Find tools, curricula, and programs designed to raise awareness and reduce risk factors related to child sexual abuse. Resources include State and local examples.
8 Myths of Child Sex Abuse
Defends Innocence
Dispels common myths and outlines what parents and caregivers need to know about child sexual abuse.
Circles of Safety Training
Stop it Now!
Discusses The Circles curriculum, which is structured into five modules that provide information and education about child sexual abuse, such as the warning signs, effective communication skills, and healthy sexuality.
Commentary on “Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence: Etiology, Intervention, and Overlap with Child Maltreatment” (PDF - 80 KB)
Lloyd (2015)
Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk, 6(1)
Discusses the root cause of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
How to More Effectively Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
Psychology Today (2018)
Provides research that suggests educating parents on good parenting practices is an effective way to prevent child abuse for several reasons. Parents have the greatest ability to create safe environments for their children, reducing the likelihood of abuse. When children have secure relationships with their parents, their self-confidence and overall well-being are improved.
The National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction: A Report to Congress (PDF - 8,410 KB)
United States Department of Justice (2016)
Presents the results of an assessment of child exploitation in the United States and reviews the significant efforts being undertaken by Federal, State, and local agencies to address child exploitation.
Reducing the Risk of Child Sex Abuse
National Child Traumatic Stress Network (2016)
Offers information on prevention and intervention strategies for child sex abuse.
Rules and Guidelines
Mothers of Sexually Abused Children (2016)
Lists household rules that should be established in a safety plan after the disclosure of child sexual abuse. General house rules are provided that address appropriate clothing, tickling, wrestling, respect, kindness, and pornography. Bedroom rules cover bedroom sharing, location of bedrooms, knocking, night lights, and closed doors. Additional rules address the use of bathrooms, entertainment and computer use, physical contact, parents' bedrooms, childcare, and staying alone at home.
Sexual Abuse of Children With Disabilities: A National Snapshot (PDF - 124 KB)
Smith & Harrell (2013)
Vera Institute of Justice, Center on Victimization and Safety
Provides an overview on the incidence and prevalence of sexual abuse of children with disabilities and discusses the dynamics of that abuse. The overview includes the factors that contribute to its high prevalence, the status of prevention and intervention services designed to address this problem, and critical gaps and opportunities.
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.
Talk To Your Child or Teen
U.S. Department of Justice
Partners with U.S. Department of Justice and State, territorial, and Tribal governments to provide safety resources and information about the preventative discussions to have with young children and teenagers, as well as what to do if a parent or guardian of a child suspects he or she has been sexually abused.
Understanding Child Sexual Abuse and the Technology Facilitated Compliant Victim (PDF - 347 KB)
Farley (2014)
Farley International
Explains teen and tween characteristics that make them vulnerable to sexual advances over the Internet and the inability of adolescents to give consent even if they are a compliant victim. Also included is how adult molesters groom the compliant victim, specific questions that should be asked of technology-related compliant victims, the reluctance of compliant victims to disclose their abuse, technology-facilitated dangers for children, and mobile technology-facilitated dangers for children.
State and local examples
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
MECASA Maine Coalition Again Sexual Assault
Provides local and State communities in Maine with evidenced based knowledge and skills that are important for children to prevent victimization and provides tools if victimization occurs.
Recommendations for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse in North Carolina (PDF - 3,310 KB)
North Carolina Coalition for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (2015)
Reviews the lifelong impact of child sexual abuse, its prevalence and incidence, how to prevent it, and the link between child sexual abuse and human trafficking. Specific recommendations are also addressed.
Say No! Protecting Children Against Sexual Abuse Pub. 1154
New York Office of Children and Family Services
Provides information in multiple languages for parents to educated, inform, and protect children from sexual abuse.
Straight Talk About Child Sexual Abuse: A Prevention Guide for Parents (PDF - 292 KB)
Bernier (2014)
Enough Abuse Campaign
Provides a brochure for parents residing in the Greater Bay Area in California. The brochure offers information on types of child sexual abuse, such as characteristics of perpetrators and children sexually abusing other children, tips for protecting a child from sexual abuse and reducing risk factors, symptoms that a child has been sexually abused, and steps to take if a child discloses sexual abuse.