One in Ten is a social science podcast produced by National Children’s Alliance and hosted by NCA CEO Teresa Huizar. Launched in 2019, it explores the latest science and insights related to child abuse and child protection. The show is designed as a resource for child abuse professionals, featuring conversations with experts working on the issue. Episodes focus on keeping children safe and helping them heal.
Episodes
What Do We Really Know About Trauma and Substance Use?
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with clinical psychologist and researcher Dr. Nick Morelli about the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and substance use in young adulthood. Drawing on data from LongSCAN, a 30-year longitudinal study of child abuse and neglect, Morrelli describes four distinct patterns of substance use identified among young adults a
Why Children Recant Abuse
In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Zsófia Szojka of the University of Greenwich about why children recant abuse disclosures, drawing on research using over 1,400 real forensic interview transcripts and a sample of 53 children who recanted. Szojka explains how recantation complicates child protection and legal responses and reviews prior findings that reca
Can Paid Family Leave Prevent Abuse?
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Lindsey Bullinger of Georgia Tech about research linking paid family leave (PFL) to reduced infant child maltreatment. Bullinger explains why infancy is a critical period; infants have the highest maltreatment rates and PFL typically provides 6-12 weeks of paid bonding time plus income support. U
Trey's Law: Putting a Stop to Victim NDAs
In this episode of 'One in Ten,' Host Teresa Huizar interviews Elizabeth Phillips of the Phillips Foundation about Trey’s Law, inspired by Phillips’ late brother Trey. Trey was groomed and abused at Kanakuk Kamp, and as a result of a later civil settlement, was silenced by a Non-Disclosure Agreement before dying by suicide at 28. Phillips explains how NDAs (often called confidentiality o
Don't Tell Anyone: How Grooming Delays Disclosure
In this episode of 'One in Ten,' Host Teresa Huizar interviews McGill University doctoral candidate Kayla Schick about grooming and how post-abuse maintenance tactics contribute to delayed disclosure and longer abuse duration. Schick explains delayed disclosure as common in child sexual abuse and describes offender tactics that discourage reporting, including secrecy demands, threats, gu
Online Abuse: The Offender in Your Pocket
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar interviews psychotherapist and researcher Anette Birgersson about multidisciplinary professionals’ perspectives on online child sexual abuse, including why prevalence is hard to measure due to research barriers with younger children, normalization, and underreporting driven by shame and guilt. They discuss how many cases are discovered through poli
Treatment vs. Punishment of Teens with Problematic Sexual Behaviors
Host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Jamie Yoder of Colorado State University about how adversity and trauma increase risk for teens’ problematic sexual behaviors and how trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) can be leveraged to expand treatment resources and reduce punitive responses. Yoder describes her clinical background with justice-involved youth and emphasizes that trauma is a
How CSAM Fuels Ongoing Abuse
Content Warning: Graphic descriptions of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) file names.In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Ted Cross of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign about how child sexual abuse material (CSAM) reflects and perpetuates ongoing abuse. Cross explains why CSAM replaces “child pornography,” emphasizing that its creation requires c
What Survivors Tell Us About the Spiritual Harm of Abuse
Teresa Huizar interviews Victor Vieth about the spiritual harm child sexual abuse can cause and how child abuse professionals and Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) can respond. Vieth describes how offenders may use religion to groom or silence children, and how faith-community reactions can deepen harm, recalling a 12-year-old asking if “God is against me.” The discussion defines spirituality ver
Kids Are the Experts: Youth Perspectives on Healing After Abuse
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Kristi Westphaln (UCLA School of Nursing) about integrating children’s voices into Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) outcome measurement and understanding what healing after abuse means to youth. Westphaln describes her work with the Canopy CAC and a scoping review showing CAC literature emphasizes programmatic measures (forensic in
Broken Trust: Exploited Youth and Healthcare Access
Host Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Amy Farrell of Northeastern University about a multi-institution study on the physical and mental health needs of commercially sexually exploited youth and their interactions with healthcare systems. The research used a national survey recruited through service agencies and Instagram screening, plus qualitative interviews with adults exploited as minors, examining
Learn Your Leadership Superpower with Irish Burch
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar welcomes Irish Burch, a longtime Children’s Advocacy Center leader and mentor, to discuss “imperfect” leadership as learning and service. Irish recounts her path from CPS investigator to forensic interviewer, then into leadership roles culminating as CEO of the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, emphasizing that being great at a job doesn’t automat
