Help & Support
There are so many amazing organizations out there working to help fight against child abuse. The resources listed below have been recommended by a Psychologist to provide valuable content for prevention, awareness, survivor support, and a goal to end child sexual abuse.
erinslaw.org
- Students in grades preK – 12th grade, age-appropriate techniques to recognize child sexual abuse and tell a trusted adult
- School personnel all about child sexual abuse
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Parents & guardians the warning signs of child sexual abuse, plus needed assistance, referral or resource information to support sexually abused children and their families
Erin’s Law is named after childhood sexual assault survivor, author, speaker and activist Erin Merryn, who is the founder and President of Erin’s Law, which is registered with the State of Illinois and the IRS as a 501 (c)(4) non-profit social welfare organization.
RAINN.org
[Rape Abuse & Inscest National Network]
(800.566.HOPE) // Live Chat
RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. They worked closely with HBO’s airing of Leaving Neverland to help support viewers (especially survivors) along with sharing additional resources. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.566.HOPE) and Live Chat, and has helpful information on safety & prevention, sexual assault prevention programs for schools, and survivor stories.
Thorn.org
Thorn builds technology to defend children and to make the internet safer for kids. They’ve formed partnerships with tech companies, law enforcement, and NGOs, giving them valuable tools to help kids.
Three of their initiatives are:
- Spotlight, a product that accelerates victim identification and helps law enforcement make the best use of the critical time they have to find child sex trafficking victims.
- BEFREE, a text shortcode for the National Human Trafficking Hotline number to give kids a life-line on their phones and create an outlet for those who might see suspicious behavior.
- A text shortcode to immediately speak with a trained Crisis Text Line counselor from the Crisis Text Line if you are a victim of Sextortion. Text ‘THORN’ to 741741
ChildUSA.org
CHILD USA investigates, impacts, and informs the laws in America that should protect children and their civil liberties to keep them safe from abuse. Millions of children's civil rights are violated every single day in the United States, and the child abuse statutes of limitation protect those abusers. CHILD USA’s mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect and to help kids stay kids.
MissingKids.org
[NCMEC - National Center for Missing and Exploited Children]
1-800-THE-LOST or CyberTipline
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization. NCMEC works with families, victims, private industry, law enforcement, and the public to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation.
They run the CyberTipline, the nation’s centralized reporting system for the online exploitation of children: 1-800-THE-LOST or CyberTipline
HumanTraffickingHotline.org
1-888-373-7888 // Chat
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. This crime occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will.
- Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888:
Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocates are available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking. - Text the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 233733
- Chat with the National Human Trafficking Hotline
- Submit a tip online through the anonymous online reporting form
ourresilience.org
312-443-9603 // info@ourresilience.org
SNAPnetwork.org
[Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests]
SNAP is the largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious and institutional authorities (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns, coaches, teachers, and others).
They include a list of states with active investigations as well as hotlines that have been set up for survivors to share their experiences.
---------- Support for parents ----------
View our Resources for Kids Page
defendinnocence.org
Defend Innocence is a brand of The Younique Foundation, a public charity founded by Shelaine and Derek Maxfield, with a mission to eradicate child sexual abuse and its effects. At Defend Innocence, we focus on risk reduction and prevention of child sexual abuse and invite parents, caregivers, and community leaders to become involved in protecting children.
TheMamaBearEffect.org
The Mama Bear Effect's down-to-earth educational resources help families and communities all over the world Rock the Talk® to raise awareness and protect children from the threat of sexual abuse. From parents and caregivers to advocates and prevention-focused organizations, they offer a range of tools and materials to help spark conversations and change the culture of sexual abuse, from a mindset of silence and shame to courage and compassion.
MOSAC.net
[Mothers Of Sexually Abused Children]
The MOSAC site is designed specifically for mothers who have experienced the sexual abuse of one of their children. Although fathers also suffer when a child is the victim of sexual abuse, women and mothers have specific issues related to their role and relationship to the victim. Most mothers say that they need and want help following the disclosure of a child's abuse. This site is designed to be a comprehensive source of information about sexual abuse and to offer support and resources to mothers.
