Taking a Stand

I promised ya'll over the weekend that I would soon post some ways that we can stand against childhood sexual exploitation. From the website of Second Life here in Chattanooga, here are some signs to be aware of when monitoring children for signs of sexual abuse:

Signs of Child Sexual Exploitation
-Serious changes in behavior – children once open about friends and activities are now hostile, secretive, defensive about what they are doing and who they are spending time with.
-Going out in clothes that are ‘too old for them’ or that they have borrowed from older young women.
-Going places that you know they can not afford.
-Coming home with expensive gifts such as mobile phones, jewelry – even drugs – and not being able to explain how they came by them.
-Frequently staying out late, without explaining why.
-Repeated truanting, missing from home regularly or for unusually long periods of time.
-Being found in areas where they have no reason to be or coming home after days or nights away, looking well-cared for even though they have had nowhere to stay.
-Getting into trouble with the police, committing crimes.
-Bruises, marks on the body, sexually-transmitted diseases, pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse or self-harm.
-Repeated phone calls, letters, emails from adults outside family social circle.
-Strangers hanging about outside your home.
-Young people getting into cars with unknown adults.
-Associating with other young people known to be victims of sexual exploitation.
-Friends at school express concern for them.
-Agencies expressing concern.
-Young people may try to tell you about their situation but not be able to