The Children’s Assessment Center’s (CAC) Education Program’s goal is not only to increase professionals’ knowledge and raise community awareness but also to serve as a resource to our community. We do this by providing quality and informative training and prevention programs addressing child sexual abuse and related topics. (Please check our calendar to stay up to date with the training available to you.)
Although much research is needed in this area, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “one in four girls and one in 20 boys have been a victim of sexual abuse” [1, 2]. In addition, children are most vulnerable to sexual abuse between the ages of 7 and 12 in the United States. [3].
The CAC’s Training Programs help professionals and community members: 1) identify the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, 2) report abuse in accordance with Texas laws, 3) provide the best services to children and families addressing trauma, and 4) prevent child sexual abuse.
The CAC provides evidence-based and evidence-informed prevention education programs for children and youth from all types of abuse and victimization. “School-based programs have proven effective in increasing children’s knowledge of self-protection skills” [3]. Child Abuse Prevention is more than providing safety programs to children; it must include adults. The CAC works to protect children by educating adults on ways to identify, respond, and react appropriately to prevent child abuse.
Reference:
[1] Gewirtz-Meydan, A., & Finkelhor, D. (2020). Sexual Abuse and Assault in a Large National Sample of Children and Adolescents. Child Maltreatment, 25(2), 203-214. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559519873975
[2] Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., & Colburn, D. (2024). The prevalence of child sexual abuse with online sexual abuse added. Child abuse & neglect, 149, 106634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106634
[3] M.L. Pulido, S. Dauber, B.A. Tully, P. Hamilton, M.J. Smith, K. Freeman