Teaching parents how to prevent child sexual abuse
Official title: Parent-focused primary prevention of child sexual abuse: An Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Trial
Funded at New York University · NIH-10907430 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping parents learn how to keep their kids safe from sexual abuse by giving them useful tips and tools, so they can better understand their children's needs and recognize warning signs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 14, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $603,181 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD108209-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10907430 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are parents or guardians of children aged 0-11 years who are seeking to enhance their protective skills against child sexual abuse.
✕Less likely to help
Parents of children over 11 years old or those not involved in child-rearing may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on empowering parents with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect their children from sexual abuse. It involves a program called Smart Parents – Safe and Healthy Kids, which provides parents with essential information about child development, communication strategies, and safety measures. The program includes practical exercises to help parents recognize grooming behaviors and create safe environments for their children. By enhancing parents' awareness and protective behaviors, the research aims to significantly reduce the risk of child sexual abuse.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a significant decrease in the incidence of child sexual abuse by equipping parents with effective prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that parent education programs can effectively increase awareness and protective behaviors, suggesting that this approach has the potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guastaferro, Katelyn — New York University
- Study coordinator: Guastaferro, Katelyn
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.