Child sexual abuse (CSA) is an insidious crime that can destroy the lives of innocent children and leave their families devastated. The topic of child sexual abuse is, at best, a difficult subject to discuss and at worst, a horrifying one. Child sexual abuse has been defined as: "Child sexual abuse involves any sexual activity with a child where consent is not or cannot be given. This includes sexual contact that is accomplished by force or threat of force, regardless of the age of the participants, and all sexual contact between an adult and a child, regardless of whether there is deception or the child understands the sexual nature of the activity. Sexual contact between an older and a younger child also can be abusive if there is a significant disparity in age, development, or size, rendering the younger child incapable of giving informed consent. The sexually abusive acts may include sexual penetration, sexual touching, or non-contact sexual acts such as exposure or voyeurism." The following is a representative list of risk factors related specifically to child sexual abuse within youth-serving organizations. Note that the emphasis is on "unsupervised" access to children in a variety of ways. * Unsupervised contact with children * Transportation of children * Long term contact with children in live-in situation * Extreme physical exertion in a remote setting with children * Visit to children's homes * Helping children change clothes, bathe, or with other personal activities * Coaching sports in which physical contact between adult and child is routine * Delivery of meals to children's homes While many of the YSO's have undertaken a number of steps to keep the children safe, there are many such organizations that have not faced the facts about the profound risks to children that exist every day.

This brief approaches the challenging topic of child sexual abuse from an objective, evidence-based perspective. It offers an overview of child sexual abuse, including definitions and a clear explanation of the epidemiology. The text also explores the conceptual frameworks that seek to explain how a child comes to be sexually abused by an adult or older adolescent. In the chapters, the authors present credible prevalence and incidence studies that are used to provide a scientific response to how common this problem is. In addition, they address the policy implications for a myriad of prevention and treatment initiatives as well as related issues such as delayed reporting and the risk for sexual abuse within child serving organizations. Finally, the brief concludes with the authors' recommendations for the future on how best to prevent child sexual abuse in the first place. Prevention of child sexual abuse is very different than prevention of child physical abuse and neglect and requires a different framework and set of initiatives. Child Sexual Abuse: Current Evidence, Clinical Practice, and Policy Directions is a must-have resource for a range of professionals including healthcare providers, child advocates, clinical social workers, public health officials, mental health providers, and legislative staff professionals. It also is written in a readable manner for members of the lay public.

Youth-serving organizations strive to create a safe environment for youth, employees, and volunteers so that youth can grow, learn, and have fun.

Ten percent of students surveyed say they were abused at school - that is nearly 4.5 million U.S. students. That number doesn't begin to address the children who were abused in day care centers, boys and girls clubs, faith organizations, sports programs, and other youth-serving organizations. Child molesters need access in order to abuse and what better way to gain it than to work for an organization that serves youth? As a youth-serving organization leader, staff member, or parent, this book will guide you to create an environment where child molesters virtually cannot succeed without being caught and therefore won't want to work. We all play a part in the solution and these pages provide step-by-step instructions on your part. Are you ready to get started?

Lauren is happy until a babysitter makes her feel uncomfortable. Lauren's courage helps her overcome her problem and help a friend as well.