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Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs

Sexual abuse prevention programs for children and parents are designed to raise awareness about child sexual abuse. These programs have proven to be successful at imparting information and enhancing protective strategies (e.g., yelling, running, telling an authority).

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: A National Resource Directory and Handbook (PDF - 5786 KB) National Sexual Violence Resource Center (2006) Directory of resources from more than 400 sexual abuse prevention programs about effective strategies for reducing child sexual abuse. Includes a review of organizations, program models, initiatives, and other resources that can be used to establish or improve child sexual abuse prevention efforts. Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Within Youth-Serving Organizations: Getting Started on Policies and Procedures (PDF - 4560 KB) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (2007) Describes six key components of a child sexual abuse prevention strategy for organizations serving youth, including tools to help organizations implement different strategies and address challenges.

Behavioral Approaches to Educating Young Children and Their Parents About Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Wurtele
Journal of Behavior Analysis of Offender and Victim - Treatment and Prevention, 1(1), 2008
View Abstract
Reviews primary prevention efforts directed at children and parents, considers the challenges to using a behavioral approach to educating these groups, and presents suggestions for expansion of these interventions.

Child Safety: Curricula for Children (PDF - 92 KB)
National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning (2004)
Discusses the need to ensure the safety of children who are in foster care and presents guidelines for providing instruction to children that will enable them to recognize abusive situations, resist abuse if possible, and report abuse if it occurs.

Child Sexual Abuse: Attitudes, Beliefs, and Actions Taken Report Highlights (PDF - 2350 KB)
Stop it Now! Minnesota (2003)
Describes activities by the Stop it Now! Minnesota public health campaign to prevent child sexual abuse and the findings of a research study of 500 residents of the Twin Cities area on child sexual abuse.

Creating Safe and Sacred Places for Young Adolescents
Delgatto (2007)
View Abstract
Provides sexual abuse prevention training sessions for children in fifth through eighth grades. Designed for dioceses, schools, and parishes.

The Efficacy of Sexual Violence Prevention Programs: Implications for Schools
Adair
Journal of School Violence, 5(2), 2006
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A review of the literature related to the efficacy of sexual violence prevention programs.

Good Touch/Bad Touch
Provides prevention and education activities aimed at eliminating child abuse, especially child sexual abuse, and the long-term effects related to abuse.

Kid and Teen Safe: An Abuse Prevention Program for Youth With Disabilities (PDF - 753 KB)
SafePlace: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survival Center (2002)
Project designed to help children with disabilities and their family members and teachers prevent, recognize, and report abuse.

Prevent Child Sexual Abuse: Facts About Sexual Abuse and How to Prevent it (PDF - 995 KB)
Stop It Now! (2008)
Offers tips for talking with other adults and with children about preventing sexual abuse and includes guidance about what to do when abuse is suspected.

Preventing Female-Perpetrated Sexual Abuse
Oliver
Trauma, Violence, and Abuse, 8(1), 2006
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Describes common characteristics of female sex offenders and suggests ways to intervene in the lives of at-risk females before they offend.

Prevention of Sexual Abuse Through Educational Programs Directed Toward Children (PDF - 487 KB)
Finkelhor
Pediatrics, 120(3), 2007
Discusses the effectiveness of sexual abuse prevention programs directed towards children.

Safe Beginnings: Protecting our Children from Sexual Abuse
Blue Tower Training Center
Strategies for preventing and protecting children from sexual abuse.

School-Based Sexual Violence Prevention Programs: Current Evaluation Findings and Policy Implications
Townsend & Campbell (2006)
In The Crisis in Youth Mental Health: Critical Issues and Effective Programs, Volume 3—Issues for Families, Schools, and Communities
View Abstract
Provides an overview of the most common types of rape prevention programs being used in K-12 educational settings and shares findings about their impact.

Sexual Violence and the Spectrum of Prevention: Towards a Community Solution (PDF - 3340 KB)
National Sexual Violence Resource Center (2006)
Provides details on effective primary prevention activities and highlights examples from throughout the country.

Stewards of Children
Darkness to Light
A child sexual abuse prevention program, offered in online and instructor-led formats, designed for child-serving organizations that teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to suspected abuse. The website provides video clips from the training, program evaluation information, and more.

Three Steps to Reducing Child Molestation by Adolescents
Oliver
Child Abuse and Neglect, 31(7), 2007
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Offers concrete recommendations for ways to prevent child sexual abuse perpetrated by adolescents.

Transforming Communities to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: A Primary Prevention Approach (PDF - 210 KB)
Prevention Institute (2009)
Presents an approach to sexual abuse prevention that focuses on influencing policies and altering organizational practices in order to transform environments and keep children safe.

Updated on March 1, 2010