When I make presentations about prevention of child sexual abuse, I typically focus on the numerous challenges involved in trying to prevent a situation that might possibly lead to child sexual abuse. I try to emphasize the fact that prevention means doing something “before it actually happens” and how our systems such as child protective services and law enforcement services can collaborate effectively with family members in a preventive situation.
I also try to focus on the responsibilities of the various organizations and individuals in order to try to intervene and prevent a possibly abusive scenario. I try to discuss details on how multidisciplinary team efforts are critical to prevent a likely abusive scenario, but in the process also discuss the existing challenges faced by our systems such as law enforcement, legal and court systems, correction system, child protection system, etc, while working in a preventive mode. This is an area that requires immediate attention if we are truly focused on intervention and prevention of child sexual abuse.
I also try to discuss the following points:
- Necessity and appropriateness of intervention in order to prevent the possibility of child sexual abuse
- Effectiveness of child protective services and law enforcement services in a preventive situation when nothing bad has happened yet
- How we can all have a role in this prevention process