Exam 8: Disclosure of Child Abuse and Neglect

Parents (more often fathers) are usually the first recipients when children disclose abuse.

Children and youth have high rates of delayed disclosure of sexual abuse.

Mandatory reporters should reassure children that they have not done anything wrong and they are not in trouble.

Mandatory reporters must support a child is disclosing sexual abuse, gather basic information, and report to CPS.

Prompted or elicited refers to disclosures that are assisted by other people.

Male victims of child sexual abuse tend to blame others for the abuse.

When schools do not provide a supportive environment to students such as investigating the reasons for student behaviour, this can hinder disclosure of sexual abuse.

It may be particularly difficult for children to disclose sexual abuse when the perpetrator resides with them.

When disclosing children always reveal bits of information over time, not in chronological order, and to a range of different people.

The modal rate of childhood sexual abuse disclosure is 40%.