@article{ref1,
title="Preventing and responding to child sexual abuse: organizational efforts",
journal="Child abuse and neglect",
year="2020",
author="Assini-Meytin, Luciana C. and Kaufman, Keith L. and Mathews, Ben and Palmer, Donald A. and Ingram, Maggie and Letourneau, Elizabeth J.",
volume="112",
number="",
pages="e104892-e104892",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Child sexual abuse (CSA) remains an ongoing threat to the wellbeing of  children who might be victimized, to the liberty of individuals who might engage in  abusive behavior, and to the reputations and livelihood of organizations in which  abuse might occur. In the U.S., millions of children participate in youth-serving  organizations (YSOs), and it is known that a proportion of CSA occurs in these  settings. Despite the severity of these threats, there is little knowledge of the  steps that organizations take to prevent and respond to CSA. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: Our study  aimed to index current measures to prevent and respond to CSA in organizational  settings, using four of the largest U.S.-based YSOs as exemplars. <br><br>METHODS: In  partnership with our partner YSOs, we completed a qualitative analysis of 74  organizational documents including written policies, codes of conduct, trainings,  and other documents that formalize these four organizations' current CSA prevention  and intervention efforts. <br><br>RESULTS: These organizations collectively implement  hundreds of distinct measures aimed at preventing, detecting, and responding to CSA. These measures were categorized under eight overarching themes, including: overall  commitment to child safety, code of conduct, training and education, assessment,  implementation and monitoring, screening and hiring, reporting and responding to  child sexual abuse, youth problem sexual behavior, and boundaries for teen leaders  and young adult staff. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Findings from the current study, outlining key  prevention and policy areas undertaken by participating YSOs, offer a starting point  for discussion about core elements needed to keep children safe from sexual abuse in  YSO settings.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0145-2134",
doi="10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104892",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104892"
}