Evaluation of a Sexual Abuse Prevention Workshop for Parents of Young Children

This study examined the effectiveness of an educational workshop designed to inform parents about childhood sexual abuse (CSA), promote parent-child communication, and help parents create molester-free environments for their children. Forty-seven parents of young children (mean age = 4.6 years) completed preworkshop questionnaires, participated in a 3-hour parent educational workshop led by a CSA prevention expert, and were tested 1 month later. Parents who attended the workshop gained knowledge about CSA and reported increased communication with their children about CSA. This study provided evidence that a relatively brief parent educational program can improve parents’ knowledge and ability to talk with their children about personal safety. Suggestions for future program development and evaluation are provided.