"'Preventing the Sexual Victimization of Children is the first book to critically evaluate national and international efforts to reduce child sexual abuse (CSA) and ameliorate its effects. Until now, input from social science and mental health experts has been accepted for the most part uncritically, as have the programs and laws that have been developed in reliance upon that advice. Here Dr. Ewing utilizes empirical data, policy considerations, cos-benefit analyses, psychological theory, legal reasoning, and common sense to understake the often difficult and sometimes controversial task of distinguishing prevention strategies that are likely to prevent CSA from those that are not."--

Public policy responses to child sexual abuse are dominated by interventions designed to take effect only after offenders have already begun offending, and after children have already been sexually abused. Comparatively little attention has been given to alternative prevention strategies – particularly to those aimed at preventing sexual abuse before it might otherwise occur. Considerable knowledge has been accumulated on the characteristics, modus operandi and persistence of offenders, the characteristics, circumstances and outcomes for victims, and the physical and social settings in which sexual abuse occurs, but little work has been done to systematically apply this knowledge to prevention. This book aims to fulfill this objective through integrating clinical and criminological concepts and knowledge to inform a more comprehensive and effective public policy approach to preventing child sexual abuse. Empirical and theoretical knowledge concerning child sexual abuse is integrated with broader developments in evidence-based crime and child maltreatment prevention, leading to new ideas about understanding and preventing child sexual abuse. This book will be essential reading for anybody with interests in this field.

The sexual abuse of children is now seen as an enormous problem; first, because there is an increasing awareness that it is more prevalent than previously thought, and second, because it gives rise to so many complex questions. How is sexual abuse to be defined? What are the effects of abuse? How can the victim be helped? How can abuse be prevented? These two comprehensive volumes cover a wide spectrum of basic and applied issues. Expert contributors -- including physicians, attorneys, psychologists, philosophers, social workers, and engineers -- address such relevant topics as epidemiology, animal models, legal reforms, feminist scholarship, child pornography, medical assessment, and diverse models of psychotherapeutic intention.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is an insidious crime that can destroy the lives of innocent children and leave their families devastated. The topic of child sexual abuse is, at best, a difficult subject to discuss and at worst, a horrifying one. Child sexual abuse has been defined as: "Child sexual abuse involves any sexual activity with a child where consent is not or cannot be given. This includes sexual contact that is accomplished by force or threat of force, regardless of the age of the participants, and all sexual contact between an adult and a child, regardless of whether there is deception or the child understands the sexual nature of the activity. Sexual contact between an older and a younger child also can be abusive if there is a significant disparity in age, development, or size, rendering the younger child incapable of giving informed consent. The sexually abusive acts may include sexual penetration, sexual touching, or non-contact sexual acts such as exposure or voyeurism." The following is a representative list of risk factors related specifically to child sexual abuse within youth-serving organizations. Note that the emphasis is on "unsupervised" access to children in a variety of ways. * Unsupervised contact with children * Transportation of children * Long term contact with children in live-in situation * Extreme physical exertion in a remote setting with children * Visit to children's homes * Helping children change clothes, bathe, or with other personal activities * Coaching sports in which physical contact between adult and child is routine * Delivery of meals to children's homes While many of the YSO's have undertaken a number of steps to keep the children safe, there are many such organizations that have not faced the facts about the profound risks to children that exist every day.

The past decade has seen a dramatic increase in the attention paid to the problem of child sexual abuse. Professionals from the social work, mental health, medical, academic, and legal fields are all involved in researching the prevalence, causes, and consequences of abuse. Child sexual abuse in multidimensional: it is determined by forces at work in victims and offenders, in the family, and in the community and society at large. Thoroughly researched, Preventing Child Sexual Abuse surveys incidence and prevalence studies; lists risk and protective factors in abuse; discusses various indicators of abuse; and reports on legislation related to abuse. It reviews preventive programs aimed at children and adults, and provides suggestions for an expanded involvement of parents, professionals, policymakers, researchers, and the general public. In doing so, it provides the information needed to create prevention programs that attack the problem on several fronts at once.

This newly updated edition of the top-selling reference manual for the medical evaluation of suspected child sexual abuse has been expanded to reflect the increasing importance of properly performed, well-documented examinations. Not only does the book cover aspects of the physical examination and diagnosis for sexual abuse, its additional coverage of interviewing children and collecting evidence for criminal investigations makes it an inclusive guidebook for all aspects of the child sexual abuse evaluation process.

Overcoming Abuse: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention and Protection is an encyclopedic manual for parents, caregivers or helpers to educate their self and train children on body safety. This is an indispensable resource for anyone who is interested in becoming aware and informed about child sexual abuse (CSA). It is an informative reservoir on the dynamics of child sexual abuse, the sex offender profile, and a guide on how to protect and prevent a child from being a target of CSA anywhere, including the internet. Instructs the adult: on initiating conversation to help the child gain an understanding about the precious gift of his body. Introduces and walks the adult through a healthy age-appropriate biblical perspective on human sexuality. The process of overcoming CSA for the parent/caregiver and child is spelled out (whether the parent/child have experienced CSA or not) healing and hope are offered. An example of a Body Safety Family Plan is provided to develop the skills of self-protection. The parent/caregiver are able to reassure the child that home is where love is—and CSA is not!

Confronting Child and Adolescent Sexual Abuse is the first text to examine the history, theory, treatment, and prevention of this complex phenomenon. With in-depth insights into the psychologies of victims, their families, and the perpetrators, this comprehensive text shows readers how to recognize the symptoms and impact of childhood sexual abuse, critically engage with the unique nature of each case, complete a thorough assessment, develop a treatment plan, and effectively intervene in critical situations. A national expert on child abuse and neglect and the author of numerous books and publications, Cynthia Crosson-Tower addresses a wide range of special topics and helps readers prepare for working in this challenging professional field.