Preventing repeated child sexual abuse
Never Again: Advancing the Prevention of Recurrent Child Sexual Abuse
['FUNDING_R01'] · TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH · NIH-11194356
This project combines child welfare and police records with expert input to create targeted ways to stop children from being sexually abused again.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11194356 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If your child has been involved with child protective services, this project will look at past cases from 2013–2021 to learn why some children experience abuse more than once. Researchers will link records from the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance and the Department of Human Services, use data science and natural language processing to extract information from written reports, and map where repeat abuse occurs. They will also speak with practitioners and administrators to understand how prevention could work in real child welfare settings. The team will use these findings to design practical prevention models aimed at protecting children within the child welfare system.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Most relevant are children aged 0–11 who have had a child protective services or law-enforcement investigation for sexual abuse in Philadelphia, and caregivers or survivors willing to share their experiences.
Not a fit: Families without CPS involvement, people outside the 0–11 age range, or those living outside Philadelphia are unlikely to be directly included or benefit immediately.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help child welfare agencies identify children at highest risk and put stronger protections in place to prevent repeat sexual abuse.
How similar studies have performed: Linking administrative records and applying data science has helped other child welfare efforts, but targeted prevention specifically for repeat child sexual abuse is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES
- TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH — PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KOBULSKY, JULIA — TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH
- Study coordinator: KOBULSKY, JULIA
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.