Responding to a child’s disclosure of sexual abuse

Abuse often damages a child’s sense of trust, safety, and self-worth. Your job as the first adult to hear their story is to help restore those three things as quickly as possible.

What you say and do in that moment can either begin to rebuild what’s been broken, or deepen the wound.

Based on survivors’ testimonials, here are a few important steps you can take to give support to a child who discloses their abuse.