How school and state policies may prevent adult-perpetrated child sexual abuse
CE22-003 - Evaluation of the effects of child sexual abuse prevention policies on adult perpetrated child sexual abuse
This project looks at whether state and school policies that teach adults and children about child sexual abuse lead to fewer cases of abuse against children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Prevent Child Abuse America NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178300 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are a parent or caregiver, this project will gather and compare state and school policies that require or encourage child sexual abuse education for students and adults. The team will partner with policy experts and child-protection practitioners, create a catalog of those laws, and analyze state-level reports and administrative data on abuse to look for changes over time. They will compare states with and without mandates and examine how policies are actually implemented rather than running clinical trials. The aim is to identify which policies or practices are linked to reductions in adult-perpetrated child sexual abuse so communities can adopt proven protections for children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work focuses on children, families, educators, and school communities in U.S. states (and D.C.) that have or are considering school-based child sexual abuse education or related policies.
Not a fit: People who are not connected to school settings or state policy decisions (for example adults without caregiving roles or children not in school) may not see direct benefits from these policy changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific state or school policies that reduce child sexual abuse and help policymakers adopt measures that better protect children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous programs teaching adults and children about child sexual abuse have improved knowledge and skills, but there is little evidence so far that state-level policies produce population-wide reductions in abuse, so this project addresses that gap.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Prevent Child Abuse America — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Klika, Jeffry Barton — Prevent Child Abuse America
- Study coordinator: Klika, Jeffry Barton
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 below.