Preventing Educator Sexual Misconduct with Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with researcher Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic about preventing educator sexual misconduct, which has increased in schools even as abuse rates have declined in other youth-serving settings. Dr. Jeglic describes limited prior research since a 2004 Department of Education report and presents her team’s survey of 6,600 recent high school graduates: 11.7%
Treating Adverse Childhood Experiences in Rural America
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Lindsay Druskin-Grimes about the complex relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), treatment engagement, and resilience in rural youth. The conversation highlights crucial insights for practitioners working with traumatized children, particularly in underserved settings. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to ACEs rese
Old Before Their Time: The Impact of Childhood Trauma
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Frank Putnam, Professor of Psychiatry at UNC School of Medicine, about childhood trauma, focusing on the Female Growth and Development Study, a 35-year longitudinal, cross-sequential study of girls ages 6–15 with CPS-substantiated intrafamilial sexual abuse and a matched comparison group, followe
Magic and Monsters: Child Sexual Abuse and Institutional Betrayal
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar interviews filmmaker Norah Shapiro and actor and executive producer Anthony Edwards about their award-winning documentary Magic and Monsters, which follows survivors of the Children’s Theatre Company abuse scandal in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They describe charismatic artistic director John Clark Donahue as a serial child abuser who fostered a cultur
When Homeschooling Hides Abuse
In this episode of 'One in Ten,' Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Emily Putnam-Hornstein (UNC Chapel Hill) about how homeschooling intersects with child abuse and neglect, emphasizing that homeschooling is growing (about 2 million children) while reliable data and regulation vary widely by state and are often minimal. The conversation covers rare but egregious torture cases, potential child-
What Drives Problematic Sexual Behavior in Kids
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar welcomes Dr. Brian Allen, professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Penn State, to discuss what motivates problematic sexual behavior (PSB) in children and youth and what the research shows. Allen explains his path into the field and why he conducted a meta-analysis—combining results across studies to create a much larger dataset (about 9,000 ch
Breaking the Cycle of Neglect
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Robin Ortiz, an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, about neglect recurrence in child abuse cases. Dr. Ortiz discusses the factors contributing to neglect recurrence, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), environmental influences, and societal factors. They explore the ga
Child Abuse, AI, and the Forensic Interview
In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar speaks with Liisa Jarvilehto, a psychologist and PhD candidate at Åbo Akademi University, about the positive uses of AI in child abuse investigations and forensic interviews. The conversation addresses the common misuse of AI and explores its potential in assisting professionals by proposing hypotheses, generating question sets, and mor
Teen Suicide in an Online World
In this episode of 'One in Ten,' hosted by Teresa Huizar, Dr. Sheryl Chatfield from Kent State University discusses the alarming rise in youth suicides and its correlation with technology use. Delving into data from the National Violent Death Reporting System, Dr. Chatfield highlights the significant impact of technology, including social media and gaming, on youth mental health. They ex
Medical Child Abuse: When Caregivers Deceive
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Jim Hamilton, an associate professor adjunct at Yale School of Medicine, on the topic of medical child abuse. They explore the complexities of why caregivers might fabricate illnesses in their children, the significant discrepancies that pediatricians should look for, and the systemic issues that
When Child Sexual Abuse Hits Home for Jurors
In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Maggie Stevenson, Associate Professor of Psychology at Kenyon College, about the interplay between jurors' personal histories of child sexual abuse and their attitudes and decisions in similar cases. The conversation delves into Dr. Stevenson's meta-analysis study, which explores whether adult survivors of chil
What the Pandemic Revealed About Exploited Youth
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar talks with Dr. Matt Kafafian from George Washington University about his research on how the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the nature of the characteristics of exploited youth served by a Children’s Advocacy Center. Dr. Kafafian discusses significant findings from studies examining post-pandemic changes in the identification and referral of commer
Why They Don't Tell: Understanding Reluctance in Trafficked Youth
In this episode of 'One in Ten', host Teresa Huizar speaks with researcher Scarlet Cho, a doctoral student at the University of California Irvine, about the reluctance of trafficked youth to disclose their experiences to authorities. They explore the unique challenges these youth face, including complex relationships with their exploiters, mistrust of police and legal systems, and the a
How Child Sexual Abuse Silences Non-Abused Siblings
In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Rosaleen McElvaney, a clinical psychologist and lecturer in psychology at Dublin City University. They delve into the often-overlooked impact of child sexual abuse on non-abused siblings. The discussion covers topics such as the changes in sibling relationships post-disclosure, the ps
Best of the Best: Which Child Abuse Reports Matter?
