Sexual abuse. In the case of child abuse, sexual abuse is actions that include, but are not limited to, the employment, use inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or have a child assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or any simulation of such conduct. Actions include, but are not limited to, rape, molestation, prostitution, or other sexual activity between the offender or a third party and a child, when the offender is in a position or a power over the child. WHAT CAN THE COMMAND AND THE FAMILY DO ABOUT ABUSE? Child  and  spouse  abuse  are  serious  behavioral, social, and community problems. These problems need a  comprehensive,  community-based  response.  The most effective response to family violence occurs when individuals, families, commands, and communities act as a community to keep the victim safe. The Department of the Navy (DoN) has a Family Advocacy  Program  (FAP)  that  addresses  child  and spouse abuse. It involves the prevention, evaluation, identification,  intervention,  rehabilitation/behavioral education and counseling, follow-up, and reporting of child and spouse abuse. The Navy uses this program as a tool to assist victims and to reduce the occurrence of child and spouse abuse. The five primary goals of the DoN FAP are as follows: 1.  Victim safety and protection 2.  Offender accountability 3.  Rehabilitative education and counseling 4.  Community accountability 5.  Responsibility  for  a  consistent  appropriate response A continuous effort to reduce and eliminate child and spouse abuse is actively pursued at every level of command.  Each  command  has  a  Family  Advocacy Program. The CO at each installation appoints a family advocacy officer (FAO). The CO also ensures that a family advocacy committee (FAC) and a case review committee (CRC) are established. The primary goal of the FAP is prevention of abuse. The FAP establishes education, support, and awareness programs so that families and their command understand the risk factors of  child  and  spouse  abuse.  Programs  emphasize prevention,  recognition,  prompt  notification  and reporting, and availability of responsive services. Early  intervention  involving  cases  of  spouse  or child abuse of any kind is very important. Victims can report incidents of abuse directly to the FAO, family service center, medical treatment facility, Chaplain, or the Ombudsman. The important thing is to report it. STRESS MANAGEMENT Learning Objectives: When you finish this chapter, you will be able to— Recognize factors that cause stress. Identify ways to combat stress. Everybody  experiences  stress.  It’s  the  body’s natural reaction to tension, pressure, and change. Most people think of stressors (or things that cause stress) as negative, such as traffic, a difficult job, or a divorce. However, stressors can be positive experiences. For example, having a baby, bowling a perfect 300 game, or completing a satisfying project. These are all changes that can cause stress. Your body can’t tell the difference between a good and a bad stressor. Both too much stress and too little stress are bad for you, while the right balance keeps you going. Positive, or good stress, can keep you going. It makes life more challenging and less boring. Too much stress can be bad for you, both physically and mentally. Prolonged, unrelieved stress can lead to accidental  injury,  serious  illness,  or  inappropriate behavior.  For  the  sake  of  your  health,  safety,  and happiness, you need to recognize and manage stress before it gets the best of you. Stress occurs when there is an imbalance between the demands of our lives and the resources we have to deal with those demands. An imbalance may happen when there are changes in our lives. It’s not the changes themselves that cause stress but our reaction to those changes or events. 17-17 Student Notes: