Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

'The book offers a very useful blueprint on how to effectively expand our efforts to prevent child sexual abuse. The authors give a very balanced and much needed critical assessment of child assault prevention programs...the best and most comprehensive...I have seen' - Deborah Ann Daro, Director, National Center on Child Abuse Prevention Research. The past decade has seen a dramatic increase in the attention paid to the problem of child sexual abuse. Professionals from the social work, mental health, medical, academic, and legal fields are all involved in researching the prevalence, causes, and consequences of abuse. Child sexual abuse in multidimensional: it is determined by forces at work in victims and offenders, in the family, and in the community and society at large.Thoroughly researched, "Preventing Child Sexual Abuse" surveys incidence and prevalence studies; lists risk and protective factors in abuse; discusses various indicators of abuse; and reports on legislation related to abuse. It reviews preventive programs aimed at children and adults, and provides suggestions for an expanded involvement of parents, professionals, policymakers, researchers, and the general public. In doing so, it provides the information needed to create prevention programs that attack the problem on several fronts at once. Sandy K. Wurtele is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Colorado and is the recipient of a First Award from the National Institute of Mental Health to study the prevention of child sexual abuse. Cindy L. Miller-Perrin is involved in research and clinical work with developmentally delayed children at the University of Washington.