02
Make Training A Cornerstone

Education and training designed for leaders, staff, volunteers – as well as for parents, children and teens – are essential components of effective prevention.

Intro Glossary Language How To Download Guide

02 Make Training A Cornerstone

GOAL

Education and training designed for leaders, staff,
volunteers – as well as for parents, children and teens –
are essential components of effective prevention.

Critical Questions to Ask

Does my organization have training materials on child sexual abuse prevention for: leaders; staff and volunteers; children and youth; parents and reassess these materials on a periodic basis?
Does my organization deliver this training for: leaders; staff and volunteers; children and youth; parents on a periodic basis?
Does training for my organization’s staff focus on building the required knowledge of — and attitudes related to — the impact of child sexual abuse?
Does my organization provide training for children, youth, and parents about our code of conduct?
Does my organization regularly evaluate how our training is improving child wellbeing and safety?

The Why The How Download Practice 2 Action Templates

Education and training of YSO staff is an essential component of every organization’s prevention efforts. It is so central to good practice that it is frequently described by experts in the field as the cornerstone of all organizational responses.

Training should be designed and delivered to leaders, staff, and volunteers. Modified training can also be designed for parents, and for children and youth themselves.

Knowledge truly is power, and the development of knowledge and skills will best empower a YSO to prevent CSA, and to respond appropriately if it does occur.

Better yet, all such education inherently deepens the general professionalism of the YSO workforce, further developing their capacity to engage with children and youth in the best possible way.

A great deal of research has been done about the essential components of training for YSOs in this context, which can guide your organization’s efforts.^41-46 Training can equip YSO staff and volunteers with the necessary knowledge and attitudes to best prevent CSA.

For YSO staff, knowing about CSA is essential to helping prevent it, identify it, and effectively respond to it. Education and training efforts are essential to create an understanding of why your organization’s prevention efforts exist, build commitment to those efforts, and foster an empathic commitment to children and youth.

Three dimensions work together to create a thriving YSO
centered around training:

A well-educated YSO is a healthy YSO. Training should focus on the three dimensions of knowledge, attitudes, and awareness.

Does My Organization Make Child Wellbeing and Safety Its Highest Priority?

This table identifies critical questions that are arguably at the heart of creating child safe organizations that epitomize child wellbeing and safety. Leaders can use these questions and suggested strategies, and those throughout this guide, to create their organization’s policies and practices and to assess the impact of those policies and practices with regard to child safety and wellbeing.

Critical Questions	Goals	Actions to Achieve Goals
Does my organization have training materials for: leaders, staff and volunteers, children and youth, parents?	The organization audits the existence of training materials for leaders, staff and volunteers, children and youth, and parents.	Ensure that training materials are customized for leaders, staff and volunteers, children and youth, parents. Formally record these training materials as part of your YSO’s suite of policies and procedures.
Does my organization deliver this training for: leaders, staff and volunteers, children and youth, parents?	The organization audits the delivery of training materials for leaders, staff and volunteers, children and youth, parents.	Ensure that the YSO has mechanisms to deliver the training materials for leaders. staff and volunteers, children and youth, parents. Formally record how these training materials are delivered.
Does my organization require that training is periodically repeated?	The organization audits the requirement to repeat training. The organization ensures there is a system for recording the completion of training, especially by YSO leaders, staff, and volunteers.	Formally record how often these training materials are required to be delivered. Ensure that training is periodically repeated, especially by leaders and staff. Develop and maintain a systematic record of training completion.
Does my organization have a mechanism to review the training to ensure that it is continuously improved as necessary?	The organization audits the existence of a training review mechanism. The organization ensures there is a department of the YSO with responsibility to oversee training.	Ensure that there is a mechanism for review at reasonable time intervals (e.g., every 3 years, and or after major adverse events). Formally record how the training materials are reviewed (by whom, how often, through what mechanism), how the review is performed, and what recommendations are actioned and recorded.
Does training for my organization’s staff (including leaders) focus on building the required knowledge of the impact of child sexual abuse as well as the awareness of my YSO’s policies and procedures to prevent it?	The organization audits the delivery of training content on: the definition of CSA the forms of CSA boundary violations that may precede abuse the prevalence and patterns of CSA e.g., girls vs. boys, age of onset, frequency, types of relationships, where it happens the harms caused by CSA (health, educational, and behavioral consequences) how to identify sexual abuse (physical and behavioral indicators) how children disclose their experience, and how to respond to disclosures how to identify inappropriate conduct maintaining professional boundaries (physical, emotional, and communications) self-regulation (avoiding slippage) managing ethical conflicts	Ensure that there is a mechanism to measure attainment of baseline knowledge of CSA (short- term goal). Ensure that staff demonstrate retained and/or improved knowledge over time (medium- term goal). Ensure that staff demonstrate retained advanced knowledge over time (long-term goal).
Does training for my organization’s staff (including leaders) focus on building the required attitudes about the impact of child sexual abuse as my YSO’s policies and procedures to prevent it?	The organization audits the delivery of training content on: the harms caused to children by sexual abuse (health, educational, and behavioral consequences) the wrongfulness of sexual abuse in ethics and law adults’ ethical duty to protect children, especially in organizational settings the important protective role played by YSO staff in children’s lives the duty to place the child’s needs and best interests first, above other considerations	Ensure that there is a mechanism to measure attainment of baseline attitudes towards child safety (short-term goal). Ensure that staff demonstrate retained and/or improved attitudes over time (medium- term goal). Ensure that staff demonstrate retained advanced attitudes over time (long-term goal) and model these attitudes in their work in the YSO.
Does training for my organization’s staff (including leaders) focus on building the required awareness of policy and obligations regarding child sexual abuse?	The organization audits the delivery of training content on: awareness of the YSO’s policy regarding a commitment to CSA prevention awareness of the YSO’s code of conduct regarding prohibited behaviors awareness of the YSO’s rules and procedures on reporting known incidents and suspected cases, and how to comply with them awareness of duties to report CSA in state law, and how to comply with them	Ensure that there is a mechanism to measure attainment of baseline awareness of policy and obligations (short-term goal). Ensure that staff demonstrate retained awareness and/or improved awareness over time (medium-term goal). Ensure that staff demonstrate retained advanced awareness over time (long-term goal), and comply with duties in policy, code of conduct, and law.
Does my organization provide training for children and youth about our code of conduct?	The organization audits the delivery of training content on: information about CSA appropriate and inappropriate interactions for children and youth, online and offline, with other youth and adults consent and consensual relationships key elements of the YSO code of conduct reporting procedures	Inculcate knowledge, attitudes, and awareness in these domains among children and youth at the YSO.
Does my organization provide training for parents about our code of conduct?	The organization audits the delivery of training content on: information about CSA appropriate and inappropriate interactions for children and youth, online and offline, with other youth and adults consent and consensual relationships key elements of the YSO code of conduct reporting procedures	Inculcate knowledge, attitudes, and awareness in these domains among parents at the YSO.
Does my organization regularly evaluate how our training is improving child wellbeing and safety?	The organization implements its system to evaluate the training approaches and the extent to which they achieve their goals. The organization surveys staff about the adequacy of training (knowledge development, attitudinal development, awareness-raising). The organization monitors (collects, organizes, and reviews) allegations of abuse and associated reports, instances of boundary violations, and violations of other organizational culture, norms, and rules. The organization surveys children and parents about their experiences with staff and volunteers; surveys include direct questions about abusive behaviors, boundary violations, and other relevant violations.	Chart knowledge, attitudes, and awareness. Survey staff on satisfaction with training (knowledge development, attitudinal development, awareness-raising). Document: Medium-term to long-term reduction in incidents of CSA at the YSO; Medium-term to long-term reduction in breaches of the Code of Conduct Compliance with reporting policies Document increases in self- reported: feelings of safety absence of incidents appropriate responses to incidents

Critical Questions

Does my organization have training materials for: leaders, staff and volunteers, children and youth, parents?

Goal

The organization audits the existence of training materials for leaders, staff and volunteers, children and youth, and parents.

Action to Achieve Goal

Ensure that training materials are customized for leaders, staff and volunteers, children and youth, parents.
Formally record these training materials as part of your YSO’s suite of policies and procedures.

Does my organization deliver this training for: leaders, staff and volunteers, children and youth, parents?

Goal

The organization audits the delivery of training materials for leaders, staff and volunteers, children and youth, parents.

Action to Achieve Goal

Ensure that the YSO has mechanisms to deliver the training materials for leaders. staff and volunteers, children and youth, parents.
Formally record how these training materials are delivered.

Does my organization require that training is periodically repeated?

Goal

The organization audits the requirement to repeat training.
The organization ensures there is a system for recording the completion of training, especially by YSO leaders, staff, and volunteers.

Action to Achieve Goal

Formally record how often these training materials are required to be delivered.
Ensure that training is periodically repeated, especially by leaders and staff.
Develop and maintain a systematic record of training completion.

Does my organization have a mechanism to review the training to ensure that it is continuously improved as necessary?

Goal

The organization audits the existence of a training review mechanism.
The organization ensures there is a department of the YSO with responsibility to oversee training.

Action to Achieve Goal

Ensure that there is a mechanism for review at reasonable time intervals (e.g., every 3 years, and or after major adverse events).
Formally record how the training materials are reviewed (by whom, how often, through what mechanism), how the review is performed, and what recommendations are actioned and recorded.

Does training for my organization’s staff (including leaders) focus on building the required knowledge of the impact of child sexual abuse as well as the awareness of my YSO’s policies and procedures to prevent it?

Goal

The organization audits the delivery of training content on:

the definition of CSA
the forms of CSA
boundary violations that may precede abuse
the prevalence and patterns of CSA e.g., girls vs. boys, age of onset, frequency,
types of relationships, where it happens
the harms caused by CSA (health, educational, and behavioral consequences)
how to identify sexual abuse (physical and behavioral indicators)
how children disclose their experience, and how to respond to disclosures
how to identify inappropriate conduct
maintaining professional boundaries (physical, emotional, and communications)
self-regulation (avoiding slippage)
managing ethical conflicts

Action to Achieve Goal

Ensure that there is a mechanism to measure attainment of baseline knowledge of CSA (short- term goal).

