Telling someone you have been sexually abused takes courage. If your child tells you he/she has been sexually abused:

• Find a private place to talk.
   
• Stay calm. Displaying a strong reaction may cause your child to shut down. Don’t overreact. Don’t underreact.
   
• Believe what your child tells you. While children are sometimes confused about the details, they rarely lie about sexual abuse.
   
• Thank your child for telling you and praise her courage. If she expresses guilt or shame, let her know the abuse was not her fault.
   
• Be careful not to make negative comments about the abuser since your child likely knows and cares about that person.
   
• Don’t question your child about the abuse as this could jeopardize an ensuing investigation. If he wants to talk about the abuse, listen carefully. Afterwards, write down what he said—in as much detail as you can remember.
   
• Don’t correct your child’s language if she doesn’t use the proper terms for private body parts. Use her language.
   
• Respect the feelings your child is experiencing. Each child expresses his or her feelings differently.
   
• Tell your child you will be taking action to keep her safe, but be careful not to promise things you can’t control (e.g., “I’ll make sure he goes to jail”).
   
• Call DCF’s 24-hour Child Protection Line to report the abuse: 1-800-649-5285. DCF staff will work with law enforcement to address the situation and will help you figure out the next steps.