Harbor House provides a highly-effective and interactive presentation that delivers practical and vital information to parents and other adults serving in a caregiver role to children.  In addition to several other topics, simple (but often overlooked) precautions that can be taken to reduce a child’s risk of becoming a victim are discussed. The presentation is free-of-charge.

The presentation has been primarily utilized with churches and similar organizations.  However, the presentation can be used with any organization comprised of parents or any others who serve in a caregiver role to children.

If you are interested in bringing the presentation to your organization, contact us via e-mail or call Ted Buckenham, Services Coordinator, at (706) 235-5437.

Purpose

• Interactive presentation to discuss simple but not-so-common-sense ways that you can reduce the risk of your child becoming a victim of abuse
• How you can teach your child personal safety skills
• How you should respond if/when you learn that your child has been victimized

Audience

• Any person who serves in a caregiver role to a child (parents, grandparents, other adult caregivers, teachers, children’s ministry volunteers/workers, parent groups, etc.)
• Because discussions about abuse will be matter-of-fact, this presentation is not recommended for persons under 16 years old

Topics Covered

• Clarify myths and facts regarding child abuse and how children respond.  For example:  When a child makes an outcry, he/she is most likely to tell a close adult—most likely a biological mother. (Myth, most children do not tell a close relative first.)
• Ways that caregivers can reduce children’s risks of being victimized.  For example:  When using a babysitter, occasionally come home 1 hour earlier than the time you tell the babysitter you are expecting to return
• How caregivers can teach their child safety skills without teaching the "birds and the bees."

If/When your child makes an outcry…

• In the best interest of your child, what to say and do…
• In the best interest of your child, what not to say and do…

What this presentation is not…

• A presentation on how to teach your kids “stranger danger.” Most sexual abuse (over 92%) is committed by a “trusted” person who was previously known to the child and his/her family.
• A presentation on “warning signs” to lookout for...  Warning signs, when they are present, are often ambiguous and can be attributed to other causes.  Why wait for “warning signs” to take action?

What the presentation is based upon…

• Lessons learned from actual cases—including tricks and lures used by perpetrators to gain trust in the child and his/her family; why these children did not tell right away; what made these children decide to eventually make an outcry; and what variables led to children making an outcry sooner.