Youth Advocacy & Therapy Tips

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WCSAP Webpage
May, 1015

At WCSAP, we receive a lot of questions from advocates about the "ins and outs" of mandated reporting. Although Washington's law about mandated reporting is pretty straightforward, it can feel much more complex in practice. Here are some quick answers (that do not constitute legal advice) to some of the recent questions we have received on this topic:

Q:
Do I need to report sexual abuse of a minor that is not committed by a parent or caregiver? What…
Topic
  • Child Sexual Abuse
  • Mandated Reporting
WCSAP Webpage
November, 2011

Providing advocacy services for children and teens who have been sexually abused often requires specialized knowledge and skills. Ensuring that your young clients and their parents are fully informed and supported means having specific information about things such as:

  • The rights of child victims
  • The procedures for a child medical exam
  • Confidentiality and consent considerations for minors
  • Mandatory reporting
  • The roles…
Topic
  • Child Sexual Abuse
A New Study
WCSAP Webpage
December, 2013

An unpublished report based on a Department of Justice study titled "Preventing Revictimization in Teen Dating Relationships" has just been released, and contains some thought-provoking results. The study was conducted under the direction of Dr. Anne P. DePrince of the Traumatic Stress Studies Group of the University of Denver. Briefly, they conducted research with high-risk adolescent girls involved in the child welfare system, with the goal of preventing revictimization. They tested two…

Topic
  • CSA Prevention
WCSAP Webpage
March, 2013

Trauma can profoundly affect children's development. In an article highlighted on the website Zero to Three (National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families), Dr. Theodore Gaensbauer discusses the "Developmental and Therapeutic Aspects of Treating Infants and Toddlers Who Have Witnessed Violence." Dr. Gaensbauer's framework for understanding how trauma affects children has even wider significance, applying to older children and to those affected…

Topic
  • Child Sexual Abuse
  • Trauma
Part 1
WCSAP Webpage
February, 2016

Many young people feel being pressured into having sex or participating in a sexual act before one feels entirely ready is a normal part of growing up; this is especially true if they have received little to no healthy relationship and sex education. However, we know this is a form of sexual violence and advocates working with youth have a unique opportunity to debunk this myth. Every person has complete control over their body and choice with whom and when they decide to hug, kiss, have sex…

Topic
  • Child Sexual Abuse
  • IPSV
  • CSA Prevention
WCSAP Webpage
January, 2013

When youth in one study were asked if they knew "where to find resources for GLBT youth experiencing dating violence," only 10% identified domestic violence or sexual assault services (Freedner et al., 2002). Many sexual assault programs struggle to reduce barriers for teens to access their services; in the case of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning) youth, the barriers may be even more substantial. It's important to note that the term "teen dating violence,"…

Topic
  • Child Sexual Abuse
  • LGBTQ
Fundamentación y Manejo de Ansiedad en Niños Jóvenes, Serie: Parte 1 de 3
WCSAP Webpage
September, 2021

Mientras seguimos avanzando con este “nuevo normal” que nos ha dejado la pandemia, es natural y esperado que ambos niños y padres sientan un aumento en su ansiedad. Esto es frecuentemente empeorado por la falta de privacidad generada por tener a toda la familia en casa- trabajando desde el hogar, o haciendo estudios escolares en línea. En situaciones como estas, es importante tener estrategias adicionales para poder facilitar este nuevo desafío. En esta serie nos estaremos enfocando en…

Topic
  • Child Sexual Abuse
  • Culturally Specific
  • Latinx
Talking to Youth About Sexual Expression
WCSAP Webpage
August, 2017

Sex and sexuality are important and integral parts of most young people’s lives, and survivors of sexual abuse and assault are no exception. In fact, survivors may find it more necessary to explore their sexual identity and more complex to navigate engaging in sexual activity. This may be due to real, projected, or feared impacts of sexual assault on aspects of sexuality, including sexual identity, sexual relationships, and sexual experiences. As advocates, it’s crucial we provide space for…

Topic
  • Child Sexual Abuse
  • LGBTQ
Fight or Flight, Then Freeze
WCSAP Webpage
October, 2016

Often in advocacy we are asked by survivors “why didn’t I fight? Why am I not a fighter?” This information can be useful to share with survivors and help them be able to think more kindly about their body/brain’s reaction to the violence they experienced.

The Amygdala's Role in Stress Response

The brain’s job is to take care of the body. The brain is divided into four key areas: the neocortex/cerebrum, the cerebellum, the limbic system, and the brainstem. Each area focuses…

Topic
  • Advocacy
  • Child Sexual Abuse
WCSAP Webpage
March, 2018

For many survivors, coming forward and accessing resources also includes the pursuit of justice. However, personal feelings of justice do not always align with the traditional models of punishment-based responses that are seen as the only pathway to justice. In cases of child sexual abuse these models of justice can be even trickier to navigate due to the complicated contexts and relationships involved.

For these reasons, the framework of Transformative Justice can be helpful in…

Topic
  • Child Sexual Abuse
  • Legal Advocacy