Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: Psychoeducational Groups for Preschoolers and Their Parents

Teaching parents and their young children about ways to avoid harm can be accomplished with much success in a group setting. Parents as Teachers of Safety (PaTS) is a multi-family educational group which instructs families on environmental and personal body safety rules, with an emphasis on improving knowledge and skills related to sexual abuse prevention. This article reviews the process of the group, feedback from the group leaders, and outcomes related to both the child and parent participants. Recruitment and retention issues are described in order to assist in implementation of similar programs in the future.