Home > Parenting a Child Who Has Been Sexually Abused: A Guide for Foster and Adoptive Parents

Parenting a Child Who Has Been Sexually Abused: A Guide for Foster and Adoptive Parents
Factsheet for Families

Author(s):  Child Welfare Information Gateway

Year Published:  2008

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Many factors affect how children react to and recover from sexual abuse. Parents play an important role in their children?s recovery. This factsheet includes information to help foster and adoptive parents of children who have been sexually abused. It includes information about child sexual abuse, tips for establishing guidelines for safety and privacy in the family, and guidance on when and how to seek help, if needed.

You may be a foster or adoptive parent of a child who was sexually abused before coming to your home. In some cases, you will not be certain that abuse has occurred, but you may suspect it. You may even be exploring becoming a foster or adoptive parent to a child in the foster care system; many of these children have been abused or neglected—physically, emotionally, or sexually—before coming into care.

You may feel confused, frightened, and unsure of the impact the sexual abuse of a child may have on your child and family. It is important for you to understand that the term "sexual abuse" describes a wide range of experiences. Many factors—including the severity of abuse as well as others discussed later in this factsheet—affect how children react to sexual abuse and how they recover. Most children who have been abused do not go on to abuse others, and many go on to live happy, healthy, successful lives. As parents, you will play an important role in your child's recovery from childhood abuse.¹

This factsheet discusses how you can help children in your care by educating yourself about sexual abuse, establishing guidelines for safety and privacy in your family, and understanding when and how to seek help if you need it.

Table of Contents

1. Educating yourself

2. Establishing family guidelies for safety and privacy

3. Seeking help

Conclusion

Child Welfare Information Gateway would like to acknowledge the contributions of Eliana Gil, Ph.D., Director of Clinical Services for Childhelp® and a nationally known lecturer, author, and clinician specializing in working with children who have been abused and their families; and Susan A. Rich, Ph.D., a psychologist in private practice in Canada who specializes in working with children who have been abused and those with sexual behavior problems and offers consultation and training to child welfare agencies and foster and adoptive parents.

Suggested Citation: Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2008). Parenting a child who has been sexually abused: A guide for foster and adoptive parents. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

¹ Although the term "parents" is used throughout this factsheet, the information and strategies provided may be equally helpful for kinship care providers, guardians, and other caregivers. back

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This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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Updated on October 9, 2009