Roadmap to Talking about Perpetration Prevention

By, Jannine Hebert, Ryan Shields, Joan Tabachnick and Judith Zatkin

How we talk about our work has a huge impact on how our friends, family, community and society react. Recent shifts in our organization, such as the name change of ATSA to the Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Sexual Abuse, provide new opportunities to talk about our work. It is now more important than ever to navigate these conversations effectively and foster meaningful connections both within and outside of our field.     

To create guidance for how to answer the question, “What do you do for work” and to help navigate the opportunities offered by ATSA’s new name, ATSA’s Prevention Committee released a new “Roadmap to Talking about Perpetration Prevention.”    

The Roadmap argues that it is essential for ATSA members to lead with our values.  So when someone asks, “What do you do for work?” the best response is WHY you do your work.  Even if you work in a secured facility with adults who have committed serious sex offenses, your answer can be: “My work is about preventing sexual abuse.”  At this point you probably have their attention, and you can add, “I want to prevent any further victimization and help to create a safer community for everyone.” 

In a deeper conversation and if you feel they want to know more, you can add in HOW you do your work, as well.  In this case, it is so important to use person-first language and not be afraid to acknowledge how challenging your work can be.  For example, you can say: “I do the difficult job of working with the children, adolescents and/or adults who cause the harm.”  Be sure to share your stories of success. Let your audience know that people can learn to live safely again in their communities and that you have seen what it takes to make that happen. 

There has also been a shift in the public understanding of who engages in sexual violence.  Instead of the “dirty old man lurking at the edge of the playground” or “predators luring kids on social media apps”, for the first time parents are beginning to say, “This could be my son.”  This shift in public understanding is an opportunity for ATSA members to get involved in these conversations in new ways. 

By sharing your values, why you do your work, and by sharing stories of hope, you can avoid the chill in the room that can often follow a statement like, “I work with adult or juvenile sex offenders”. This Roadmap offers you a more detailed overview and examples about how to frame your work, such as:

1.      Talking about your work and sexual abuse with a wider circle of people you know

2.      Creating new partnerships or alliances – people in the victim advocacy world need your support more than ever

3.      Sharing your expertise in your communities

The Roadmap also explores how the change in our name to include both prevention AND treatment means that we are pulling our attention towards primary prevention – how to prevent sexual abuse BEFORE anyone is harmed.  To be clear, treatment is prevention and occurs AFTER someone is harmed. 

ATSA members have a unique lens into primary prevention because to truly prevent sexual abuse, we need to prevent the perpetration of abuse.  ATSA members know more about what to look for in a person who may be at risk to sexually abuse.  Given your work, you know how to talk with someone about boundaries and consent.  You know how to encourage a strong role for families and friends, whether it is about confronting and naming behaviors in someone they love or simply being curious about how someone is acting with a child or adolescent or a vulnerable adult.  If this does not seem true to you, think about the last time you saw a movie or a TV show with sexual abuse and you probably saw that plot line coming before anyone else in your social circles.  You are just tuned into these stories so much more than the general public.  So, trust your expertise!  

Your stories of success and hope are needed more than ever.  We hope the Roadmap offers some assistance as you communicate about your important work.