CHAPTER 5: RESOURCES

Several government agencies promote national adult sexual misconduct (ASM) awareness and prevention efforts through targeted initiatives and by providing resources on the subject. Descriptions of key agencies that address ASM are found below. Because resources at the state level vary widely, descriptions of state-level programs are not included in this chapter. Please consult your local and state agencies to learn about their programs and initiatives.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC supports ASM prevention by offering information resources on various forms of child abuse, including child sexual abuse. These resources include guides and fact sheets, which can be found on the CDC’s Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention page.

Childwelfare.Gov

This Website serves as a national information clearinghouse, providing such resources as a library and planning and training tools.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

NCTSN offers resources that allow professionals who work with children, researchers, and families to collaborate in order to improve care standards and access to services. NCTSN is composed of three types of centers that work together to form this network: the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, the Treatment and Services Adaptation Centers, and the Community Treatment and Services Centers.

National Sexual Violence Resource Center, CDC

This center serves as a clearinghouse of tools and training courses about sexual violence, including child sexual abuse. Statistical data as well as myths and perceptions about child sexual abuse can be found on the Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Resources page.

U.S. Department of Justice

Crimes against Children Research Center, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)

This Center takes several approaches for raising awareness and improving strategies for reducing the incidence of crimes against children and supporting victims and their families. The Center has spearheaded several studies specific to violence against children, including the National Survey of Sexual Abuse in Day Care, and the Youth Internet Safety Survey. The Center also offers information about several research papers, fact sheets, and articles on child sexual abuse.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

The FBI addresses ASM via its Violent Crimes Against Children program, which offers guides, links, and other resources specific to helping keep children from becoming victims of sexual exploitation and other forms of child abuse. More information about the Violent Crimes Against Children program can be found on the Crimes Against Children/Online Predators page.

Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC Task Force), OJJDP

This site serves to enhance the capabilities of more than 3,000 Federal, state, and local agencies by addressing efforts to sexually exploit children via communications systems and technologies. Resources provided on the ICAC Task Force Website may be helpful to parents and youths who want to learn more about online safety.

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, OJJDP

This site serves as a national clearinghouse of resources (reports, infographics, videos, and training programs) specific to children who are missing or have been sexually exploited. In addition, information on the CyberTipline®, which may be used to report suspected incidents of child sexual exploitation, is provided. Access the Center’s Website.

Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)

OVC administers several programs and Websites that provide victims with access to multiple resources and services. Some of these include the following:

  • CrimeSolutions.gov — Provides information about program efficacy. Users may search multiple topics, including juvenile justice, to learn about the findings associated with a review of programs and practices.
  • CrimeVictims.gov — Offers publications, hotlines, databases, and Websites that crime victims, volunteers, and service providers can use to learn more about the rights of victims and the impact of specific crimes.
  • Online Directory of Crime Victim Services — Spans all 50 states and territories, as well as other countries, and provides users with information about services and programs to support victims of “nonemergency crimes.”

Project Safe Childhood

Created as a comprehensive strategy to decrease incidents of child sexual exploitation and with the support of the public and law enforcement, this program makes available news articles, trainings, and fact sheets on its Website.

U.S. Department of Education

Office for Civil Rights

This office supports schools and school districts by enforcing legislation related to ASM in schools, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Information about specific rights under Title IX is available on the Office for Civil Rights’ Website.

REMS TA Center

Administered by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, the REMS TA Center provides a clearinghouse of guidance, resources, training, and services in school safety, security, emergency management, and preparedness planning. The REMS TA Center offers both virtual and in-person trainings to schools and districts, as well as their community partners, with roles and responsibilities throughout the process. They also offer Webinars, fact sheets, downloadable training packages, and other free resources related to adversarial and human-caused threats that schools and school districts may face, including ASM, sextortion, threat assessment in K–12 schools, and using social media to conduct threat assessments.