This episode originally aired November 7, 2024.In this episode of One in Ten, Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Melanie Nadon from the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, about the intricacies of mandatory reporting in child abuse cases. The discussion delves into the disparities in report substantiations by educators compared to other professionals, the influence of socio-political shifts on wel
Tackling Victim Advocate Burnout
In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Maddison North, an assistant professor at Middle Tennessee State University, about burnout and turnover among victim advocates. The conversation explores the causes and consequences of burnout, highlighting the chronic exposure to secondary trauma, high workload, and insufficient resources. Dr. North discusses the Job Dem
Image-Based Sexual Abuse: The Pain That Never Goes Away
Show NotesIn this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Kimberly Mitchell from the University of New Hampshire's Crimes Against Children Research Center. The discussion centers on image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) and its unique, amplifying effects on victims. They delve into the disturbing prevalence of various forms of IBSA, including coercion and threatening be
Siblings Divided at Home and Foster Care
Show NotesIn this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Dylan Jones, a postdoctoral fellow at Penn State University, about the nuanced circumstances surrounding partial sibling placements in foster care. They explore the frequency, reasons, and impacts of cases where some siblings are placed in foster care while others remain at home. Key topics include the legal gaps in siblin
Healing Beyond Justice for Teen Sexual Assault Survivors
In this episode of "One in Ten," host Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Jessica Shaw, an associate professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago, about the criminal justice system's response to adolescent sexual assault. They discuss mandatory reporting laws, prosecution rates, and the broader implications for survivors. Dr. Shaw, a community psychologist, shares her extensive researc
Child Sex Trafficking Starts at Home
In this episode of One in Ten, Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Vanessa Bouché, research fellow at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, about child sex trafficking and the 25-year impact of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). The conversation delves into the origins and patterns of child sex trafficking, the federal and state legislative responses, and the importance of empirical data in shap
Is God Punishing Me?