---------- Support for people who identify as women ----------
YouniqueFoundation.org
The Younique Foundation works hard to help women find healing after surviving child sexual abuse, but it’s not something we can do alone. To help every survivor, it takes many individuals standing up to say, “I choose to be somebody!”
Three weeks each month, The Younique Foundation hosts female survivors of childhood sexual abuse at The Haven Retreat. From Monday to Thursday, these women gather in the beautiful mountains of Utah to learn, reflect, and rejuvenate. At the retreat, you can participate in a variety of activities to help you heal from the trauma of sexual abuse.
---------- Support for people who identify as men ----------
1in6.org
Chat // Weekly Online Support Groups
At least 1 in 6 men have been sexually abused or assaulted.
Many things qualify as “unwanted sexual experiences,” even if at first a boy or man was grateful for the attention. It could include an experience that a man may not be ready to label as “sexual abuse” or “sexual assault,” or even understand how it might have been.
Healing can begin when a man recognizes the possible connection between those experiences and common consequences – consequences that can include rocky relationships, lost jobs, self-destructive behaviors, depression, and even violence.
Whatever the experience, whatever the consequence, we can help sort through the confusion – safely and anonymously.
National Helpline for Men Who Were Sexually Abused or Assaulted
Weekly Online Support Groups: Free and anonymous weekly chat-based support groups.
menhealing.org
MenHealing is an organization dedicated to providing healing resources for male-identified individuals age 18 and older who have experienced sexual trauma during childhood or as adults. They offer Weekend of Recovery (WOR) retreats that provide adjunctive support by engaging participants in creating an environment that supports safety needs and seeks to acknowledge and honor the authentic diversities of attendees.
malesurvivor.org
MaleSurvivor has been a leader in the fight to improve the resources and support available to male survivors of all forms of sexual abuse in the US and around the globe. They are a community built upon a unique foundation of respect and mutual partnership between survivors themselves and the professionals who work with them.
---------- At risk prevention resources ----------
TheGlobalPreventionProject.org
The Global Prevention Project™ is a global prevention-education effort addressing risky sexual thoughts, fantasies, and non-contact problematic sexual behavior in adult men and women. It was founded and established in 2013 by a licensed clinician and survivor of child sexual abuse who believes that prevention IS the only true intervention.
The Global Prevention Project also hosts a podcast dedicated to addressing controversial topics related to sexual violence prevention, education, and outreach.
StopItNow.org
Stop It Now! was founded on the belief that adults are in the best position to keep children safe from sexual abuse. By adults, they mean parents, survivors, family members, law enforcement, and professionals of all types. They also believe that people who might sexually abuse a child have an important role to play in prevention. No other prevention program has ever directly challenged all adults to take full responsibility for ending sexual abuse.
ASTA.com
[Association For The Treatment Of Sexual Abusers]
ATSA is an international, interdisciplinary, non-profit organization dedicated to making society safer by preventing sexual abuse. ATSA encourages sound research, effective practice, informed policy, and comprehensive prevention strategies, all designed to create safer communities. Their anonymous form helps you find a referral if you're looking for treatment.
---------- Make a difference ----------
Get Involved & Volunteer Locally
"Support for survivors is offered minimally on a national level. Local organizations drive support for survivors in communities across the United States, but they are often underfunded and understaffed. There just aren’t enough beds (Only 1,644 bed nationwide). Child survivors require mental and physical health support as part of their recovery process." (Thorn.org)
- Ways to get involved from the National Human Trafficking Hotline
- What You Can Do Today to Fight Child Sex Trafficking
- Check out local Trafficking Survivor Organizations looking for volunteers and support and the more extensive list on the Polaris Global Modern Slavery Directory
- Work in your community to support children through prevention and education of trafficking situations
- Support shelters that deal with immediate resources and necessities
- Support an organization that deals with the long-term support needed for sustainable recovery
Choose an organization to support
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support a child sexual abuse non-profit every time you shop, at no cost to you. Shop at smile.amazon.com to find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your charitable organization. You can choose from over one million organizations to support.
Use Social Media for Good
Follow the organizations listed above to stay up-to-date on the latest news, support, awareness, and prevention content that's shared.
Spread awareness and be an advocate in your home, with your friends and family, and in your communities.