Rigorously Evaluating Programs and Policies to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Problematic Sexual Behavior among Youth

to cause harm to the child or children involved (including behaviors that are unintentionally harmful or inappropriate as well as behaviors intended to cause harm). Research funded under this announcement will strengthen the evidence base for primary prevention of CSA and PSB. Applicants must propose to rigorously evaluate a program or policy for primary prevention of CSA or PSB that addresses one of the following three research priorities: (1) Programs or policies with potential for the primary prevention of CSA or PSB, with an emphasis on approaches addressing community, societal, or structural conditions; (2) Programs or policies focused on primary prevention of CSA or PSB in digital spaces (e.g., downloading or possession of illegal images of children, non-consensual image sharing, use of digital spaces for commercial sexual exploitation or trafficking of children); or (3) Organizational policy approaches focused on primary prevention of CSA or PSB in youth-serving organizations (e.g., community centers, youth development organizations, juvenile residential care facilities, faith-based organizations, group foster care).