Child Sexual Abuse: Protective Strategies

About Child Sexual Abuse: Protective Strategies

This learning program will improve direct service workers’ ability to support protected environments for children and adolescents in foster care settings, who are vulnerable and at increased risk of sexual abuse. Learners will be better able to describe healthy sexual development and behaviors, and identify warning signs of child sexual abuse. Using motivational interviewing techniques and a trauma-informed approach, direct service staff will be able to promote healing for children and caregivers.

Who Should Attend?

This course is specifically designed for direct service staff and supervisors in foster care, but is also open to all direct service staff and supervisors in child protection and prevention.

Benefits of the Program

Participants will:

• Be able to support protected environments for children at risk of sexual abuse.
• Refresh their skills in recognizing the warning signs of child sexual abuse.
• Learn to communicate with families about boundaries to reinforce protection and mitigate vulnerability of children to sexual abuse.

Course Prerequisites

Prior to attending this course, learners are required to have completed:

• The Motivational Interviewing learning program offered through the ACS Workforce Institute, or an equivalent.
• An online pre-test accessed through the Cornerstone Learning Management System.

Course Components

Once enrolled in the course, learners will complete:

• An online pre-test before the day of class.
• An interactive, two-day instructor led workshop.
• An online post-test.

Completion of all components is necessary to receive a Certificate of Completion.

Continuing Education Units

The New York City Administration for Children’s Services is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0402. This course is 13 contact hours/1.3 CEUs. CEU credit is contingent upon completion of all course components.

“I learned to be mindful about how to engage clients. This program should be taught at all levels!”

— Child Sexual Abuse: Protective Strategies Participant