sexual-violence-campus• Teen Abuse Materials

– http://www.loveisrespect.org/download-materials• Hanging Out or Hooking Up Materials

– http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/?s=hanging%20out%20or%20hooking%20up

• Be The Solution Materials– http://www.wcsap.org/BeTheSolution

• (Small cost) Backbone Zone Poster Project– http://www.mecasa.org/backbone/materials.html

• NO MORE – Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Toolkit– http://site.nomore.org/the-no-more-toolkit/

• Start by Believing Campaign & Materials– http://www.startbybelieving.org/CampaignResources.aspx– http://www.startbybelieving.org/materials.aspx

• 100 Things You Can Do to Prevent Sexual Assault Poster– http://cvpp.ucdavis.edu/docs/100thingsSa.pdf

With your school

1. Collaborate with your sexual assault service provider– http://www.wcasa.org/pages/SASPs.php

2. Request staff development training– http://www.a2awisconsin.org/A2AWisconsin.htm

3. Recommend the integration of violence prevention programs– http://www.wcasa.org/pages/Prevention.php– http://

www.wcsap.org/sites/wcsap.huang.radicaldesigns.org/files/uploads/preventing_sexual_violence/resources_publications/Sexual_Violence_Prevention_Curricula_Guide_2014.pdf

4. Promote or Host an event– SAAM (denim day) Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, 1 billion

rising, Mix it Up at Lunch, No Name Calling Week

5. Provide resources6. Suggest or offer to lead a student activist group

Darkness to Light Training

http://www.a2awisconsin.org/A2AWisconsin.htmhttp://www.a2awisconsin.org/WCSAP1/2014StewardsfacilitatorsA2Awebsite.pdf

Look up a trainer in your community at the link below

Prevention Programs

Host an Event

Kelly Moe LitkeDirector of Prevention & Programskellyml@wcasa.org

Rose HennessyPrevention & Evaluation Coordinatorroseh@wcasa.org

Thank you!