Implementation of a Universal School-Based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
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Abstract:
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a public health problem of considerable magnitude. The prevailing primary prevention strategies are universal, school-based CSA prevention programs, some of which have been designated as evidence-based, such as Safe Touches. However, to reach their public health impact potential, effective universal school-based CSA prevention programs require effective and efficient dissemination and implementation strategies. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the reach and effectiveness of a school-based CSA prevention curriculum, Safe Touches, when implemented on a wide scale. Using a longitudinal cohort design, children in second grade classrooms in public elementary schools in five counties received the Safe Touches workshop and completed surveys designed to assess gains in knowledge at four timepoints (one week prior, immediately post-workshop, 6- and 12-months post-workshop). In total, the Safe Touches workshop was delivered in 718 classrooms in 92% of school districts, reaching ~14,235 second graders. Multilevel models ( n = 3,673) revealed that Safe Touches significantly increased CSA-related knowledge, and that these gains were maintained 12-months post-workshop ( ps < .001). There were some small but significant time-varying effects among participants in schools with a greater percentage of low income and minority students, but these effects largely disappeared 12-months post workshop. This study demonstrates that a single-session, universal school-based CSA prevention program can effectively increase children’s knowledge when implemented and disseminated on a wide scale and knowledge gains can be retained 12-months post intervention.Keywords:
Child sexual abuse
Longitudinal Study
Sexual Violence
The England and Wales Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is chaired by Professor Alexis Jay OBE. It was established in July 2014 in response to concerns that some organisations had failed and were continuing to fail to protect children from sexual abuse. The Chair and Panel of IICSA make recommendations to better protect children from sexual abuse which arise directly from their findings. Amongst a range of potential reforms, the Chair and Panel are considering the merits of a recommendation to consider the introduction of a duty to report child sexual abuse; namely a mandatory reporting law in child protection legislation. The author of this Model law delivered two invited presentations to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in 2019, on the nature and impact of these laws, and the merits of a mandatory reporting law for child sexual abuse in child protection legislation.
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This study reports on a postal questionnaire, conducted in 2004, with female survivors of historic child sexual abuse. The questionnaire explored their experiences of health professionals' responsiveness to disclosure of child sexual abuse history. Of 61 participants, aged between 22 and 65, 69% had disclosed to health professionals. Those who had not disclosed reported that they would have liked to but were not asked about child sexual abuse. Thirty-five percent of participants suggested routine questioning about child sexual abuse. Most participants related a fear of common medical examination procedures to their experience of child sexual abuse, and 64% said this stopped them from attending regular health checks. The current study suggests the development of guidelines for dealing with possible child sexual abuse survivors would be useful for health professionals.
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Abstract Child sexual abuse assessments are influenced by professionals' beliefs. This article is a review of the beliefs and practices of professionals working in child sexual abuse cases. The emphasis of child sexual abuse histories in treatment planning is also discussed. Based on this review, many professional practices are consistent with present scientific knowledge, while others are inconsistent. Recommendations are made to further integrate the philosophy of science into clinical and forensic practice. More research is needed to further examine the importance of factors that mediate the effects of child sexual abuse, as well as how sexual abuse information influences treatment planning and clinical decision-making.
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Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1.What is child sexual abuse? 2. The development of children's sexuality. 3. Child sexual abusers. 4. Child sexual abuse and the Internet. 5. The grooming of children. 6. The impact of child sexual abuse on the child. 7. The signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse. 8. Understanding the sexually abused child. 9. Protecting children from child sexual abuse in the community. 10. The prevention of child sexual abuse. Appendix I. Useful websites. Appendix II. Glossary of Internet terms. References. Index.
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More than 2.4 million cases of child abuse were reported in the 48 states and the District of Columbia in 1989.1 Of these, 55% were classified as neglect, 30% as physical abuse, 16% as sexual abuse, and 8% as emotional maltreatment.1 These percentages include cases in which more than one type of abuse was reported. Common manifestations of child abuse include bruises; burns; and central nervous system, intra-abdominal (blunt as well as penetrating), and genital injuries. Unusual manifestations of child abuse have included sudden infant death syndrome, apnea, poisonings, and bizarre illnesses stemming from Munchausen syndrome by proxy. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the number of reported cases of child abuse, especially sexual abuse.
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Introduction. 1. History and Ideas. 2. Developing a Response to Child Sexual Abuse. 3. Aims and Methodology. 4. Setting the Scene. 5. The Cases. 6. Investigating Child Sexual Abuse. 7. Protecting Children and Helping Families - The Child Protection Conference. 8. Ongoing Work with Families in the Six-Month Period following the Conference. 9. Two Years On from the Initial Conference. 10. Social Work Practice and Child Sexual Abuse. 11. Managing Child Sexual Abuse: Policy Issues. Appendix 1: The Forty Case Studies, by Category. Appendix 2: View from the Parents. References. Index.
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This article describes the state of knowledge about extended assessments/forensic evaluations in situations of possible sexual abuse. It provides a critical review of the modest body of relevant research, describes two models for extended assessments, and presents descriptive survey findings of 62 professionals conducting extended assessments, most of whom conduct extended assessments intermittently as part of their other work on sexual abuse cases. Agencies should consider conducting extended assessments with young or traumatized children whose sexual abuse allegations are not resolved with a single interview as well as in complex child sexual abuse cases.
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