S.T.O.P.- Child Sexual Abuse Prevention

S.T.O.P.- Child Sexual Abuse Prevention : Empowering Communities

What does S.T.O.P. teach instead ☺️

Is S.T.O.P.'S approach appropriate for young children? 😊

S.T.O.P. teaches families to move beyond “stranger danger” and focus on recognizing unsafe behaviors, not unsafe people. We help parents learn how to teach children:

That safety is about how someone behaves, not who they areThat it’s okay to feel uncomfortable even with people they knowThat trusted adults should never ask for secrecy, break boundaries, or make them feel confused or afraid

This approach helps children stay aware without being fearful.

Is S.T.O.P.'S approach appropriate for young children? 😊

Yes. Teaching children about unsafe behaviors can be done in simple, age-appropriate, and non-scary ways.

Our workshops focus on giving parents language and conversation tools that feel natural and supportive, helping children understand boundaries and trust their instincts without introducing explicit or alarming information.

Why is this approach more effective?☺️

When children are only warned about strangers, they may struggle to speak up if something feels wrong with someone they know. Teaching children to recognize unsafe behaviors helps them understand that their feelings matter, no matter who is involved. This approach encourages:

Open communicatiom

Earlier reporting

Greater confidence in speaking up

How does this help parents? 🫶🏻

Why is this approach more effective?☺️

Many parents want to protect their children but aren’t sure how to start the conversation without causing fear. S.T.O.P. equips parents with practical tools and the language to make safety conversations easier, ongoing, and empowering.

Why “stranger danger” is no longer effective 👀

“Stranger danger” messaging was created with good intentions, but research and real-world experience have shown that it does not reflect how most unsafe situations actually occur today. The majority of harm to children does not come from unknown strangers. Instead, unsafe behavior is more likely to involve familiar or trusted individuals, including adults or older youth a child already knows. Because of this, focusing only on strangers can leave children unprepared to recognize unsafe behavior when it comes from someone familiar. S.T.O.P. encourages a balanced approach that teaches children to recognize unsafe behaviors in any situation and to talk to a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right

ABOUT❤️

WHY WE FOCUSING ON "GROOMING"🤔

What does "Teach-To-Tell" mean?

"Prevention starts when children feel safe to tell about unsafe behavior"