Cases of sexual abuse related to youth sports or youth sports personnel are becoming increasingly commonplace.
As child sexual abuse continues to draw the public eye, concerned parents are asking questions:
- “What is this sports program doing to protect my child?”
- “What should youth sports programs be doing to address this risk?”
Why are children at risk in youth sports?
Children are taught at young ages to trust the coach, an adult in a position of authority. The right coach can change a child’s life—teaching and modeling sportsmanship, competition and teamwork. The wrong coach can scar a child for life. Unfortunately, a growing number of sexual predators are using sports to gain access to children.
What should youth sports programs do to prevent sexual abuse?
Abuse Prevention Systems provides unique resources for sports programs, including:
- Sport-Specific Sexual Abuse Awareness Training appropriate for coaches, volunteers and employees
- Sample forms for applications, references and interviews as part of the Skillful Screening Process
- Sport-Specific Policy and Procedure forms that dovetail with Sexual Abuse Awareness Training
- Background Checks adapted by client to fit position
- The Abuse Prevention Systems online Control Panel, giving administrators the ability to easily monitor the 5-Part Safety System
Abuse Prevention Systems provides the most sophisticated and comprehensive sexual abuse prevention training available in the field today, offering comprehensive risk management programs which incorporate current research on child sexual abuse prevention practices.
Wayne D. Duehn, Ph.D., ACSW, LMSW-AP
Professor of Social Work
Are you ready to prevent sexual abuse in your youth sports organization?
Become a Abuse Prevention Systems member.
