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School-Based Sexual Abuse Prevention Education
Programs
The Good,
The Bad,
and
The Ugly
Presented by
Rhonda Kane, MA, LPC ESC ECSC Francis Howell School District
Ellen Teller, M.Ed., LCSWExecutive DirectorThe Child Center, Inc.
636-332-0899
What is Child Sexual Abuse Prevention?
Programs aimed at keeping abuse from occurring
Programs aimed at empowering those who may be victimized
Programs aimed at empowering those who are protective of children
What's Happening with Child Sexual Abuse
Prevention? Community Denial of the problem of
sexual abuse Parents do not talk with children about
sexual abuse prevention (Sexual Assault and Trauma Resource Center of Rhode Island)
Only 61 % of elementary schools in the US offer some kind of child abuse prevention education (Donnelly)
Children of all ages can successfully make use of prevention skills
What Works in CSA Prevention Programs?
School-based, child-focused Successful, comprehensive sexual
abuse prevention programs need to teach certain skills and utilize specific teaching methods. (Finkelhor and Dziuba-Leatherman).
Only 1/3 of all sexual abuse prevention programs appear to meet the criteria for a "comprehensive" approach (Plummer)
Prevention Program “Don’ts”
Stranger Danger Good Touch - Bad Touch Don’t focus on only certain
“private parts” of the body
Prevention Program Quality
Revising existing programs to match current research on child sexual abuse
Multi-session programs Annual evaluations to assess the
implementation and effectiveness of programs
Effecting Change
Multiple sessions Training teachers Evaluation of programs Increase parent involvement Use a variety of approaches Stable funding source(s)
Senate Bill 54
Effective August 28, 2011
Amy Hestir Student Protection Act
Sections 160.2100 & 160.2110 of the Bill
Creates the Task Force on the
Prevention of Sexual Abuse of
Children. This act shall be known
and may be cited as "Erin's Law."
Governor’s Task Force
Must make recommendations for reducing child sexual abuse.
Must submit a final report with its recommendations to the Governor, General Assembly, and State Board of Education by January 1, 2013.
Section 162.069
By January 1, 2012, each school district must include in its teacher and employee training:
a component that provides information on identifying signs of sexual abuse in children of potentially abusive relationships between children and adults
Section 162.069 con’t.
Have an emphasis on mandatory reportingTraining must also include an emphasis on the obligation of mandated reporters to report suspected abuse by other mandatory reporters.
Task Force
19 Recommendations: Community Based CSA Prevention (1 – 5) Professional Training/Technical
Assistance Multi-disciplinary Team Excellence Mental Health Services and Treatment Awareness – public Funding Statutory Changes
Community-Based CSA Prevention
Recommendation #1
Needs to be expanded and comprehensive in nature
Children basic/age-appropriate info Boundaries Inappropriate touches Language
Suggestions for Children
Bodies are private You have the right to decide about
touches NO-GO-TELL-KEEP TELLING Tricks (Secrets, Threats, Bribes) Not your fault
Community-Based CSA Prevention
Recommendation #1
Parents Become protective Observe and monitor relationships
their children have with adolescents and adults
Suggestions for Parents
Don’t force unwanted affection Listen to your gut instincts Know your child’s world
Community-Based CSA Prevention
Recommendation #1
Staff/volunteers in youth-serving organizations and schools Assumption that people who sexual abuse
children may work for them Create an environment that is
inhospitable for this Trained leaders Staff proper education to identify - report
Community-Based CSA Prevention
Recommendation #1
Community Community leaders/elected officials –
begin the discussion about ending silence about CSA
Advocate for policies and training Ultimately this creates cultural norms
to form protective barriers – identify and respond to problematic behaviors
Community-Based CSA Prevention
Recommendation #2
All schools/youth-serving organizations should have specific CSA prevention policies. Establish boundaries Minimize opportunities for harm Staff education
Community-Based CSA Prevention
Recommendation #3
Existing programs should include programming targeted at preventing CSA Most programs discuss only child
abuse, not CSA State and federally funded programs
could be mandated to address CSA
Community-Based CSA Prevention
Recommendation #4
Expand home-visiting programs to include CSA prevention Current home-visitation program in
Missouri does not include CSA
Community-Based CSA Prevention
Recommendation #5
Create and implement standardized training for all mandated reporters. Professionals
Licensing and credentialing organization require specific CEU’s bi-annually
Pre-service training MR training, Undergrad and graduate programs Majors/minors
Mandated Reporter Training
Dynamics of Child Sexual Abuse
Types & Process of Disclosures
Child Advocacy Centers
Role as Mandated Reporters
Signs and Symptoms
Schools/School Districts Parents
Addressing concerns Communities
Education and awareness
Resistance
Community Support
Community cooperatives – CAPE
All Agency collaborations
Community needs assessments
Children’s Needs Panel
Funding
State Local Foundations Corporate Donors
Next Steps?
Questions? Comments? Concerns?
References Finkelhor, David. (2009).0e Prevention of
Childhood Sexual Abuse. Future of Children, 19(2).
Wurtele, Sandy, School-Based Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs: A Review. Child Abuse & Neglect, 11(4), 483-95.
Wurtele, Sandy, Off Limits Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Manual Missouri Department of Social Services,
Children’s Division. (2010). Mandated Reporter Guidelines from Children’s Division.
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