Supports for Families

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention, Reporting and Resources

Across KPR, everyone has a role to play in safety and preventing harm.   

In Ontario Bill 123, Erin’s Law (Child sexual abuse prevention and reporting) amends the Education Act to outline the responsibilities of school boards with the aim of enhancing child sexual abuse prevention and reporting for students, school staff, and parents. 

Learn more about Erin’s Law and implementation at KPR

As part of the implementation of Erin’s Law, KPR has developed these collections of resources to support parents and caregivers:  

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention

Understand and identify child sexual abuse (Canadian Centre for Child Protection) 

Keeping kids safe (Canadian Centre for Child Protection) 

Online safety (Canadian Centre for Child Protection) 

Kids in the Know – Resources for parents 

Child sexual abuse: It’s your business 

Parenting in the online world 

  • Recognizing that many parents may feel overwhelmed trying to keep their kids safe on devices, this booklet includes information on current trends and risks such as online luring, sextortion, deepfakes, and online sexual violence. 

3 steps for choosing a child safe organization 

Protecting your child – children under 12 

  • Intended to help parents/guardians better understand the issue of child sexual abuse. Topics covered include the scope of child sexual abuse, personal boundaries, adult supervision, children’s use of internet-enabled devices, concerning sexual behaviour in children, what to talk to your child about, and reporting. Protecting your child – children under 12 

Kids in the Know: 7 Root Safety Strategies 

  • This safety sheet highlights the 7 Root Safety Strategies, which are the foundation of the Kids in the Know program (used at KPR). 

  • English version

  • French version 

Personal safety: 5 topics for discussion with 4-7 years olds 

Child development safety sheets 

  • These safety sheets provide background information on child development and personal safety 

  • 11-12 years English      11-12 years French

Safety planning activity books 

Websites 

  • Notifications sent out to inform the public of concerning technology trends and new resources designed to increase children’s personal safety 

  • This site uses information from Cybertip.ca to help parents stay informed about age-specific interests of young people, the risks they face online, and proactive strategies for helping to make their child’s online experiences safer. 

Child Sexual Abuse Reporting

If you are in crisis and need to speak with someone immediately, please call 911.

Counselling and Resources

For Children Who Are Sexually Abused and Their Families

If you are in crisis and need to speak with someone immediately, please call 911.

Suicide Crisis Helpline 

  • Available 24/7 

  • Call 9-8-8    

  • Text 9-8- (Text message rates apply) 

Kids Help Phone 

  • Available 24/7 

  • Text CONNECT to 686868 

Hope for Wellness Helpline 

  • Available 24/7 to all Indigenous people across Canada 

Canadian Centre for Child Protection 

Canadian Centre for Child Protection 

Information, resources and/or support for survivors of child sexual abuse and family members of survivors 

Services include: 

  • Information for caregivers concerned about online situation 

  • Helping survivors and caregivers manage through a crisis and navigate next steps 

  • Information and support for reporting to appropriate services 

  • Supporting survivors and caregivers with safety planning throughout the situation 

  • Helping to disrupt the availability of the abusive and harmful material online 

  • Helping connect survivors and caregivers to additional support services like counselling/therapy, peer support, or victim services that may be available in their region 

  • Advocating for families to help coordinate multi-system responses 

  • Assisting with victim impact statements specific to online victimization for criminal proceedings 

  • Providing information about financial supports/remedies specific to online victimization 

Need Help Now

NeedHelpNow.ca  

  • Provide detailed steps to remove an intimate or sexual image shared online 

  • Support team available to assist with removing content shared online, and to provide support for those who have been negatively impacted by the sharing of an intimate or sexual image, or have been sexually victimized online 

Ontario211

  • A helpline that easily connects people to the social services, programs and community supports they need. 

  • Available 24/7 

  • Call or text 2-1-1 

Durham Region 

  • Emotional support, resources, referrals and advocacy 

  • Help finding financial assistance 

  • Safety planning 

  • Assistance navigating systems like social services, subsidized housing, police, ODSP, Ontario Works and more 

*Note: Police involvement is not required to receive support 

Peterborough region

  • Crisis support: 1-888-822-7729 

  • Peterborough: 705-748-0324  

Northumberland region

  • Crisis support: 1-888-822-7729 

  • Cobourg: 905-372-2255 

Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre 

  • Consultation and service navigation 

  • Counselling 

  • Advocacy and accompaniment for related appointments 

  • Office: (705) 748-5901 

  • 24/7 Crisis support: 1-866-298-7778 

Understanding child sexual abuse  

Child sexual abuse: Picking up the pieces 

Online child sexual victimization: Picking up the pieces  

For parents/guardians whose tween/teenage child has experienced online victimization. It offers practical considerations for how they can support their child, take appropriate action to protect them, and help them to move forward and heal. Online child sexual victimization: Picking up the pieces English  Online child sexual victimization: Picking up the pieces French

Safeguarding your child 

  • For parents/guardians whose child was or may have been sexually abused. It builds on Child Sexual Abuse: Picking up the Pieces and helps parents/guardians continue on the healing journey, addressing issues that may present as their child gets older. Safeguarding your child English  Safeguarding your child French

Helpful links