Social Service Workers

Click here to see upcoming courses offered by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, including:

23 February 2023

Training materials and content specific to professionals responding to reports of sibling sexual trauma are available at https://www.siblingsexualtrauma.com/professionals
Book based on recent research in the UK: Understanding and Responding to Sibling Sexual Abuse | SpringerLink
Educate staff, colleagues, and self that sibling sexual trauma is one of the most common subtypes of childhood sexual abuse and affects at least 1 in 25 children. It needs to be named and kept in mind as a common possibility, not an outlier.
Educate staff, colleagues, and self that children, preteens, and teens who cause sexual harm–to a sibling or peer–are highly unlikely to continue to sexually harm children into adulthood, and should not be stigmatized or labeled as sex offenders. Language is important as labels can prevent willingness to engage in therapeutic interventions and growth.

Educate staff, colleagues, and self that even quite young children are capable of causing very real sexual harm and that even if they are too young to be named as responsible or adjudicated, the situation needs to be addressed, the wrong behavior needs to be called out, and all children involved need treatment and guidance.
Be ready with materials, resources, and referrals for children who have been harmed by other children or siblings, children or teens who have caused sexual harm, parents of either or both children, and other family members.