Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: A Review of Findings From Interviews With K–12 School Administrators

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to share findings from interviews with school administrators in nine school districts across six states, part of a larger study which is examining school employee-perpetuated child sexual abuse (CSA) in schools across the United States. The primary goal of the interviews was to better understand CSA prevention policies and practices in the school districts. However, the interviews also unearthed information on the leadership styles of school leaders, the size of the school/district and its effect on relationships between staff and leadership, aspects of community and family involvement that support or hinder CSA prevention, the values and norms within the school environment, and the effect of past CSA scandals on issue awareness and commitment to change.

Authors

• Charol Shakeshaft, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Kellie E. Carlyle, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Emiola Oyefuga, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Andrew Ortiz, CHILD USA