In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Ernie Jouriles, professor and director of clinical training at Southern Methodist University, to explore the profound influence of spirituality and divine struggles on children and teens who have experienced sexual abuse. They discuss why some young individuals perceive their abuse as divine punishment, the role of self-
Honoring their Stories: Intentional Engagement in Advocacy, Education, and Prevention
This episode features a live conference panel discussion led by NCA CEO, Teresa Huizar, at the 2025 NCA Leadership Conference. Highlighting their theme of 'Everyday Champions,' the discussion features three inspiring survivor advocates: Jenna Quinn, Jimmy Widdifield, and Dr. Danielle Moore. Each panelist shares their experiences, challenges, and motivations for becoming public voices for
Understaffed and Undersupported Detectives in Crisis
In this episode of “One in Ten,” host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Lisa Nichols, an assistant professor at the University of Northern Colorado, to discuss the challenges faced by child abuse detectives. The episode delves into the complexities and emotional toll of child sexual abuse investigations, highlighting findings from Dr. Nichols' study. Key themes include understaffing, high turnove
Teachers Using Tech to Cross the Line
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar talks with researcher Kotomi Yokokura about the critical issue of educator sexual misconduct and the role of electronic communication in these offenses. Yokokura shares her personal motivation and findings from her study, which reveals the alarming prevalence of misconduct, including frequent use of social media and messaging apps for grooming. The
When the Help You Seek is for Yourself
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Melissa Bright, founder and executive director of the Center for Violence Prevention Research. They discuss the What's OK Helpline, a groundbreaking initiative designed to help youth with problematic sexual behaviors seek intervention and support. Dr. Bright shares insights from her research and experiences with the helpline, h
Remembering Their Names
Host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Emily Putnam-Hornstein and Dr. Sarah Font, co-principal investigators of Lives Cut Short, about the persistent issue of child abuse fatalities and why progress in reducing these deaths has stalled. The episode delves into the emotional impact of child abuse cases, the challenges of accurate data collection, the reluctance to discuss child safety, and the need for
Twice the Harm: Children, Domestic Violence, and Abuse
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar talks with Dr. Rebecca Rebbe, an assistant professor at UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work, to delve into the complex intersection of child abuse and domestic violence. The discussion covers the co-occurrence of these issues, especially affecting very young children, and addresses concerns about overexposure to foster care. They examine the chal
When Kids Witness the Unimaginable
In this episode of One in Ten, Teresa Huizar speaks with Katie Connell, a forensic interviewing expert and retired FBI unit chief, about the impact of mass violence on children. They discuss the prevalence of mass violence incidents, the importance of trauma-informed care for child witnesses, and the evolving roles of Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) in these tragic events. The conversation
Enforcing the Institutional Boundaries that Keep Kids Safe
In this episode of One in Ten, Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Luciana Assini-Meytin from the MOORE Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. They discuss the effectiveness of policies and procedures implemented by various institutions to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse over the past two decades. The conversation explores boundary-vi
Looking Back to Look Forward in Child Welfare
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Meg Sullivan, former Acting Assistant Secretary for the Administration of Children and Families, about the efforts and policies of the Biden administration in child welfare. The discussion explores challenges like preventing child abuse, the effectiveness of foster care placements, and strategies for addressing family neglect withou
Sibling Sexual Abuse and Preschool-Age Children
In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Jane Silovsky, Director of the Center of Child Abuse and Neglect at the University of Oklahoma, Health Sciences Center. They discuss the often-overlooked issue of sibling sexual abuse and preschool-aged children, examining risk factors, prevalence, and the challenges in addressing this sensitive topic. Key points include
What Adult Survivors Tell Us About Grooming
In this episode, titled 'What Adult Survivors Tell Us About Grooming,' Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic, a leading researcher on grooming behaviors. They discuss Dr. Jeglic's recent study involving adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and the prevalence of grooming behaviors. Dr. Jeglic elaborates on the stages of grooming and details specific red flag behaviors th
