Child Sexual Abuse Victimization Prevention Programs in Preschool and Kindergarten: Implications for Practice

ABSTRACT

With the alarming rates of child sexual abuse in the United States, there have been several attempts to develop and implement child abuse victimization programs in elementary schools across the country. Many programs have targeted older school-age children, but research shows that these programs can be effective for children of preschool and kindergarten age. This paper will review the literature that provides the rationale behind offering these types programs to the youngest of school-children, what these programs can offer, and describe specific programs that have been validated for preschool and kindergarten-aged children, using the best practice guidelines in the field of early childhood education. Recommendations for future programs and research needs are also offered.

KEYWORDS:

• Victimization prevention
• program development
• sexual abuse
• child sexual abuse
• early elementary programming

Acknowledgments

All authors would like to acknowledge Eleanor McGlinchey, Ph.D., for her devotion as an instructor and clinician. It is through her course and guidance that the idea for this manuscript came to be. We thank you, Dr. McGlinchey, for your continued support.

Disclosure of Interest

All authors declare that they have no conflicts to report.

Ethical Standards and Informed Consent

Due to the nature of a review article, no informed consent was needed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Megan Manheim

Megan Manheim, B.A., is a doctoral student in clinical psychology with an emphasis in forensic psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Richard Felicetti

Richard Felicetti, B.A., is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Gillian Moloney

Gillian Moloney, B.A., is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey.