NEW PROGRAMS: Upcoming RTBS® Programs:

Healing From Sexual Abuse: What women need to know to restore their lives after the trauma of childhood sexual abuse.

When Adolescents Commit Sexual Abuse

Guidelines for Safe Family Reunification

Right To be Safe Programs and Training:
What is the benefit of Adult Education to Prevent Sexual Abuse:

"It is important for both parents and educators to talk about this sensitive topic and not be afraid to do so. This program gives a good overview of the topic of sexual abuse which is sometimes an overlooked area of abuse prevention. With the public having access to this information, awareness will only increase into the future."

Stephanie Cooney
Program Consultant, Indian Creek Schools

Click to view the RTBS®: Adult Education to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
***[English Version]*** (Microsoft Powerpoint)

***[Versión Español]*** (Adobe PDF)

This is a 3-hour power point presentation that parents, professionals and other adults can view in the privacy of their home or office. It is not a program for children, however parents are encouraged to share this information with their children by discussing what they learn about preventing sexual abuse with their kids and teens. Professionals in the field of social work, mental health, education and healthcare are encouraged to use the program to provide primary prevention education to parents.

The program takes a few minutes to come on-line. You will need an updated version of PowerPoint to open the program. Once the program opens you can go to the Table of Contents and click on the subject you would like to learn about first. It is recommended that the entire program be viewed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the traumatic crime of child sexual abuse. Thank you!

Overview of the RTBS®: Adult Education to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

  • Identifies the kinds of sexual abuse that perpetrators commit against children.
  • Gives information about the men, women and adolescents who commit sexual abuse.
  • Identifies behaviors to look for in people who commit sexual abuse.
  • Discusses reoffending by individuals who have been convicted of sexual abuse.
  • Explains that "Family Danger" is more prevalent than stranger danger.
  • Suggests what parents can do to keep their children safe.
  • Explains how some prevention education programs are not adequate to prevent sexual abuse.
  • Identifies how perpetrators gain access to children and manipulate a parent's trust.
  • Explains the reason children delay telling about sexual abuse.
  • Describes how a perpetrator begins the "Cycle of Abuse". vvv
  • Answers questions about what places children at-risk for sexual abuse.
  • Discusses the long-term problems caused by sexual abuse.
  • Provides information on what parents can do if sexual abuse has happened.
  • Encourages responsibility by adults for preventing the traumatic crime of sexual abuse.
  • Encourages healing, accountability and responsibility.
  • Challenges the media to provide accurate reports and take a role in prevention education.

The Right To Be Safe - Healthy Teen Relationships

The Right To Be Safe - Understanding and Preventing Bully Abuse

The Right To Be Safe - When Sexual Abuse Happens to Boys


CSA Seminars

May Workshop 2008
Download the registration form.*

*Requires Adobe Reader


RTBS: Training

Karen Duncan provides training to organizations to implement the RTBS prevention programs. The most cost effective approach to provide training is for organizations (schools, churches, youth organizations, criminal justice programs, mental health and counseling associations, etc. ) to come together and sponsor the training in their city or community. The workshop provides an overview of her integrated approach to help organizations implement prevention education, discusses pertinent questions about program content and sexual abuse prevention in particular. The goal of the workshop is to create ideas and develop a plan for providing credible prevention education within current programs and services. Karen is an enthusiastic and dynamic speaker and her workshops are interactive encouraging participation and questions. Audiences benefit from her twenty years of clinical experience as a licensed therapist and from her compassionate yet sound understanding of the trauma of sexual abuse. This training is recommended for child advocates, church educators, school counselors, school social workers, mental health and substance abuse counselors, offender treatment programs, nurse practioners and healthcare providers.



