Citation

Dale R, Shanley DC, Zimmer-Gembeck MJ, Lines K, Pickering K, White C. Child Abuse Negl. 2015; 51: 368-378.

Affiliation

School of Applied Psychology; Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.07.016

PMID

26360708

Abstract

Australia needs effective programs to protect children and prevent abuse, but there is little information available for policymakers or families. Using a randomized controlled trial, Learn to BE SAFE with Emmy™, a school-based protection program for young children designed by Act for Kids, was evaluated to determine its effectiveness for promoting young children's knowledge and skills. Grade one children (n=245) from 15 classrooms across 5 primary schools completed assessment measures. A subset of these children received the program (n=131) or acted as a comparison group (n=114). Parents (n=72) completed questionnaires about their child's participation in the program. When compared with children who had not received the program, children who completed Learn to BE SAFE with Emmy™ demonstrated increased knowledge of interpersonal safety and were more likely to choose a safe response option to hypothetical unsafe scenarios 6 months after participation than at both pre- and post-intervention. Parents reported their children who participated used more safety strategies immediately and 6 months after participation compared to pre-intervention. Outcomes can assist in guiding future policies around the prevention of child abuse and protect the well-being of Australian children.

Language: en