Evaluating Parents in the Know: An innovative parent-focused child sexual abuse prevention program

Background: To date, efforts to prevent child sexual abuse (CSA) have focused on working with potential and current victims of abuse, with few programs teaching parents bystander intervention strategies.  The Parents in the Know program builds upon these approaches by providing parents with skills and confidence to recognize inappropriate behavior and intervene when necessary. 

Purpose: To evaluate a child sexual abuse prevention program administered to parents and caregivers.

Methodology: The 8-hour program was presented by trained facilitators at 7 community sites between September and November, 2014 in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Data were collected from participants through self-administered questionnaires completed at baseline and one-month follow. A 3-item CSA misconception scale and 6-item warning-signs scale are used in analysis.  

Results: The majority of program participants (n=70) were women (87%) and Hispanic/Latino (52%), with an average age of 37. Findings demonstrate positive changes from baseline participants (n=58) to follow up (n=33). Correct knowledge about CSA misconceptions increased from 82% at baseline to 86% at follow up.  Participant ability to identify warning-signs of individuals who may sexually abuse children increased from 62% at baseline to 73% at follow up.  Additionally, parents who were confident in their ability to identify community resources on a 5-point Likert scale increased from 68% at baseline to 84% at follow up.

Conclusions: Our findings support the need for parent-focused CSA prevention programs. Strengthening parental skills and capacity to identify potential warning signs of sexual abuse empowers and equips the entire family to be proactive in family and community violence prevention.