NCJ Number
183755
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Initiatives to prevent child sexual abuse have followed a very different course from those aimed at preventing other forms of child abuse.
Abstract
While various strategies, including public education, have been adopted to prevent child abuse in general, the most common approaches are distinguished by three qualities: (1) primary goal is to identify situations with a high risk for child abuse; (2) intervention focuses on changing the attitudes and behaviors of perpetrators; and (3) services provided are relatively similar in nature to the treatment provided to individuals who have been abused. In contrast, efforts to prevent sexual abuse have taken a different direction. The main focus of sexual abuse prevention has been to disseminate school-based curriculum materials for elementary school children, prevention has targeted potential victims rather than perpetrators, and prevention has little similarity to the treatment offered to victims and families who have actually suffered sexual abuse. Strengths and weaknesses of child sexual abuse prevention education are noted, and research evidence on child sexual abuse prevention programs is reported. Various approaches to child sexual abuse prevention are described that focus on parent education and social change. 26 references