The Key Premises of Our Work

Adults Stepping Forward
We adults--not our children--must be responsible for stopping the cycle of abuse. Counting on children to recognize and report abuse means waiting until a trauma has occurred before anything can be done. While children must be warned and trained about child sexual abuse, expecting them to bear the primary burden of prevention is unrealistic.

People Who Sexually Abuse Children Can Stop
Contrary to popular belief, sexually abusive behavior can be treated and people who abuse can stop. Really! Experts in the fields of prevention and treatment agree that many people who sexually offend will stop their harmful actions if they are reached, held accountable and receive proper specialized treatment—the earlier the better. Specialized interventions with children who act out sexually are particularly effective.

People Who Have Sexually Offended Live in Our Communities
But the reality is, we haven’t identified most of them. People whose names are on the Sex Offender Registry make up only a tiny portion of the people living in our communities who sexually abuse children. Often, those on the Registry have committed themselves to turning their lives around and to never repeating their offense. In many instances, the greater risk is posed by someone we know and love, who in secret, has horribly lost control of their impulses and needs help to stop. Those who are struggling with sexual thoughts about children must be held accountable for their actions. But just as importantly, they need to be given options and support to get help to stop.

Addressing the Root Causes

Stop It Now! programs go beyond treating the symptoms of child sexual abuse to address the root causes through four tools. We offer:

Resources for all adults to learn to recognize and challenge behaviors in families, in friends and in the community that make children vulnerable to abuse.
Information and support for people at risk to abuse to get help before they hurt a child.
A challenge to anyone currently abusing a child to stop the abuse immediately, and to develop a plan to take whatever steps necessary to accept responsibility for the harm they’ve caused and to turn their lives around.
Strategies to build a social climate that says "We will no longer tolerate the sexual abuse of children."