Child Survivors Justice Program Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office
Child sexual abuse is a traumatic experience that does not solely affect the victims. Children who have experienced sexual abuse have support systems that also are negatively impacted by this trauma. Specifically, children’s non-offending caregivers and siblings often present with trauma-related symptoms and difficulty functioning after the disclosure of child sexual abuse. As a result, family systems can suffer as victims work towards individual healing and families seek to address secondary trauma. This workshop will explore how child sexual abuse affects survivors and their families, focusing on characteristics unique to non-offending caregivers and siblings of victims. The workshop will also identify treatment modalities and trauma-informed action steps that promote healthy family dynamics and functioning after disclosure of child sexual abuse.
Learning Objectives:
Identify how child sexual abuse uniquely affects non-offending caregivers and siblings
Explore how child sexual abuse impacts overall family functioning
Identify treatment modalities and systemic supports that promote healthy family dynamics and collective healing