Stop It Now!

Stop It Now! Stop It Now! (the Child S*x Abuse Prevention & Protection Ctr) - 30 years of preventing abuse.

Helping adults, families and communities prevent the sexual abuse of children before they are ever harmed.

Child sexual abuse is preventable. The key is equipping adults with the tools, language, and confidence to act.Whether y...
05/27/2026

Child sexual abuse is preventable. The key is equipping adults with the tools, language, and confidence to act.

Whether you're a parent who just saw something that didn't sit right, an organization leader weighing how to respond to a concern, or someone worried about your own thoughts or behaviors — you don't have to figure it out alone.

The Stop It Now! Helpline is free and confidential. Trained Helpline consultants are compassionate and non-judgmental. They will listen, help you problem-solve, and walk you through the next steps available to you.

How to reach us:
→ Call: 1.888.PREVENT (1.888.773.8368)
→ Email or chat: stopitnow.org
→ Browse the Online Help Center for common situations
→ Read the "Ask Now!" advice column for questions other adults have asked

For young people ages 14–21 with questions about their own or a friend's sexual thoughts, feelings, or behaviors, WhatsOK (whatsok.org) offers free, confidential support designed specifically for them.

A note: Helpline consultants are not therapists. They won't diagnose or provide ongoing counseling. They will help you take the next protective step.

Learn more at: https://www.stopitnow.org/get-immediate-help

A culture of safety isn't a poster on the wall. It's policies, training, and a stated welcome to anyone raising a concer...
05/26/2026

A culture of safety isn't a poster on the wall. It's policies, training, and a stated welcome to anyone raising a concern about a child.

Children are safer in schools, camps, sports, and faith communities when adults take responsibility for the environment around them. Healthy sexuality education and body-safety conversations with kids matter — but they can't carry the load alone.

A culture of safety in any youth-serving organization requires an engaged commitment to policies and procedures that address boundaries, supervision, and how to respond to concerns. And it means empowering and welcoming anyone with a worry about a child's safety to speak up.

Three places to start (or to refresh):

→ Our tip sheets on S*xual Safety in Sports, the 9 Questions Parents Need to Ask, and Safe Contact in Sports: Hands-On Adjustments.
→ The CDC's "Preventing and Responding to Child S*xual Abuse within Youth-Serving Organizations."
→ Sector-specific resources: SESAME (educational settings), Commit to Kids (general), and the Zero Abuse Project (social media policy).

Read the full post: https://www.stopitnow.org/ohc-content/prevention-for-youth-serving-organizations

"I saw the coach do things that made me deeply uncomfortable… Am I making a big deal out of nothing?" A parent wrote thi...
05/20/2026

"I saw the coach do things that made me deeply uncomfortable… Am I making a big deal out of nothing?" A parent wrote this to our Helpline recently. Our answer: no.

She described adult-like jokes with 12-year-olds, oversharing about the coach's personal life, and pats near children's lower hips. She asked if this was just him "trying to bond" with his youth athletes.

Crossing boundaries like this is one of the Behaviors to Watch for When Adults Are With Children. It doesn't mean this coach will sexually abuse the kids in his care. Sometimes adults are young or inexperienced and don't realize the environment they're creating.

But when we allow loose boundaries to go unchecked, children learn that it's OK for adults to talk about mature topics or touch them in uncomfortable ways. That makes them more vulnerable to anyone looking to harm youth.

If you're seeing something similar, here's where to start:
→ Document what you saw, in detail.
→ Check in with another parent. Many people see something but feel alone in their concerns.
→ Report up the chain. , for example, has a SafeSport Policy and a dedicated reporting email ([email protected]). You don't need proof to follow up.
→ Consider talking to the coach directly — specific, calm, and without inflammatory language.
→ Talk to your child about your family Safety Plan and which adult behaviors are not OK.

Trust your instincts. You're not making a big deal out of nothing.

Read the full advice column here: https://www.stopitnow.org/advice-column-entry/parent-worried-about-coachs-behavior

A camp leader recently asked our Helpline which areas of a child's body a counselor can touch without making the child u...
05/18/2026

A camp leader recently asked our Helpline which areas of a child's body a counselor can touch without making the child uncomfortable. It's the right impulse — and the answer is bigger than "safe spots."

Staff orientation is one of the most powerful prevention tools a camp has. It's about boundaries, supervision, and what happens when someone does something concerning.

If you're writing or refreshing your camp's orientation this spring, build in:
→ A "rule of three." When one child needs to be monitored, two adults are always present. It protects the child AND the counselor.
→ Boundary training that goes both directions. Staff should know how to recognize concerning behavior from a fellow staff member, not only from a child.
→ Warning-sign education on the behaviors that put kids at risk — and clear guidance on what to do next when staff see them.
→ An incident response plan, including how to handle child-to-child sexual incidents.
→ Two starting resources: our tip sheet "Safety in Youth-Serving Settings" and the CDC's guide, "Preventing Child S*xual Abuse Within Youth-Serving Organizations."

The training you do this spring will shape the summer your campers have. Thank you for doing this work.

Read the full blog here: https://www.stopitnow.org/advice-column-entry/protecting-camp-counselors-and-campers

05/17/2026

It’s International Child Helpline Day! But we still need to make child helplines truly international...

Currently, over 130 countries operate a national child helpline. However, more than 40 countries still lack this essential service, leaving gaps in their child protection systems. Together with partners including UNICEF and state actors, we are committed to bridging these gaps by mapping existing services for children, assessing the feasibility of establishing child helplines, and working country by country to set up toll-free, 24/7 helplines accessible across appropriate contact channels.

