Circles of Safety: A Primary Prevention Tool to Protect Youth in Sports
Official title: CE22-003 - Evaluation of Circles of Safety? for the Primary Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse
Funded at Center for Violence Prevention Research, INC. · NIH-11416066 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study will test a child sexual abuse prevention program called Circles of Safety® in youth sports to see if it can help reduce risk for young athletes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Center for Violence Prevention Research, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Melrose, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | September 29, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $400,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CE003409-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416066 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Youth athletes and their families, coaches, and staff involved with youth sports organizations.
✕Less likely to help
Organizations or individuals not involved in youth sports or without exposure to CSA prevention activities may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will partner with Stop it Now! and USA Football to run a randomized trial evaluating Circles of Safety®, a prevention program for adults and organization leaders in youth sports. The study aims to determine whether structured education, tailored organization content, and supportive helpline resources can lower the risk of child sexual abuse in athletic settings. It includes forming a Research Advisory Board with community partners to guide implementation across participating organizations over two years. The trial is designed to generate rigorous evidence about the program’s effectiveness in preventing CSA in youth sports environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could provide a proven approach to reduce CSA risk for youth athletes, families, and communities.
How similar studies have gone: Prior use of Circles of Safety® has been widespread but rigorous evaluation in primary prevention is not yet established.
Where this research is happening
-
Center for Violence Prevention Research, INC.
Melrose, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bright, Melissa — Center for Violence Prevention Research, INC.
- Study coordinator: Bright, Melissa
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.