Reference: Bright, Melissa A., Roehrkasse, Alexander, Masten, Sarah, Nauman, Ashton, & Finkelhor, David. Child abuse prevention education policies increase reports of child sexual abuse, (2022). Child Abuse & Neglect, 134. Perpetrators sexually abuse up to 5% of U.S. children per year. Only 40% of child victims disclose their being sexually abused. Some never disclose. 90% of those abused under age 5 know their abuser, a third are family members. Older, or more powerful children sexually abuse 40% of these children. Can we reduce sexual abuse? Some states have mandatory child abuse prevention education. Researchers asked, “Does this education lead more children to reveal being sexual abused?” and “Is there an increase in school personnel reporting abuse?” Assessing this, they used National Child Abuse and Neglect Data from 2005 to 2019 comparing states mandating and not mandating child sexual abuse education. Results? Yes! States with mandates to educate showed higher report increases by education personnel compared with states without education mandates. A 5th grader reported after a specially trained police officer educated her class, “My mom always took me to my grandfather’s home every Friday, so I thought she wanted me to do those sexual things with him!” Parents! Demand that your state mandate child sexual abuse prevention in our schools and allow teachers to discuss and educate your children! Florida! Adopt mandatory child abuse prevention training for our kids!

Written by Juanita N. Baker, Ph.D.