NCJ Number
197076
Journal
Virginia Child Protection Newsletter Volume: 65 Dated: Summer 2002 Pages: 1-7,10,16
Editor(s)
Joann Grayson Ph.D.
Date Published
2002
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This document examines child sexual abuse prevention programs and prevention initiatives.
Abstract
Child abuse occurs when there is a motivated perpetrator with the ability to overcome internal inhibitions towards sexual abuse and the ability to overcome external barriers to abuse; and a victim that is unable to resist or thwart the abuse. Prevention efforts can be primary (preventing the problem from ever occurring), secondary (targeted at high-risk individuals), and tertiary (ensuring that known offenders do not re-offend). Child sexual abuse prevention curricula was developed as a result of media attention to the problem, increased knowledge and reporting due to mandatory child abuse reporting laws, victims speaking out, and the sexual assault awareness movement. Research on the effectiveness of child assault prevention programs has focused on knowledge, skill development, handling approaches, and reducing victimization. Most evaluations of training programs find significant, if not substantial, gains in children’s knowledge of sexual abuse and how to respond to approaches. Survey data has found that children use learning from prevention programs when confronted with a threat of victimization. Once threatened, trained children may not be able to prevent victimization. But training may help children report more quickly if they are abused. Objectives and concerns about teaching children to resist sexual abuse include concern that child resistance may not be effective, and concern that training may have unintended negative effects, such as inducing guilt, depicting sexual activity in a negative fashion, and the overgeneralization of sexual abuse prevention information. Despite these concerns, there has been widespread support from parents for child sexual abuse prevention programs in schools and preschools. The content of curricula for child sexual abuse prevention often includes the definition of sexual abuse, how a child can tell if it is happening, and actions children can take. Programs appear to have few negative effects.