WHAT IS THE NEED?

According to statistics, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually victimized by the time they reach the age of 16. This is what is reported - however, one of the major issues surrounding CSA is that it is shrouded by silence, and is severely underreported. Therefore, many professionals estimate that that these numbers are actually much, much higher.

The need is great, however it can be difficult to address and meet, due to the lack of research regarding child sexual abuse and the prevailing view that the topic is controversial. We believe that there is nothing controversial about protecting children. In order to meet the need, we must be able to understand what it truly is- this means gather data that truly reflects the incidence and prevalence of child sexual abuse in America, as well as developing awareness within our communities about the prevalence and dangers of sexual abuse. (Incidence is the number of new cases each year and prevalence is the percentage of people in a population who have had these experiences.)

At The Innocence Mission, we believe that there is a need to proactively prevent abuse, not simply reacting to the problem. We are committed to implementing an education program for youth serving professionals, parents and guardians. By increasing communication about sexual abuse and recognizing the signs of sexual abuse in children we hope to stop abuse before it begins. For those who have been victimized, we are dedicated to showing them compassion, kindness and support. We hope to achieve this by developing a victim’s assistance fund to help victims and their families pay for treatment and rehabilitation.