OUR WORK
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Child sexual abuse, or CSA, can be a difficult topic to talk - or even think - about. But in Alaska, child sexual abuse is all too common and is something our communities must break the silence around in order to heal, address, and move forward.
DID YOU KNOW?
13.7%
of Alaska adults reported experiencing child sexual abuse, from 2013-2015.
35.5%
of Alaska women reported experiencing child sexual abuse in 2020.
According to the nonprofit STAR (Standing Together Against Rape), Alaska’s rate of CSA is almost six times the national average. CSA happens to children of all ages. The median age for reported abuse is 9 years old.
Nationwide, one in four girls and one in thirteen boys will be sexually abused at some point during childhood. But only 38% of child survivors will disclose the fact that they have been sexually abused, meaning 62% of survivors never disclose their abuse. It’s time to change that. Alaska Children’s Trust is working to break the silence surrounding child sexual abuse. Learn more about our pilot program, Pathway to Hope, below.
91%
of CSA is perpetrated by someone the child or the child’s family knows.
8%
of confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect experienced CSA in 2018, up from 4% in 2009.
HOW TO REPORT
Report Child Sexual Abuse to OCS and Law Enforcement
According to Alaska state law, mandatory reporters must report suspected child sexual abuse to both the Office of Children’s Services and local law enforcement. We encourage every Alaskan to report instances of suspected child sexual abuse, because every adult can lend a hand in keeping children and youth safe.
Report to the Office of Children’s Services by calling the Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-478-4444
Then, contact the local law enforcement agency assigned to the area where the abuse took place. If you don’t know which agency to call or how to contact them, you can ask Office of Children’s Services when you call or use its ‘Mandatory Reporting App’.
FINDING HELP
Connecting Alaskans Experiencing or Healing from a Crisis
STAR (Standing Together Against Rape) offers a 24/7 free and confidential crisis line. Call (907) 276-7273 or (800) 478-8999.
Careline Alaska offers a 24/7 free and confidential crisis line at 1-877-266-4357. Or text 4help to 839863 from 3-11 pm, Tuesday-Saturday.
Find a Child Advocacy Center in Alaska here Child Advocacy Centers are places where children and safe caregivers can visit following a concern of abuse, witnessing violence, or sexual exploitation.
Find services for domestic violence and sexual assault in your community here.
View ACT’s complete Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Toolkit here.
OUR WORK
Pathway to Hope (PTH)
Pathway to Hope is an Alaska Native framework for community-led prevention of child sexual abuse that also informs the development of tools to heal. Initially developed in 2004 by Alaska Native leaders, in conjunction with Diane Payne at the Tribal Law and Policy Institute, PTH helps communities break the silence surrounding child sexual abuse, promote healing for survivors, and prevent future abuse. PTH trains Community Facilitators, who implement the program in their own communities, to give each community ownership of its own journey towards healing and thriving. While staying flexible to meet the unique needs and readiness of each community, PTH helps communities explore the impact of historical trauma on the safety of children today, understand child sexual abuse in Alaska, recognize the barriers preventing communities from acknowledging and addressing it, and, ultimately, design and implement strategies to prevent child sexual abuse and promote healing.
Primary Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse in the Municipality of Anchorage
In late 2021 and early 2022, Alaska Children’s Trust convened two groups of Anchorage-based stakeholders to discuss the primary prevention of CSA in Anchorage.
Stakeholders discussed work already being done around CSA, as well as gaps in current prevention work. Building on these conversations, ACT will conduct a full community readiness assessment on the primary prevention of CSA in Anchorage.
Thank you to our Pathway to Hope sponsors
You make our work to prevent child sexual abuse possible. We are so appreciative of what you do for Alaska’s children and our future generations.
