Teachers and other school staff are in an optimal position to prevent, identify, and assist victims of child abuse and neglect because of their frequent contact with students.
7 Ways Teachers Can Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
Defend Innocence
Explains how teachers can act as a safety net for children who are at high risk of abuse at home and offers seven ways teachers can help prevent sexual abuse of their students.
Care of Victims of Child Maltreatment: The School Nurse's Role
National Association of School Nurses (2018)
Presents the position statement of the National Association of School Nurses, which notes that school nurses are uniquely positioned to protect students through prevention, early recognition, and treatment of child abuse and neglect.
Child Protection in Schools: A Four-Part Solution (PDF - 376 KB)
Committee for Children (2014)
Presents recommendations for a four-part, comprehensive child protection strategy that addresses policies and procedures, staff training, student lessons, and family education. This publication reviews each of these areas and how they can work together to protect children from abuse.
Community-Level Moderators of a School-Based Childhood Sexual Assault Prevention Program (PDF - 1,085 KB)
Morris, Kouros, Janecek, Freeman, Mielock, & Garber (2017)
Child Abuse and Neglect, 63
Evaluates the Safe@Last program, which teaches students in kindergarten through sixth grade how to recognize, respond to, and disclose sexual assault. Student knowledge gained were assessed in five areas: safe versus unsafe people, safe choices, problem-solving, clear disclosure, and assertiveness. Findings showed the effectiveness of the program was stronger for youth living in lower income areas and for youth attending schools in counties with lower neglect rates.
Educate to Prevent Child Abuse
Pendarvis & Shook (2017)
Explains how schools, organizations, and communities can help keep children safe by being proactive rather than reactive. The report supports child safety and prevention efforts that focus on the broad spectrum of victimizations children may suffer and describes how prevention programs should focus on educating children with universal safety and prevention strategies that apply to all types of maltreatment.
Play it Safe!®: A School-Based Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse Prevention Program
Blakey & Thigpen (2015)
Journal of Adolescent and Family Health, 7(1)
Evaluates the Play it Safe!® program, a school-based childhood physical and sexual abuse prevention program that teaches children to recognize abusive situations, how to respond to potentially abusive situations, and how to report abuse to someone who can help stop it. Results showed that the program is effective in increasing children's understanding of physical and sexual abuse.
The School Counselor and Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
American School Counselor Association (2015)
Presents the position statement of the American School Counselor Association, including that it is the school counselor's legal, ethical, and moral responsibility to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to the proper authorities. The publication also states that school counselors must work to identify the behavioral, academic, and social/emotional impacts of abuse and neglect on students and ensure the necessary supports for students are in place.
The School's Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect (PDF - 1,567 KB)
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (2018)
Helps educators better understand their responsibilities to report suspected child abuse and neglect and to assist them in understanding the child protective services initial assessment process. The publication reviews different types of child maltreatment, who is required to report suspected abuse and when, how to determine whether a report should be made, how to talk to a child when abuse is suspected, and more.
Speak Up Be Safe
Childhelp
Describes a school-based child abuse prevention education program that is an evolution of the Good Touch Bad Touch program. It focuses on child safety and is based on research in the areas of child development, learning styles, social psychology, and child abuse and neglect prevention.
Steps Toward Child Abuse Prevention & Creating Safe School Environments (PDF - 2,161 KB)
Children's Trust (2016)
Offers information to help educators and other school personnel recognize, detect, identify, and report child abuse and neglect as early as possible, preventing further harm to the child and improving his/her chance for recovery. The publication reviews strategies for prevention, how to build a safe school environment, recognizing abuse, procedure in child abuse and neglect situations, and more.
Stop Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN)
National Children's Advocacy Center
Describes Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), a school-based program designed to provide child abuse prevention and safety information to school children.
What Teachers and Child Care Providers Can Do to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
Stop it Now
Highlights information for teachers and child care providers to know about preventing child sexual abuse. The website reviews facts about abuse, age-appropriate sexual development, warning signs of abuse, how to speak up, mandated reporting, and more.