If you or someone you know needs help, take one of the following actions:
Families — If you haven't yet downloaded the First Step app, we hope you'll take a minute to do so now.
It is our hope that families will spend a few minutes familiarizing themselves
with this new tool and talking to your children about it. Inside First
Step you will find resources like, “3 Ways to Help a Friend,” “Getting
Through Today,” contacts for free counseling and two featured resources:
SafeOregon and YouthLine.
First Step is made possible thanks to the Bend Police Department, Lines for Life, SafeOregon and many other incredible community partners.
Visit our Families in Need webpage, for help with basic need resources.
Partnership with Deschutes County on development of “School Based Approaches to Suicide: A Comprehensive Guide” (Visit the Deschutes County Suicide Prevention page, go to supporting documents at the bottom of the page.)
How to Talk to Students About Suicide (from Oregon Health Authority)
Warning Signs:
How to Help:
Experts estimate that 1 in 10 children are sexually abused before their 18th birthday (reflects physical contact acts of sexual abuse only) – Townsend, C., Rheingold, A.A., (2003) Learn More About This Study
Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) includes any sexual contact between an adult (18 or older) and a minor (younger than 18) or between two minors, when one exerts power over the other. Sexual contact between minors is abuse when physical or psychological coercion is used, or when there is a significant difference in the physical size or developmental levels of the minors, or when there is an age difference of 3 or more years.Child Sexual abuse also includes non-contact acts such as exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism, child pornography, commercial sexual exploitation of children and communicating in a sexual manor by phone or internet.
With any disclosures or suspicion of abuse, you must make a report.
Call local law enforcement's non-emergency number or dial 911 if there is immediate danger. Or call the Department of Human Services-Child Welfare at 541-693-2854.
If you need additional resources or support call KIDS Center at 541-383-5958.
You do not have to know all the details or know for certain abuse is happening to report a concern/suspicion.Follow your instincts and report what you have seen/heard or behaviors that are concerning. When calling to make a report it is important to know that you are not making an accusation, but you are simply making what is called a “good faith” report requesting a professional service to be conducted.