Policy Process

History of Child Sex Abuse:

The child sex abuse issue has been in existence since time immemorial. In the U.S, child sex abuse is a major social issue that continues to undermine the role of social workers. CSA involves a child in sexual activity that they do not fully comprehend and cannot give informed consent. The child is not developmentally prepared, or else that violates society's laws or social taboos. Children can be sexually abused by adults and other children under age or stage of development – in a position of responsibility, trust, or power over the victim. The report issued by the APA in 2015 on the child sex abuse issue showed that today, one in ten children in Indiana is either a victim of child sex abuse or is suffering from the consequences of this problem (Francis, 2019). Child sex abuse was ranked amongst the top current social issues in the United States. Moreover, the issue has been identified to have severe and long-term consequences to children, parents, and the whole community. The rate of teenage pregnancies in the United States continues to increase as many counties continue to record cases of teenage pregnancy. The analysis of the child sex abuse documented in the U.S over the past five years showed that 40 percent of the cases are from low-income district schools (Francis, 2019). The previous UN report showed that people of color are more associated with child sex abuse. This report followed the study conducted by the National Association of Social Workers (2013) to determine causes of teenage pregnancy in the United States and why more cases of teenage pregnancy are associated with minority groups. Some reports show that child sex abuse is common in low-income families and families where both parents and one parent is a drug addict. The APA showed that children between 8 and 12 are at increased risk of child abuse. In the United States, the criminal justice system showed that many families cover up child abuse cases and do not report them to investigative agencies. It also limits the ability of law enforcement agencies to extract information and identify proper strategies to reduce child sex abuse in the communities.

Another report showed that over 40 percent of the total child sex abuse cases reported in the United States originate from schools (Amédée et al., 2019). The analysis of the child sex abuse recorded in the U.S over the past five years showed that 40 percent of the cases are from low-income district schools (Francis, 2019). The analysis conducted to determine children at risk of sexual assault in district schools showed that children in low-income schools are more susceptible to child abuse than affluent schools. More teachers from low-income district schools have been charged with child sex abuse than teachers from affluent schools over the past five years.

Effects of Child Sex Abuse on the Population:

Child sex abuse has a damaging impact on the ability of the child to maintain and form close relationships. Hence, survivors of sexual abuse tend to lose trust in the opposite sex, which may affect their behaviors during adolescence and adulthood (Banton & West, 2020). Children who have been abused may display a range of emotional and behavioral reactions. The reactions may include withdrawn behavior, increased nightmares, anxiety, depression, not wanting to be alone, sexual language, knowledge, and inappropriate behavior for the child's age. The victims can have challenges talking to partners, family members, and friends concerning sexual abuse.

Various approaches have been put in place to address child sex abuse in the U.S (Banton & West, 2020). These approaches include activism, the development of policies, and media use to educate the public on the dangers of child sex abuse. The fight against child sex abuse has been significant due to stronger laws against sexual violence. Specific policies that do not require the survivors of sexual assaults to prove that they physically fought back against their assailants for the case to be considered rape have reduced the number of child sex abuse in the country. Besides, the government has also put heavy penalties on assailants that include but are not limited to death sentencing or life imprisonment. However, other states still have far to go (National Association of Social Workers, 2013). States that allow the perpetrators to have parental rights and custody of children born due to sexual assault should change their policies to ensure that the rights of assailants are limited in that they face the full force of the law and face consequences.

Steps the Social Worker will Employ to Identify a Policy: 

The step I will use to identify the policy is to identify the multisectoral approach that involves all the stakeholders. My approach will support parents by teaching them positive parenting skills and enhancing laws to prohibit violent punishment. Moreover, I will propose ongoing care of children and families to reduce child sex abuse reoccurring.

Conclusion:

Child sex abuse is a significant issue that has affected many people's lives across the United States. Globally, over 300 million children aged 2-4 years regularly suffer physical punishment from caregivers, parents, or teachers. World Health Organization (2020) further indicated that a child who is abused is likely to abuse others as an adult so that violence is passed down from one generation to the next.

References:

Amédée, L. M., Tremblay‐Perreault, A., Hébert, M., & Cyr, C. (2019). Child victims of sexual abuse: teachers' evaluation of emotion regulation and social adaptation in school. Psychology in the Schools, 56(7), 1077-1088.

Banton, O., & West, K. (2020). Gendered perceptions of sexual abuse: investigating the effect of offender, victim and observer gender on the perceived seriousness of child sexual abuse. Journal of child sexual abuse, 29(3), 247-262.