Together we can prevent
child sexual abuse & exploitation.

Prevent Together – The National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation is a national collaboration of leading organizations and experts working together to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation and foster the healthy development of children.

The Coalition promotes collaboration, quality research, positive messaging, advocacy, and evidence-based prevention strategies.

The National Plan to Prevent
Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Prevent Together has developed a National Plan to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. The Plan consists of 6 Pillars that provide a framework for effective, comprehensive, and holistic prevention interventions.

Many systems and resources focused on child sexual abuse and exploitation are short-term responses initiated after abuse has occurred, for example, victim services, investigation, prosecution, incarceration, mandated reporting, statutes of limitation, and registries. While these are valuable responses, the Plan focuses specifically on primary prevention—actions before child sexual abuse or exploitation occurs. Primary prevention requires a broad, inclusive strategy using knowledge from and action by multiple disciplines. A problem as diverse and complex as child sexual abuse and exploitation requires multiple strategies and policies within different environments at a variety of levels.

The National Plan illustrates that every individual and organization has value and a role to play in contributing to the success of prevention, and it provides and promotes individual, community, and societal-level prevention strategies to accomplish that goal.

The National Plan incorporates the collective expertise of Prevent Together members, including their knowledge, research, programs, and interventions focused on preventing child sexual abuse and online exploitation.

Join us in the fight to end child sexual abuse and exploitation!

About Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is far more prevalent than most people realize. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that one in four girls and one in thirteen boys in the United States is sexually abused during their childhood. This abuse has long-lasting consequences for victims and society as a whole. Child sexual abuse is linked to life-long physical and emotional problems, substance abuse, academic difficulties, delinquency, and suicide. The total lifetime economic burden of child sexual abuse in the United States was estimated at $9.3 billion in 2015. But prevention is possible. When we work together, we can better protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

Prevention Is Possible

The National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation is committed to preventing child sexual abuse and exploitation before it occurs using a strategic framework. As a society we often wait until after abuse has occurred to take action. Most efforts to stop child sexual abuse involve after-the-fact criminal justice interventions that target known offenders. There is ample evidence that child sexual abuse and exploitation can be prevented through education and other evidence-informed strategies. Prevent Together is using this evidence to fight child sexual abuse and exploitation through our National Plan and collaborative efforts.

What We Do

PROFESSIONALS & ORGANIZATIONS

Join us in the fight to prevent child sexual abuse. This issue is too important and too prevalent for any one organization or coalition to fight alone. We are much more effective when we work together. Learn more about our work and our National Plan.

LEGISLATORS & ADVOCATES

Prevent Together endorses legislation and other activities that advance our prevention philosophy and our National Plan. If you are seeking the support or endorsement of the Prevent Together Coalition, please click below for more information.

POTENTIAL MEMBERS

Prevent Together is comprised of organizations, national leaders, and students working to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation. If you are interested in joining the Coalition, learn more about our membership criteria and application process.

Prevent Together Members

Below are some of the Coalition’s current members. For a complete list of members, visit our Member Directory.

The individuals and organizations listed throughout this site are, or were previously, members of the Prevent Together Coalition. All members are committed to advancing the work of the Coalition in ways that fit within their specific organizational mission. However, commitments to particular items endorsed by the Coalition or outlined on this website may vary from organization to organization.

Together we can prevent
child sexual abuse & exploitation.

Prevent Together – The National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation is a national collaboration of leading organizations and experts working together to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation and foster the healthy development of children.

The Coalition promotes collaboration, quality research, positive messaging, advocacy, and evidence-based prevention strategies.