Let's Talk About Prevention Webinar: Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

Hosted by the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, this professional development session features Dr. David Finkelhor, Director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center, providing an in-depth framework for child sexual abuse prevention. Dr. Finkelhor dismantles common stereotypes by detailing the diverse typologies of abuse, emphasizing that many offenses are non-violent, grooming-based, or committed by other youth rather than chronic adult predators. To address these realities, he introduces a four-pronged prevention model targeting offender motivation, internal moral inhibitors, external environmental protections, and a child’s own resistance skills. Concluding that comprehensive school-based education is our most powerful tool, he advocates for consistent, age-appropriate instruction on healthy relationships, boundaries, and disclosure to effectively protect children and dismantle opportunities for abuse across all environments.