Child sexual abuse is shrouded in silence and secrecy, so when such cases come to the attention of child welfare services, proper handling of the case at all levels is crucial to the ongoing physical and psychological safety of the child(ren) and family. This course will explore trainees’ own bias and misconceptions regarding sexual abuse to ensure a balanced assessment that considers family strengths, safety threats, and priority needs for inclusion in the case plan.
After attending this training, participants will be able to:
- Analyze and discuss inherently held bias, myths and misconceptions related to child sexual abuse
- Describe victim/perpetrator interplay and the role that grooming plays in setting up, maintaining, and minimizing the discovery of abuse and how to integrate this information into case planning and monitoring for safety
- Recognize factors that influence non-offending caregiver’s (NOC) response to allegations and the importance of partnering with NOC for positive child outcomes
- Utilizing a case scenario/video, list/describe the harm, danger & complicating factors, as well as family strengths and protective factors to ensure a balanced assessment
- Utilizing a scenario, create a behaviorally specific case plan that is individualize and incorporates abuse dynamics, cultural considerations, network role/responsibilities, and clear danger/safety goal statements
- Recognize best practice assessment, treatment and case management practices (i.e., network monitoring, visitation, reunification) in sexual abuse cases
Course Code
508566