Children who are victims of abuse must depend on the adults in their lives to pay attention to warning signs, believe them when they tell us something is wrong, and respond responsibly.

Handling Disclosures

There are no hard and fast rules that dictate how to respond when a child comes to you and tells you he or she is being abused. Common sense dictates that care must be taken to protect the child and honor the courage it takes to disclose. The following are a few guidelines that may help:

• Allow the child to tell his or her story in their own way; avoid probing questions.
• Use very matter-of-fact language; show concern but try not to act overly alarmed.
• Tell the child that what happened was not the child's fault.
• Let the child know that you will be talking to other people who may be able to help keep them safe. (Avoid making promises)
• Tell the child how brave they are for telling a grownup and let them know you will be available if they want to talk again.