Our goal is a child helpline in every country of the world by 2030! It’s time to ensure that no child’s voice is left unheard.

It's International Child Helpline Day – a day to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions made by staff and ...
05/17/2026

It's International Child Helpline Day – a day to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions made by staff and volunteers in child helplines all around the world.

We’re proud of every single one of our child helpline members. Every day, they provide help, support and advice to children and young people whatever their concerns– their mental health and wellbeing; violence or abuse they might be experiencing, online or off. No matter what, child helplines are there for them.

On this very special day, it really is time to come together and ensure that no child will ever be left unheard!

05/16/2026

Every Child Has a Voice.

But what happens if there’s no national child helpline to listen to that voice? What happens to the unheard voices of children and young people in need of help, care, advice and support?

Currently, over 130 countries operate a national child helpline. However, at this moment, more than 40 countries still lack this essential service, leaving gaps in their national child protection systems. Together with partners, such as UNICEF and state actors, our "Unheard Voices" campaign is committed to bridging these gaps by mapping existing services for children, assessing the feasibility of establishing child helplines where none yet exist, and working country by country to set up toll-free, 24/7 child helplines that are accessible across the various contact channels used by children and young people. Collaborative funding and proper investment in these services can ensure the capacity of child helplines to address the diverse needs of children everywhere.

Tomorrow, we’re celebrating International Child Helpline Day. It’s time to make the day truly international – our goal is a child helpline in every country of the world by 2030!

It’s time to ensure that no child’s voice is left unheard.

As this year’s International Child Helpline Day approaches, we celebrate the important and essential work carried out by...
05/15/2026

As this year’s International Child Helpline Day approaches, we celebrate the important and essential work carried out by our child helpline members around the world to support children and young people.

The need to protect children in digital spaces has never been more urgent. The internet offers incredible opportunities for learning, connection and self-expression … but it also exposes children to risks such as cyberbullying, online exploitation, AI generated and harmful content.

Child helplines are a frontline defense in the fight for online safety. They provide a trusted, accessible space for children and young people who are facing online harm, offering them crucial guidance, crisis intervention and referrals to specialized services. By equipping child helplines with digital tools and training, we can ensure they remain responsive to emerging online threats and the evolving digital landscape.

Child helplines also contribute to policy discussions by gathering data on online risks children face. This information helps inform legislative and regulatory frameworks, ensuring that child protection remains a priority in digital governance.

It is essential to recognize the role of child helplines in protecting children and young people online. Governments, tech companies and individuals must work together to support these child helplines, recognizing the intersects and ensuring they are equipped with the necessary resources, training and technology to safeguard children in digital spaces.

By fostering collaboration, promoting the child helplines, investing in digital safety initiatives and amplifying the voices of children, we can create an internet that is not only accessible but also secure for every young user.

Summer means new programs, new camps, and new caregivers in our children's lives. It also means a fresh need for adults ...
05/14/2026

Summer means new programs, new camps, and new caregivers in our children's lives. It also means a fresh need for adults to be educated, prepared, and willing to ask hard questions.

Children gain independence over the summer — at day camp, overnight camp, sports programs, or extended visits with family or friends.

Three things every parent and caregiver can do before the season starts:
→ Get educated. Learn the warning sign behaviors of concerning adults, and learn how to talk with children and teens about prevention.
→ Be prepared to speak up. Know what to ask the leaders of any program your child joins. Practice the conversation before you need to have it.
→ Create or refresh your family Safety Plan. It's the foundation for every prevention conversation that follows.

If you're worried about a specific situation — a coach, a counselor, a relative — you don't have to figure it out alone. The Stop It Now! Helpline is free and confidential.

Read the full tip sheet here: https://www.stopitnow.org/ohc-content/safety-planning-for-summer

From physical or sexual abuse, to neglect, exploitation and online bullying, violence against children is a pervasive is...
05/14/2026

From physical or sexual abuse, to neglect, exploitation and online bullying, violence against children is a pervasive issue. Violence against children has far-reaching effects, impacting mental health, academic performance and future opportunities.

Approximately half of children aged 2-17 experience some form of violence each year. This includes about 300 million children aged 2-4 who face violent discipline from their caregivers, a third of students aged 11-15 who are bullied by their peers, an estimated 120 million girls who suffer forced sexual contact before the age of 20, and one in three children affected by psychological violence.

As this year’s International Child Helpline Day on 17 May approaches, we celebrate the important and essential work carried out by our child helpline members around the world to support children and young people. Child helplines are often the first line of defence in the fight against violence. They offer safe spaces for children and young people to turn to when they feel alone, fearful or unheard. They are comprehensive support systems, providing children with counselling, legal aid and a platform to report abuse. They can connect children with social workers, law enforcement and shelters. Child helplines are also preventative. By helping children and young people voice their experiences early on, they can prevent situations from escalating.

Despite the essential role child helplines play, they face numerous challenges – especially in terms of funding and resources. In some countries, child helplines operate on limited budgets, often relying on short-term grants or donations that may not cover their long-term needs. Ensuring that every child has access to these lifelines requires sustainable investment and international commitment.

Children have a right to live in a world free from violence. We must step up efforts to end violence in childhood if we are to achieve the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: a vision of a world of peace, justice and inclusion, where every child is able to live free from violence.

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