Effective solutions are available, and part of our mission is to educate others and promote these options.

Primarily, prevention and education is the main focus on the 'front end.' We believe that prevention efforts should not be solely focused on children; they do not have the means to protect themselves and 'good touch-bad touch' is an important component but will not actually protect them. Prevention and education efforts must be focused on parents and responsible adults for them to be truly effective.

Prevention programs aimed at juveniles are particularly effective. No child or adolescent exists in a vacuum - the entire family is affected by issues and therefore needs attention and assistance. Most adults who have offended against children began to have inappropriate thoughts and desires in their early puberty. One proposed program is a venue for juveniles to ask sensitive questions on what is and is not 'normal' (boundaries) behavior and affords an opportunity for intervention (not necessarily through the courts) and enrollment into counseling that focuses on healthy boundaries, age-appropriate behavior and non-sexual interaction, as well as substance abuse treatment and parenting classes if applicable for the adults.

Other prevention options are more proactive, directed toward adults. Considering that most child sexual abuse [CSA] is perpetrated by a family member or someone within the Zone of Association, a script that notifies all these persons that the family is not only educated but vigilant and the child has a network of adults to disclose to should something improper occur. Please utilize the FREE Abuse Prevention Plan, courtesy of Be A Child's Hero Network.

Education programs aimed at parents and teens regarding Age of Consent laws [AOC], what are and are not covered behaviors, the legal consequences and the corresponding social consequences - what it is really like to live as a "Registered Sex Offender" for the rest of their lives and how it will affect their families by extension. Providing this information in the format that is customized for each state and includes printed materials to refer to later, the key points will prompt discussion and dialogue within the family unit regarding boundaries and teen sexual behavior. We know this won't stop teen sex, but it will open the door for discussions. Studies show that openness and discussion within the family unit tends to be a major factor in delaying coital debut.

Restorative Justice is another viable option for one-time, non-violent offenders. While this process is very cathartic and healing for the victim, it is not appropriate for children (under 8). One truly remarkable program is in use in Tucson, Arizona: RESTORE. This program is completely victim-driven, is coordinated with local law enforcement and prosecutor, and has many safeguards built in. It has gotten excellent reviews and high marks from the victims who have participated (called "survivors") who have called it 'cathartic' and indicated that they had a positive sense of closure that they could not have gotten within the court system. Further, since the program's inception they have a 0% recidivism rate... isn't that what we are all looking for?

RESTORE is created to be easily implemented all over the country. It is exponentially more fiscally responsible than long-term incarceration, and it keeps the family together during the program. Help is available to family members of the offender (called "responsible person"), as issues affect every member of the family. This strengthens the family, rather than weakens it, and therefore the community.

DO you have other effective solutions to offer? Please contact us and let us know!