Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: Educators' Perspectives on School-Based Curricula in Vermont

June 1, 2022

French, Kate; Giangregorio, Luke; Glessner-Fischer, Annie; Kramer, Zach; Little, Kassondra; Rzemien, Matt; Song, Paige; Wyn, Jess; Hambrick, Marcie, PhD, MSW; Delaney, Tom, PhD

Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Prevent Child Abuse Vermont

Introduction

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is associated with longitudinal repercussions in academic performance as well as physical and psychological health outcomes. 1

Act 1, enacted in 2009, aimed to decrease CSA through school-based curricula. It requires each district to have organized training on CSA for its employees and lessons for students at every grade level. 2

School-based curricula is considered the best setting for prevention because of access to students, especially lower socioeconomic families where risk of CSA is 3-fold. 3

Implementation challenges include lack of funding, vague guidelines, no enforcement, and others.

This qualitative study surveyed Vermont schools to evaluate how local districts met (or plan to meet) the mandate, how they addressed obstacles and how effective they consider their program to be. 1,3,4,5

Methods

Individuals involved with CSA prevention programs at six VT schools (pre-K to 8th grade) were interviewed

Interviews addressed 1) efficacy of CSA prevention program in use, 2) parental involvement, and 3) general thoughts

Interview transcripts coded to identify key terms, concepts, and beliefs

Thematic analysis used to identify minor and overarching themes based on codes Results –Qualitative Themes & Quotes From VT Educators

Act 1 Compliance

"Conversations with kids, role playing, connections with parents and caregivers...sending notes home to parents first, follow up work from what they did in class, practicing conversations."

Time Intensive

"I think the fact that we don't have a health teacher is a huge [barrier]...it wasn't even clear that [sexual education] was something I was responsible for teaching as part of my position...I don't have classroom training for it either."

Cost

"If you had to buy [the curriculum] with your own budget, it could take years to get it all. It should be: 'Here's something, it's free, take it'...I think if there was something free, more people would do it."

Parental Involvement

"I have never had any feedback on [the sexual abuse prevention program].The only parental feedback I've ever had about health class in general is that families would like more of it."

Discussion

This study explored how six Vermont school districts have incorporated CSA education in response to Act 1.

Many programs address inappropriate behavior, standing up for yourself, basic sexuality and fear of speaking out.

Shared obstacles for these schools included:

Time:

Time restriction in student and educator schedules

Financial Strain:

The cost of purchasing an effective program and hiring staff to teach it. If schools cannot purchase curricula, existing staff have to create lesson plans to comply.

Lack of Parental Involvement:

Parents are made aware of the curriculum via letter, and overwhelmingly support it, but generally remain disconnected from its implementation.

Recommendations:

A state-sponsored and standardized curriculum that is relatable for students and regularly updated

Strict specifications for who should teach the curriculum

Clarity on the parental and/or community involvement

"I would like to see something from the state level that outlines what's expected from schools and provides a standardized training program...As much as it’s a requirement... it's not communicated very well from the state level."

References

1 Topping KJ, Barron IG. School-Based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs: A Review of Effectiveness. Review of Educational Research. 2009;79(1):431-463.

2 VT ACT001 –State of VT Sexual Violence Prevention Legislation

3 Prinz, Ronald J. Parenting and family support within a broad child abuse prevention strategy: Child maltreatment prevention can benefit from public health strategies, Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 51, 2016, Pages 400-406.

4 Prikhidko, Alena; Kenny, Maureen C. Examination of parents’ attitudes toward and efforts to discuss child sexual abuse prevention with their children, Children and Youth Services Review, Volume 121, 2021.

5 Fieldman, J. P., & Crespi, T. D. (2002). Child sexual abuse: Offenders, disclosure, and school-based initiatives. Adolescence, 37(145), 151-60.