4 core pillars:
Prevention, Investigation, Prosecution, and Restoration
Prevention
Preventing child sexual abuse (CSA) requires open, honest, and age-appropriate dialogue between parents and their children. The Pillar of Prevention is foundational to CSA prevention, and initiating this conversation with our children requires us to consider that there exists the possibility of our children becoming victims of child sexual abuse.
Investigation
When prevention efforts fail and your child or a child you care about has been sexually abused, there is no more critical time for the child than immediately following their disclosure. Therefore, understanding how an investigation works before you walk alongside a child-victim could mean the difference between justice and injustice for both the offender and the victim.
Prosecution
The prosecution of the offender occurs only after a successful investigation and a deputy district attorney believes they can prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. A family’s participation in the prosecutorial process is just as important as their involvement and cooperation during the investigation. The prosecution is where all the facts come to light and the truth is sought. Prosecuting an offender of child sexual abuse can be challenging because their exposure to lengthy prison terms is greater. The thought of entering a courtroom and telling a very personal and traumatic story can seem daunting for an adult. How much more challenging must it be for a child to testify against someone who was known, trusted or loved.
Restoration
The hope of a future after trauma is a desperate need. The stories you will hear of children who have endured, overcome, and fought for a future full of hope will move you. You will also gain the confidence that you and your child will also experience full and complete restoration.