Why Kids Run: The Foster Care to Trafficking Pipeline
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Arturo Garcia, a doctoral researcher at the University of South Florida, about child sex trafficking and its intersection with foster care. They delve into the factors contributing to child sex trafficking, the vulnerabilities tied to foster care, and the reasons why children run away from safe environments. Garcia discusses his researc
Which Child Abuse Reports Matter? with Melanie Nadon, Ph.D., MPA
In this episode of One in Ten, Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Melanie Nadon from the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, about the intricacies of mandatory reporting in child abuse cases. The discussion delves into the disparities in report substantiations by educators compared to other professionals, the influence of socio-political shifts on welfare referrals, and the challenges of over-repo
How Trauma Fuels The Sex Trade with Klejdis Bilali
In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar converses with Klejdis Bilali, a doctoral researcher at the University of South Florida's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Lab, about the intricate connections between childhood abuse, substance abuse, and the commercial sex industry. The dialogue explores the intergenerational pathways leading to involvement in the sex trade, particularly focusin
Breaking Taboo: Addressing Sibling Sexual Abuse with Amy Adams
In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar interviews Amy Adams, a Ph.D. doctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham, about the complex and often overlooked issue of sibling sexual abuse. They discuss the challenges surrounding the disclosure and identification of such cases, the family dynamics involved, and the societal stigmas associated. Amy shares her extensive rese
The Ripple Effects of Firearm Injuries in Children with Dr. Zirui Song
In this episode of "One in Ten," host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Zirui Song, an Associate Professor of Healthcare Policy and Medicine at Harvard Medical School, about the extensive impact of firearm injuries on children and their families. They discuss the often overshadowed effects of these injuries, such as the long-term trauma and significant healthcare costs. Dr. Song shares findi
Why Belonging Matters
In this episode of One in Ten, Teresa Huizar speaks with Gaelin Elmore, Youth Advocate, Speaker, and Belonging Champion. They discuss the significant impact of belonging on children who have faced adversities, and how child abuse professionals can incorporate belonging into their work to foster better outcomes. Gaelin shares his personal journey of resilience and the profound importance of belongi
Why Don't More Teachers Report Abuse?
Why Don't More Teachers Report Abuse? Understanding the Challenges and SolutionsIn this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar speaks with Amanda Glouchkow, a Research Assistant at the University of Ottawa, about the complexities teachers face in identifying and reporting child abuse. They discuss the accuracy of teachers identifying various forms of abuse, the inconsistency in
Creating Change Through Storytelling
How do we persuade people more effectively and more authentically? And how does telling our own leadership story help those we’re trying to persuade to trust us and what we’re trying to do? Storytelling, and using it to make human connections, is a key part of the answer. We spoke with Sally Zimney, the author of Speaking Story, to learn more. Topics in this episode:02:41 – Origin story06:22 – Sto
Which Kids Do We Believe?
Black children and other children of color are less likely to be believed when reporting sexual violence and are considered less credible by jurors. But in multidisciplinary team settings, we pride ourselves on openly discussing all aspects of a case and coming into a case neutrally and allowing the disclosure and any corroborating evidence to determine the future direction of a case. But are we o
How Good Are We at Keeping Kids Safe?
When it comes to child sexual abuse and exploitation, a new look at the U.S. shows we’re not doing very well. Economist Impact's Out of the Shadows Index report, supported by World Childhood Foundation USA, sets key indicators for performance on child sexual abuse and exploitation prevention and intervention. And it benchmarks against those indicators in 28 different states—and counting; ther
What Is Weathering? With Dr. Arline Geronimus
Dr. Arline T. Geronimus coined the term “weathering” to describe the effects of systemic oppression—including racism and classism—on the body. In 2023, she published Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society to shine a light on the topic and offer a roadmap for hope. This summer, she joined us at the 2024 NCA Leadership Conference to share her research with child a
How Good Are Parents at Recognizing Grooming?
