Call for Letters of Intent: Special Issue on What Works in the Prevention of Sexual Abuse?

By Joan Tabachnick

We are excited to share an important opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the field of sexual abuse prevention. Sexual Abuse is now inviting submissions for a special issue on “What Works in the Prevention of Sexual Abuse?”

This issue, guest edited by Kieran McCartan, Ryan T. Shields, and Joan Tabachnick, will shine a spotlight on primary perpetration prevention—programs, policies, and practices designed to stop sexual abuse before anyone is harmed.

Join the Conversation

By bringing together evidence, practice, and innovation, this special issue aims to build a stronger foundation to answer the vital question: What truly works to prevent the perpetration of sexual abuse?

We invite researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders from around the world to contribute to this conversation by submitting a Letter of Intent by September 25, 2025.

👉 For submission details, deadlines, and guidelines visit: atsa.com/callforpapers

Why This Special Issue Matters

Preventing the perpetration of sexual abuse is one of the most critical yet challenging areas of work. Unlike treatment or response strategies, primary prevention often requires proving that “something didn’t happen”—an outcome that can be difficult to measure.

Yet across the globe, innovative programs, interventions, and policies are being developed to reduce risk, strengthen protective factors, and create safer communities. This special issue seeks to bring those successes, research, evaluations, and innovations together in one place to help shape the future of perpetration prevention efforts.

Topics of Interest

We welcome contributions that critically examine and expand our understanding of primary perpetration prevention, including but not limited to:

• Evidence of success in primary perpetration prevention programs, including meaningful outcome measures.
• Lessons learned from past prevention efforts—and how they can guide the future.
• Risk and protective factors for first-time perpetration of sexual abuse.
• The role of public messaging, policy, and science in prevention.
• Implementation challenges: overcoming politics, stigma, and sustainability issues.
• Global perspectives: cultural and regional insights that broaden the scope of prevention.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Aniss Benelmouffok, Managing Editor of Sexual Abuse: aniss@atsa.com

Together, we can deepen the science of prevention, learn from one another, and build safer futures for individuals, families, and communities worldwide.

"What's this all about?': Lessons from NSAC2025

By Aniss Benelmouffok, Director of Public Affairs

When I attend conferences, I'm typically an observer—listening in sessions, people watching in crowded hallways and lobbies, tracking long coffee and elevator lines—but last week at NSAC2025 was different.

The National Sexual Assault Conference in Anaheim, CA hosted by ValorUS and Respect Together exuded a sense of joy; a feeling of people coming home. It was a community brought together by a shared dedication to justice and healing. I hosted ATSA's exhibit booth with my colleague Jessica Yip, ATSA's Manager of Conference & Chapter Relations. Throughout the conference, our booth was a hub of engagement. A wide diversity of attendees stopped by, eager to learn more about ATSA.

"Tell me what you do?" or "What's this all about?" they would ask, gesturing at the table full of resources, and each exchange became an opportunity to connect unfamiliar dots. Many attendees were unacquainted with ATSA's work and the work of our members. As we pieced together how ATSA works impacted the booth's guests it felt as though we were filling a gap that they had recognized in their professional journeys. Jess and I had conversations with a spectrum of professionals providing services to those who had experienced sexual harm. We found ourselves returning to the critical importance of preventing harm and how ATSA was an essential piece of the puzzle.

That significance was reinforced by ValorUS CEO, Sandra Henriquez, who set the tone with her powerful opening remarks. She shared how her profound experiences working with the California Sex Offender Management Board illuminated new perspectives on preventing sexual abuse. Sandra's reflections on working with individuals under civil commitment were especially moving as she discussed how her perspective shifted through this work. One conversation she recounted was with a family seeking the best path forward for their son on the registry, opening her eyes—and ours—to a broader view of prevention work. It was a poignant reminder of the nuance that permeates the work of effective sexual abuse prevention.

A conference highlight for me was the honor of presenting the Gail Burns Smith Award to Dr. Tyffani Monford and Melissa Webb, LCSW.

As a psychologist, researcher, and immediate past president of ATSA, Dr. Monford's leadership is marked by courage and a commitment to bridging divides between survivors and those who have caused harm. Her transformative work includes co-founding Living at the Intersections with her daughters, supporting Black girls and nonbinary youth, and creating the Sisters of Tamar Support Circle for Black women survivors. Nationwide, she trains professionals to ensure prevention and treatment aren't seen in silos, but as interconnected efforts of support.

Melissa Webb, who owns practices in Nevada and Nebraska, has spent nearly two decades building bridges between systems—connecting parole and probation officers with child advocacy centers, training foster parents and caseworkers, and creating welcoming spaces for some of society's most challenging cases.

This conference was more than just an training opportunity; it was a reminder of the resilience, hope, and shared determination present in our communities. I left Anaheim feeling energized and ready to continue to promote the great work of ATSA and its members. 

When Coverage Is Scarce: Centering Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment

By Aniss Benelmouffok, Director, Public Affairs ATSA

On August 6, the New York Times published investigative journalist Emily Steel’s thorough report on Uber’s reluctance to implement prevention measures to reduce sexual harm. Her reporting revealed that, from 2017 to 2022, Uber received more than 400,000 reports of sexual assault or sexual misconduct—an average of one every eight minutes—yet publicly disclosed only 12,522. According to sealed court records, the company had identified clear prevention measures but set them aside "as it prioritized growing its user base, avoiding costly lawsuits and protecting its business model."

As advocates and professionals working to expand and improve treatment for individuals at risk of, or who have caused, sexual harm, we’ve watched prevention and intervention opportunities fade from public discourse. Ordinarily, the Uber investigation would lead front pages and dominate social feeds, prompting questions about how to prevent sexual harm. Instead, within 24 hours, it was buried in the business section and pushed to the bottom of news aggregators as coverage of President Trump eclipsed it.

President Trump has a gravitational pull on the news cycle. He is undeniably a "newsmaker"—a status he wields with outsized impact. As media analyst Kara Swisher describes, he creates “snackable moments”: brief bursts of controversy that capture attention completely, then disappear as the next moment arrives. 

Steel’s investigation documented corporate awareness and acknowledgment of preventable sexual assaults. Internal Uber safety studies identified specific measures that could have protected passengers, but executives repeatedly chose market expansion over safety implementation.

Yet despite the explosive nature of these findings, media coverage has been limited. In today’s attention economy, scarcity isn’t accidental—it’s by design. Algorithms and ad-driven incentives reward novelty and outrage. Research from Harvard’s Shorenstein Center found that during Trump’s first presidency he received 41% of all news coverage, compared with roughly 13% for previous presidents—a threefold increase that crowds out other stories. More critically, the Pew Research Center found that 74% of Trump coverage focused on character and controversies rather than policy substance, leaving only narrow windows for complex prevention initiatives to receive attention.

Nonprofits and advocates have long used grassroots campaigns and coalition building to meet the moment. Yet, when moments are scarce, new strategies must emerge. Advocates can adapt by building direct relationships with communities affected by sexual harm. Rather than competing for mainstream attention, we can develop our own channels—through community partnerships, digital storytelling, and targeted campaigns that reach decision‑makers directly.

As nonprofits and advocates, our capacity is finite, and we must invest it intentionally. Breaking through the noise is increasingly difficult. Our aim should be to develop sustainable pathways for prevention, intervention, and treatment—rather than chasing the moment.

When Emotional Maturity Feels Revolutionary: What Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, and the Swiftie Reaction Reveal About Masculinity, Conditioning, and Prevention

By Amber Schroeder, Executive Director, ATSA
Nearly two years after they went public with their relationship, the internet is still buzzing about Travis Kelce—and not just because he’s a football star. People are talking about how he treats Taylor Swift. Proudly. Openly. Without a hint of ego or insecurity.

He cheers for her, celebrates her wins, and seems genuinely unbothered that she’s more famous, more powerful, and more influential than he is.

And the response? Swifties and women across social media are asking:

“How did his parents raise him to be this emotionally intelligent?”
“Where did this man come from?”
“How do we clone him?”

It’s all said with a mix of awe and longing—as if the idea of a man who’s secure, emotionally available, and unthreatened by a powerful woman is something rare and borderline mythical.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: We are so surprised by emotionally mature men that we feel the need to study them.

Why This Resonates

Despite all the progress we’ve made, toxic masculinity remains the norm. Many men are still raised with messages that equate masculinity with dominance, emotional detachment, and control. Emotional intelligence? Vulnerability? Those are still seen as weaknesses.

But this conditioning doesn’t just hurt men. It shapes everyone.

Ask a woman how many times she’s had to soften, reframe, or completely concede her idea to a man just so it would be heard—and many women will have examples on standby. They won’t even have to think hard. Women, too, have been conditioned: to shrink, to support, to expect very little in return.
So when someone like Kelce shows up in a way that centers partnership, respect, and mutual success—it feels revolutionary, even though it shouldn’t be.

Culture Shapes Behavior

At ATSA, we understand that no one causes harm in a vacuum. The beliefs that underlie sexually harmful behavior—entitlement, control, emotional detachment—are not innate. They’re learned. Reinforced. Rewarded.

In treatment, we see how hard it can be for people—especially men—to unlearn those patterns. But we also see what happens when they do: accountability becomes possible. Empathy starts to grow. Change takes root.

That change can’t happen at scale unless the culture also shifts. That’s why these public moments—where a man visibly supports a woman’s power without needing to dim it—are more than feel-good headlines. They’re cultural prevention tools.

The NFL’s Complicated Legacy

That this moment is contextualized by the NFL adds another layer of meaning. Professional football has long been associated with aspects of toxic masculinity—rigid, harmful norms about manhood: the belief that dominance, control, and emotional shutdown signal strength—which makes these conversations especially relevant.

In recent years, the NFL has leaned into prevention partnerships—most prominently with RALIANCE, a national collaborative working to end sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse. The league helped launch RALIANCE and has since renewed a multi-year grant partnership to expand prevention, education, and policy work across communities.

Real cultural change starts long before the pros. And when a high-profile player like Kelce breaks from the old mold, it signals a broader shift in how men show up in public life—not just in treatment sessions, but on global stages.

Taking It Forward

This public reaction tells us that people are hungry for a new model of masculinity. The kind that doesn’t diminish others to feel powerful. The kind that celebrates mutual respect. The kind that makes “being a good partner” the baseline—not the bonus.
So how do we move forward?

In Prevention:
We have to teach kids—boys and girls—what healthy masculinity, respect, emotional intelligence, and partnership actually look like. This starts early, at home, in schools, in sports, and in the media they consume. We can’t rely on them to unlearn toxic norms later—we need to help them build better ones from the start. And we must continue spotlighting public models that show those values in action. These aren’t “soft” skills—they are prevention tools, and they are essential.

In Treatment:
We must continue supporting clients in unlearning toxic behaviors and frameworks and building emotionally mature, accountable identities. Transformation is possible when we allow space for vulnerability and challenge entitlement at the root.

In Culture:
We must understand that rigid gender expectations harm people of all genders. Our aim should not be to hold people to impossible standards, but to refuse to celebrate the bare minimum. Respect isn’t rare. It’s what should have always been there.

When millions dissect how a man respects his partner, it highlights how far norms still have to go—and how much possibility is on the table. At ATSA, we’re committed to that possibility.

Building Bridges: Conversations Around Brain Injury and Community Support

By Christy Coenen Coordinator, Membership & Events

Over the past several months, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with a dedicated group of professionals to help educate and support our community around brain injuries. This work has opened doors to meaningful partnerships with a wide range of organizations—from homeless shelters to AODA (alcohol and other drug abuse) programs—and has highlighted the power of cross-sector collaboration.

Together, we’ve been able to step into various agencies and offer practical training on how to recognize the signs of a brain injury, how to assess those signs, and most importantly, how to guide individuals to the right services. These conversations are not always easy, but they are essential. They create a shared language among service providers and a clearer path forward for those who need support.

Equally impactful has been the time spent with individuals affected by brain injury. Through support groups, we’ve created space for people to share how they came to understand their injury, the ways they manage daily challenges, and how they lift each other up through mutual support and education. These stories are raw and powerful. They remind us that healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in community.

When It Clicked: Volunteer Passion Meets ATSA’s Purpose

A few months into this work, I had a moment where it all clicked. I began to see just how closely my passion project—working with individuals affected by brain injury—was aligned with the mission we uphold at ATSA.

As I listened to individuals describe their experiences—how they learned about their injury, how it changed their relationships and behaviors, and how it affected their sense of control—it hit me: this isn’t separate from our work at ATSA. In fact, it’s central to it.

ATSA Member's talk about rehabilitation, risk reduction, accountability, and ethical care. What if part of what we call resistance or poor insight is actually rooted in undiagnosed cognitive injury? What if a person’s failure to follow through isn’t willful, but neurological?

This perspective shift matters. Recognizing and addressing brain injuries can be a gateway to more effective intervention, stronger rapport, and better outcomes. It’s not just about screening—it’s about humanizing.

What the Research Reveals

Recent studies make it clear that brain injuries are not a marginal issue in our field—they are common, often overlooked, and deeply relevant:

• Nearly 50% of a sample of 476 adult males who caused sexual harm assessed at a psychiatric hospital had experienced head injuries resulting in loss of consciousness. About 22.5% had significant neurological impact.
  (Langevin, 2006)
• A meta-analysis found that 60% of justice-involved individuals reported a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI), with 53%–75% in male populations specifically. About 52% had experienced TBI with loss of consciousness.
  (Kirk-Provencher, 2020)
• Among young individuals who committed violent offences, 77.5% reported at least one TBI, often linked to aggression and substance use. Many recognized their injury as a turning point toward risky behavior.
  (Katzin, 2020)
• A clinical review found that 6.5% of men with a history of TBI went on to commit sexual offenses post-injury—even without prior history or alcohol involvement—suggesting a neurological role in some offenses.
  (Simpson, 1999)

These numbers are hard to ignore. In comparison, estimates of TBI in the general population range from 12–20%. That means people involved in the justice system—and particularly those convicted of sexual offenses—are several times more likely to have experienced a brain injury.

This Reinforces ATSA’s Values

The more we understand the role of brain injury in behavioral health, the more responsible and effective we become in our work. This includes:

• Recognition before reaction: Behaviors that seem resistant, erratic, or impulsive may stem from brain injury—not defiance or disregard. With screening and education, we can respond appropriately.
• Training across disciplines: Whether you’re in probation, treatment, reentry, or case management, knowing how to spot signs of a brain injury opens up new ways to support individuals—ways that are more just, humane, and effective.
• Community-based support: The support groups I’ve been part of show how powerful it is when people share their stories, learn together, and begin to understand themselves. This mirrors ATSA’s vision of trauma-informed, person-centered care.
• Bringing more voices to the table: We’re stronger when we collaborate. When probation officers, social workers, clinicians, family members, and clients are in dialogue together, we create richer, more supportive systems.

A Call to Action

If you work with individuals—particularly justice-involved clients—ask yourself:

• Have we talked about cognitive or neurological history?
• Have we screened for traumatic brain injury?
• Do we understand how symptoms like memory loss, executive dysfunction, or emotional volatility might be showing up?

If not, now is the time to start. You don’t have to be a specialist to make a difference. There are practical tools, trainings, and partners in your community who can help.

And don’t have these conversations alone. Bring others in—colleagues, treatment team members, community partners. Because the more voices we bring into these conversations, the more effective and compassionate our work becomes.

Brain injuries don’t define a person—but they can shape their journey. And if we don’t talk about them, we miss a crucial part of the picture.

By recognizing brain injuries, we’re not excusing harm—we’re doing what ATSA has always stood for: looking deeper, asking better questions, and creating conditions for accountability, safety, and support.

Let’s keep building those bridges—together.