Child Sexual Abuse: The Reality
This page contains content related to child sexual abuse, which may be distressing or triggering. Whether this topic affects you personally or not, please take care of your emotional well-being. If you feel overwhelmed, we encourage you to pause and reach out for support.
1 in 9 North Dakota children
According to a 2025 study published in Frontiers in Public Health, approximately 11% of children in North Dakota are expected to experience child sexual abuse—equivalent to about 1 in 9 children.
90% of children are sexually abused by someone they know
Research shows that approximately 90% of children who are sexually abused are harmed by someone they know and trust—such as a family member, family friend, coach, teacher, or neighbor. This highlights the importance of awareness, education, and open communication to help protect children and support survivors.
While the public often imagines adults as the primary perpetrators of child sexual abuse, research shows that a large proportion of these offenses—up to 70%—are committed by other minors. This underscores the importance of age-appropriate education, supervision, and early intervention.
We must believe that prevention is possible—because it is.
Every child deserves to grow up safe, respected, and free from harm. By raising awareness, educating communities, and supporting survivors, we can break the cycle of abuse.
Prevention isn’t just a hope—it’s a responsibility, and it starts with us.
Prevention Resources for Adults
At FFND, we believe that every adult has a fundamental duty to protect children.
Ensuring their safety, health, and well-being is not just a moral obligation—it’s a legal one. Each of us plays a vital role in creating a world where children are safe, supported, and free from harm.
To help you fulfill this responsibility, we’ve created and gathered essential resources designed to empower and guide you in keeping children safe.
Together, we can build a safer future for every child.
This guide, developed by the North Dakota Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force, is designed to educate and empower caregivers with practical tools and knowledge to prevent child sexual abuse. It provides essential strategies, warning signs, and proactive steps to help keep children safe.
This one-pager helps adults understand healthy sexual development in children from birth to age 18. It outlines age-appropriate behaviors and identifies signs that may indicate concerning or harmful behavior, equipping caregivers with the knowledge to support children’s development and safety.
This Internet Safety Promise is a practical guide for caregivers committed to protecting children in the digital world. It outlines key safe online practices, including setting boundaries, monitoring activity, encouraging open communication, and modeling responsible behavior—empowering adults to create a safer digital environment for kids.
Prevention Resources & Activities for Children
Body Safety Poster
Hang this poster in a visible spot—like the bathroom, bedroom, or kitchen—as a daily reminder of your child’s body safety rules and use it to spark regular conversations that help you stay actively engaged as a caregiver.
Body Safety Coloring Sheet
This coloring sheet is a fun and creative way to help children learn and remember their body safety rules, while giving caregivers a chance to talk through each concept in a relaxed, age-appropriate way.
Body Safety Activity Packet
This activity pack is a fun and engaging way for children to learn essential body safety concepts through interactive tools like role-playing games, yes/no safety scenarios, and trusted adult activities. It also provides caregivers with meaningful opportunities to guide discussions, build trust, and reinforce key safety messages in a supportive and age-appropriate way.
Prevention for Professionals
Every professional who works with children plays a vital role in preventing child sexual abuse. Whether you're a teacher, childcare provider, coach, or youth leader, your daily interactions with children put you in a unique position to recognize warning signs, create safe environments, and empower children with knowledge and support.
By staying informed and proactive, you help build a community where children are protected, heard, and safe.
Click the buttons below to access resources to help you protect children.
This guide, developed by the North Dakota Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force, offers a comprehensive resource for professionals working with children. It highlights available curriculum designed to educate and empower children, outlines training opportunities for adults to recognize and respond to abuse, and presents best practices for creating safer environments through effective policies and procedures. Whether you're an educator, childcare provider, or youth-serving professional, this guide is designed to support your efforts in protecting children and fostering safe, supportive spaces.
Children are most often victimized in isolated, one-on-one situations with minimal supervision. The school bus is one such setting—kids are together, but adult oversight is often limited. This tool offers practical suggestions to help create a safer, more supervised bus experience for every child.
FFND is proud to share educational resources from the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center to support child safety and education. These high-quality, school-based materials are designed to empower children with knowledge and confidence, and we’re excited to help make them more accessible to educators and families.
These educational materials designed for use in school settings.