VICTIMIZATION PREVENTION PROGRAMS - A NATIONAL SURVEY OF CHILDRENS EXPOSURE AND REACTIONS

The National Youth Victimization Prevention Study interviewed a repres entative sample of 2,000 U.S. children and their caretakers about the children's experience with child abuse and victimization prevention pr ograms. Two-thirds of the children reported being exposed to at least one program at some time, 37% within the last year. Programs that gave children a chance to practice, that prompted discussions with parents , and that included information on dealing with bullies were more like ly to result in utilization of the program skills. Although satisfacti on levels were generally high for all groups, girls, black children, a nd children from lower socioeconomic status families, as well as their parents, had more positive reactions and reported more skill utilizat ion. Some children did report, and their parents confirmed, more worry about abuse and fear of adults. However, the children with increased worry and fear were also the children who themselves and their parents reported the most positive feelings about the programs and the most s kill utilization. This suggests that the level of worry and fear induc ed by the programs was appropriate to the subject.