Ensure that staff demonstrate retained and/or improved knowledge over time (medium- term goal).

Ensure that staff demonstrate retained advanced knowledge over time (long-term goal).

Does training for my organization’s staff (including leaders) focus on building the required attitudes about the impact of child sexual abuse as my YSO’s policies and procedures to prevent it?

Goal

The organization audits the delivery of training content on:

the harms caused to children by sexual abuse (health, educational, and behavioral consequences)
the wrongfulness of sexual abuse in ethics and law
adults’ ethical duty to protect children, especially in organizational settings
the important protective role played by YSO staff in children’s lives
the duty to place the child’s needs and best interests first, above other considerations

Action to Achieve Goal

Ensure that there is a mechanism to measure attainment of baseline attitudes towards child safety (short-term goal).

Ensure that staff demonstrate retained and/or improved attitudes over time (medium- term goal).

Ensure that staff demonstrate retained advanced attitudes over time (long-term goal) and model these attitudes in their work in the YSO.

Does training for my organization’s staff (including leaders) focus on building the required awareness of policy and obligations regarding child sexual abuse?

Goal

The organization audits the delivery of training content on:

awareness of the YSO’s policy regarding a commitment to CSA prevention
awareness of the YSO’s code of conduct regarding prohibited behaviors
awareness of the YSO’s rules and procedures on reporting known incidents and suspected cases, and how to comply with them
awareness of duties to report CSA in state law, and how to comply with them

Action to Achieve Goal

Ensure that there is a mechanism to measure attainment of baseline awareness of policy and obligations (short-term goal).
Ensure that staff demonstrate retained awareness and/or improved awareness over time (medium-term goal).
Ensure that staff demonstrate retained advanced awareness over time (long-term goal), and comply with duties in policy, code of conduct, and law.

Does my organization provide training for children and youth about our code of conduct?

Goal

The organization audits the delivery of training content on:

information about CSA
appropriate and inappropriate interactions for children and youth, online and offline, with other youth and adults
consent and consensual relationships
key elements of the YSO code of conduct
reporting procedures

Action to Achieve Goal

Inculcate knowledge, attitudes, and awareness in these domains among children and youth at the YSO.

Does my organization provide training for parents about our code of conduct?

Goal

The organization audits the delivery of training content on:

information about CSA
appropriate and inappropriate interactions for children and youth, online and offline, with other youth and adults
consent and consensual relationships
key elements of the YSO code of conduct
reporting procedures

Action to Achieve Goal

Inculcate knowledge, attitudes, and awareness in these domains among parents at the YSO.

Does my organization regularly evaluate how our training is improving child wellbeing and safety?

Goal

The organization implements its system to evaluate the training approaches and the extent to which they achieve their goals.

The organization surveys staff about the adequacy of training (knowledge development, attitudinal development, awareness-raising).

The organization monitors (collects, organizes, and reviews) allegations of abuse and associated reports, instances of boundary violations, and violations of other organizational culture, norms, and rules.

The organization surveys children and parents about their experiences with staff and volunteers; surveys include direct questions about abusive behaviors, boundary violations, and other relevant violations.

Action to Achieve Goal

Chart knowledge, attitudes, and awareness.
Survey staff on satisfaction with training (knowledge development, attitudinal development, awareness-raising).

Document:

Medium-term to long-term reduction in incidents of CSA at the YSO;
Medium-term to long-term reduction in breaches of the Code of Conduct
Compliance with reporting policies

Document increases in self- reported:

feelings of safety
absence of incidents
appropriate responses to incidents

Serving Youth

Making the Case

Scalability

Serving Youth

Making the Case

Scalability

02
Make Training A Cornerstone

GOAL

Critical Questions to Ask

Education and training of YSO staff is an essential component of every organization’s prevention efforts. It is so central to good practice that it is frequently described by experts in the field as the cornerstone of all organizational responses.

Knowledge truly is power, and the development of knowledge and skills will best empower a YSO to prevent CSA, and to respond appropriately if it does occur.

Three dimensions work together to create a thriving YSO
centered around training:

A well-educated YSO is a healthy YSO. Training should focus on the three dimensions of knowledge, attitudes, and awareness.

Delivered By

Serving Youth

Making the Case

Scalability

Serving Youth

Making the Case

Scalability

02 Make Training A Cornerstone

GOAL

Critical Questions to Ask

Education and training of YSO staff is an essential component of every organization’s prevention efforts. It is so central to good practice that it is frequently described by experts in the field as the cornerstone of all organizational responses.

Knowledge truly is power, and the development of knowledge and skills will best empower a YSO to prevent CSA, and to respond appropriately if it does occur.

Three dimensions work together to create a thriving YSO centered around training:

A well-educated YSO is a healthy YSO. Training should focus on the three dimensions of knowledge, attitudes, and awareness.

Delivered By

02
Make Training A Cornerstone

Three dimensions work together to create a thriving YSO
centered around training: