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.