Introduction

In the nearly forty years since the James Stanfield Company published the first edition of “Child Sexual Abuse: A Solution”, much has been learned about the widespread problem of sexual abuse of children and ways to address it. The James Stanfield Company was on the right track back then. Studies show that children who are exposed to child protective strategies such as programs like this one, are more likely to report sexual abuse if it occurs and are more likely to seek help. According to David Finklehor, professor at the University of New Hampshire, one of our consultants on the original edition of this program who continues to conduct research on this topic, “school-based educational programs teach children such skills as, how to identify dangerous situations, refuse an abuser's approach, break off an interaction, and summon help.[1]” These programs promote disclosure, reduce self-blame, and mobilize bystanders.

At least one in four girls and upwards of one in ten boys will be sexually assaulted before age eighteen. The most current statistics on the CDC website includes the notation that the numbers of actual incidents likely underestimate the true impact of the problem as many children delay reporting or never report child sexual abuse, at all. As teachers and parents, it is important to consider that in nearly every classroom, there are children who have likely been sexually abused, touched inappropriately, or will be approached by an adult or older child attempting to gain sexual contact. Most children are abused by someone they know; in many cases this is a close family member. Again, according to the CDC, “someone known and trusted by the child or child’s family members, perpetrates 91% of child sexual abuse.[2]”

Child sexual abuse happens everywhere, in everyday situations, in homes, at day care centers, in backyards, at school, and neighborhood meetings. It happens in every community regardless of race, religion, or social class. And while family members and known acquaintances perpetuate most occurrences of child sexual abuse, social media, on-line games, and personal cell phones have made strangers whom our children would otherwise never meet, familiar to them.

“Child Sexual Abuse: A Solution” is a personal safety program, not a sexuality education program. The goal is prevention, whenever possible. The purpose of any prevention program is to reduce children’s fear, not increase it.  Therefore, we suggest that it is best to integrate this series with other safety and health lessons. For example, teach this content in a general way along with body safety, safe/unsafe touch, and privacy. This video series, in separate age-appropriate sections, offers one solution to the problem of child sexual abuse. While it can’t stop the exploitation and the abuse of children from ever happening, this program can help reduce the victimization of children by:

1. Helping children trust their inner experience, know what to look out for and what to do to get help if it happens to them.
2. Training teachers to recognize and report suspected sexual abuse and encouraging them to create a non-threatening environment for instruction on this topic.
3. Providing parents with an informed and helpful framework and encouraging them to talk about sexual abuse with their children.

Prevention empowers children with the skills they need to recognize potential sexual abuse and to act to protect themselves. It’s important that children have some control over who touches them, how, and when so that they can enjoy the positive, nurturing touch needed to develop healthy relationships without confusion, guilt, or fear.

[1] The Prevention of Childhood Sexual Abuse, David Finkelhor, The Future of Children, Volume 19, Number 2, Fall 2009, pp. 169-194

[2] US Department of Health and Human Services, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention Website, Division of Violence Prevention, Last Reviewed: January 18, 2022