Would you recognize grooming if you saw it? We all think we know what it means, but that doesn’t mean we’re any good at spotting it—even if we’re parents determined to protect our kids from abuse. In fact, if anything, we’re overconfident about our ability to recognize grooming behaviors. Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic returns to One in Ten to discuss recent research on the topic. Topics in this episode:00:
Climate Change and Violence Against Children
All of us have had to give more thought to climate change and its effects in recent years. But to what degree have we yet reckoned with the way in which climate change may increase violence against children? Which children are most likely to be affected? What preventative measures can we take now to help mitigate that risk? And how should this knowledge shape our services to children and families,
Treating Adolescents With Problematic Sexual Behaviors
Cases involving problematic sexual behavior are between a quarter and a third of all cases of child sexual abuse that come through Children’s Advocacy Centers. How do we understand this behavior in teens? What are risk factors and key opportunities to interrupt and disrupt this behavior? What do we know about evidence-supported treatment for these teens? And how may existing evidence-based treatme
Boys: The Invisible Victims of Child Sex Trafficking
Child sex trafficking is not a new phenomenon. And thankfully, the general public and child abuse professionals have greater awareness than ever of it. But has the full story yet been told? To what extent has the experience of boys been a part of our understanding of sex trafficking of children and youth? What places boys at special risk for trafficking? What vulnerabilities do they have and how m
Making Prevention Education Accessible for All
Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more than three times more likely to experience abuse and neglect than children without these disabilities. We should see a prevention landscape filled with programs tailored to these children. Yet, as Dr. Melissa Bright from the Center for Violence Prevention Research tells us, few such programs exist, and even fewer have been research
A Sea of Red Dots: The Explosion in Online Child Sexual Abuse
While the presence of child sexual abuse images in child sexual abuse cases is not new, the sheer scale and scope and ubiquity of it all is. The exponential growth in the trading of these images has created a sophisticated marketplace designed around exploiting children. Three guests join us today to discuss child sexual abuse materials online (CSAM): Elizabeth and Ted Cross and Stefan Turkheimer.
Why Do People Believe Conspiracy Theories About Human Trafficking?
The rise in myths and conspiracy theories about human trafficking have been one of the most frustrating parts of being a child abuse professional over the past few years. It has been a deadly game of whack a mole, because as soon as one myth or conspiracy theory is debunked, yet another arises.Dr. Maureen Kenny, a professor of psychology at Florida International University, set out to explore why
Understanding Kids With Problematic Sexual Behaviors
Geoff Sidoli joins us from NCA’s Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes to talk about kids with sexual behavior problems. Myths abound about why these kids act out, how treatable they are, and what treatment settings and methods may be most helpful. But research shows that these kids are treatable. So how do we set these kids on a better life trajectory and improve safety at home and in the c
Keeping Kids Safe in the Homeschool Boom
Homeschooling is the fastest-growing form of education in the U.S., a surge in popularity that crosses every demographic, political, and geographic line. Most parents who homeschool do so with their children’s very best interests in mind. But what about that small but very critical percentage of parents who homeschool in order to hide their child from public view and abuse them? How do we create a
Glimpsing the Iceberg: Corporal Punishment and Physical Abuse
To truly address child physical abuse, we have to understand the scope of the problem and how the use of corporal punishment can escalate to the point in which children are harmed. What Dr. Amy Slep and her team did was to set up their research in such a way that it was truly anonymous, and parents could feel very safe to be completely honest about their use of corporal punishment and even their o
TF-CBT: Helping Kids Get Better
In the mid-90s, little was known about how to effectively treat trauma, especially that trauma that can arise from child sexual abuse. Victims often languished in treatment for years with symptoms that might—or might not—ever improve. Then more research emerged on evidence-based treatments. These effective treatments—with Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) at the fore—were brief,
Best of the Best: The Real Red Flags of Grooming
One of the most compelling problems in child sexual abuse prevention has been how to describe to parents, caregivers, and the general public exactly what signs to look for to identify concerns. Frankly, much of the discussion has been so general because, what might, with hindsight, have been a sign of abuse, might well in another setting be of no concern at all. Describing what grooming behaviors
Best of the Best: Let's Talk About Spanking
Research shows that about 75% of physical abuse starts as physical discipline gone terribly awry. We have years of data showing spanking is ineffective—and, in fact, harmful to kids. But often the topic is treated as a third rail by many child abuse professionals: avoided and ignored.We spoke to Stacie LeBlanc, CEO of The UP Institute and a champion of No Hit Zones. Why is it so difficult for chil
How Inequality Fuels Child Abuse
We struggle to understand and talk about the link between poverty and child abuse. On the one hand, we know that not every poor family abuses and neglects their children, and we don’t want to stigmatize families for their poverty. On the other hand, there is a growing body of literature on the cascading effects of poverty in the lives of families. Paul Bywaters, professor of social work at the Uni
Are We Remembering the Boys?