Bibliography for RTBS Programs and Web-site:
  1. Abel, G. and Harlow N. (2001). Excerpts from The Stop Child Molestation Book. (Xilbris 2001) based on the Abel and Harlow Child Molestation Prevention Study, 2001 and a summary of the 1983 study by Abel and Becker.
  2. Abel, G., Core, D., Holland, C., Camp, N. and Becker, J. (1989). The Measurement of the Cognitive Distortions Child Molesters. Annals of Sex Research, Issue 2, pp. 135-153.
  3. Center for Sex Offender Management. www.CSOM.org .
  4. Cumming G. & Buell, M. Supervision of the Sex Offender. (Safer Society Press: Vermont), 1997.
  5. Duncan, K. Healing from the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Journey for Women . Praeger Publishers: Connecticut (2004).
  6. Elliott, D. M., and Briere, J. (1994). Forensic Sexual Abuse Evaluations of Older Children: Disclosures and Symptomatology. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 12, pp. 261-277. Female Sexual Abuse of Children, (Ed. Michelle Elliott). (Longman Group: United Kingdom) 1993.
  7. Ferguson, C. and Meehan, D. (2005). An Analysis of Females Convicted of Sex Crimes in the State of Florida. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 14 (1), pp. 75-90.
  8. Finkelhor, D. and Omrod, R. Characteristics of Crimes Against Juveniles (2000). Juvenile Justice Bulletin June 2000. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
  9. Finkelhor, D. and Omrod, R. Offenders Incarcerated for Crimes Against Juveniles (2001). Juvenile Justice Bulletin December 2001. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
  10. Finkelhor, D., Hotaling, G., Lewis, I.A., &Smith, C. (1990). Sexual abuse in a national survey of adult men and women: Prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors.
  11. Finkelhor, D., Asdigian, N. and Leatherman-Dziuba, J. (1995). Victimization Prevention Programs for Children: A Follow-up. American Journal of Public Health, 85 (12), 1995.
  12. Gateways to Prevention, National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. Everyone Can Help Prevent Child Abuse (2003). (This report is especially helpful in identifying what is effective and what has not been effective within prevention programs; how most programs continue to focus on the physical abuse of children and not sexual abuse and the importance of parent education to prevent child sexual abuse).
  13. Heger, D.H. (2001). Violence Against Women Policy Trends. Report 19. National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina.
  14. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (2005). Selected articles in Volume 14.
  15. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (2004). Selected articles in Volume 13.
  16. Kilpatrick, D.G., Edmunds, C.N., & Seymour, A.K. (1992). Rape in America: A Report to the Nation. Arlington, Virginia: National Victim Center and Charleston, South Carolina, Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center.
  17. Kilpatrick, D. G., & Saunders, B.E. (April, 1997). The prevalence and consequences of child victimization. National Institute of Justice Research Preview. Washington D.C. US Department of Justice. Kilpatrick, D.G., Acierno, R., Saunders, B., Resnick, H., Best, C. and Schurr, P. (2000). Risk factors for adolescent substance abuse and dependence. Data from a national survey. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68 (1), pp. 19-30.
  18. Kogan, S. (2005). The Role of Disclosing Child Sexual Abuse on Adolescent Adjustment and Revictimization. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 14(2), pp. 25-48.
  19. Naugle, A. (1997). "National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina. Child Sexual Abuse Fact Sheet. http://www.vawprevention.org/reserach/factsheet.shtml. Downloaded May 2, 2003.
  20. National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (1996). Child maltreatment 1994: Reports from the states to the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Print Office.
  21. National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina and Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Child Physical and Sexual Abuse: Guidelines for Treatment (2003). Final Report: January 15, 2003.
  22. Newman, B., and Dannenfelser, P. Children's Protective Services and Law Enforcement: Fostering Partnerships in Investigations of Child Abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 14(2), pp. 97-111.
  23. Perry, G. and Orchard, J. (1992). Assessment and Treatment of Adolescent Sex Offenders. (Professional Resource Press: Florida).
  24. Prendergast, W.E. Treating Sex Offenders: A Guide to Clinical Practice with Adults, Clerics, Children, and Adolescents (2nd Edition). (Haworth Press: New York), 2004.
  25. Renk, K., Liljequist, L., Steinberg, A., Bosco, G. and Phares V. (2002). Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse: Are We Doing Enough? Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 3(1), pp. 68-83.
  26. Saunders, B.E., Kilpatrick, D.G., Hanson, R.F., Resnick, S.R.., and Walker, M.E. (1999). Prevalence, Case Characteristics, and Long-Term Psychological Correlates of Child Rape Among Women: A National Survey.
  27. Snyder, H.N., and Sickmund, M. Children as Victims (2000). National Center for Juvenile Justice. Juvenile Justice Bulletin May 2000. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
  28. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services in cooperation with Prevent Child Abuse America. What Everyone Can Do to Prevent Child Abuse (2003).
  29. Van Dam, C. (2001). Identifying Child Molesters: Preventing Child Sexual Abuse by Recognizing the Patterns of the Offenders. (Haworth Press: New York).
  30. Violato, Claudio (2001). A Meta-Analysis of the Published Research on the Effects of Child Sexual Abuse. Journal of Psychology, 1 (1).
  31. Whatley, M.H. and Trudell, B. (1988). The Role of the Family in Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs. Journal of Education, 170 (1), pp. 95-106.
  32. William, L. and Herrerra, V. Uncovering Links Between Child Abuse and Delinquency in Girls. Wellesley Center for Women.

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