In most countries around the world, girls are disproportionately at risk of, and harmed by, both sexual abuse and exploitation. But we also know that all genders experience sexual violence. And every trauma victim and survivor deserves tailored treatment and care. So what do we know about how boys experience sexual exploitation? What are the unique stigmas and burdens that they bear? How do we tai
Fighting Back: What Jurors Don’t Get About Abuse
Child sexual abuse is never a child’s fault. Absolutely never. And it’s unrealistic to expect children to somehow fend off the predations of adult offenders. But do jurors believe that? Dr. Jonathan Golding, professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky, asked: What do potential jurors believe about children and resisting abuse? How do these beliefs shape their understanding of who is resp
Why Do Kids Blame Themselves After Abuse?
For professionals, one of the saddest aspects of child sexual abuse is the way in which many victims struggle with blaming themselves for the terrible actions of others. This self-blame and feelings of guilt can cause suffering throughout a lifespan if it’s left untreated. Many evidence-based interventions specifically target these negative feelings and erroneous thoughts. But how do children come
Addressing the Needs of Children and Families After Mass Violence
In this panel discussion recorded at the 2023 NCA Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., on June 6, 2023, Dr. Melissa Brymer, Dr. Angela Moreland, and licensed mental health counselor Melissa Sommerville who speak from their personal experience in responding to incidents of mass violence in Sandy Hook; Charleston, South Carolina; Buffalo, New York; and more. How can organizations that support
Small Brave Moves for a Life-Changing Field
In our culture, when we think of examples of leadership bravery, we often think of huge risk and very heroic images. Hollywood reinforces this with movies like Sully, about a pilot that landed his plane on the Hudson River, or war movies—really, too many to even name. And business TED Talks and articles likewise focus on turnaround artists or grandiose start-ups.Once we set aside the fictionalized
Best of the Best: Gender Bias and the Myth of Parental Alienation
Everyone’s heard of the vengeful ex-wife who accuses her ex-husband of child abuse just to get back at him during a divorce. There’s even a scientific-sounding term for it: parental alienation. But is parental alienation real? And are judges taking allegations of abuse seriously enough? In this rebroadcast of one of our earliest shows, we speak to Prof. Joan Meier from George Washington University
Best of the Best: Beyond ACEs
In 1998, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study showed that traumatic events in childhood were common and could have lasting effects—on everything from SAT scores while we’re in school to long-term physical health issues as adults. But are all ACEs created equal? In this rebroadcast of an intriguing interview from our first season, we invite Dr. Lisa Amaya-Jackson from the National Center
Growing Up Online: Addressing Child Sextortion
Online exploitation of children is sadly not a new phenomenon or topic. But what is new is the dramatic growth of sextortion cases. In “Growing Up Online: Addressing Child Sextortion,” we speak with Katie Connell. Katie is unit chief of the Child Victim Services Unit at the FBI. These cases—whether fueled by financial, sexual, or revenge motives—trade on children and youth’s fear that nude or sexu
The Real Red Flags of Grooming
One of the most compelling problems in child sexual abuse prevention has been how to describe to parents, caregivers, and the general public exactly what signs to look for to identify concerns. Frankly, much of the discussion has been so general because, what might, with hindsight, have been a sign of abuse, might well in another setting be of no concern at all. Describing what grooming behaviors
Practical Magic: Understanding Lived Experience Through Data
One of the most vexing questions in child abuse intervention is: How do we know that the work we do makes a difference? We can count the number of kids we serve and the services we provide, but how do we know this actually makes a meaningful difference in the quality of the multidisciplinary team response and to the children and families we serve every single day?We speak with Seth Boughton, direc
PTSD Interrupted?
We’ve learned so much about the trauma experienced by children who’ve been abused. We know about their clinical symptoms. We know how these affect their functioning at home and at school. And we know about the lifelong impacts of leaving these trauma symptoms untreated. We’re grateful that not only child abuse professionals but your average citizen is now aware that victims of child abuse can deve
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