Press Releases

Pilot Study Finds School-Based Prevention Program Shows Promise Educating Young Adolescents About Avoiding Child Sexual Abuse Behaviors

A school-based prevention program designed to help adolescents interact appropriately with younger children and avoid behaviors associated with child sexual abuse shows promise for building a foundation for prevention, according to a new study led by Elizabeth J. Letourneau, director of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health. The study assessed students’ awareness and intentions around child sexual abuse after completing a multi-module prevention program, Responsible Behavior with Younger Children.

New Study Estimates Annual Cost of Incarcerating Adults Convicted of Child Sex Crimes Topped $5.4 Billion in 2021

The U.S. government spent an estimated $5.4 billion last year at the state and federal level to incarcerate adults convicted of sex crimes against children under age 18, according to a new study led by Elizabeth J. Letourneau, director of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health. The findings highlight the financial cost of not preventing child sexual abuse.

Johns Hopkins Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Receives $10.3 Million Grant for Global Prevention Program

The Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has been awarded $10.3 million from Oak Foundation for the Center’s new “Global Perpetration Prevention: Translating Knowledge into Action” program. The five-year program will identify, validate, and disseminate perpetration prevention programs worldwide. The award is thought to be the single largest investment in child sexual abuse prevention.

New Report Sets Out Principles to Reduce Child Sexual Assault Risk in Youth Group Settings

A new report from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers offers recommendations for youth organizations to bolster policies and practices aimed at preventing child sexual abuse.

One Year's Losses for Child Sexual Abuse in U.S. Top $9 Billion, New Study Suggests

A new study at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that the annual economic impact of child sexual abuse in the U.S. is far-reaching and costly: In 2015, the total economic burden was approximately $9.3 billion and includes costs associated with health care, child welfare, special education, violence and crime, suicide and survivor productivity losses.

Child Sexual Abuse in U.S. Costs Up to $1.5 Million Per Child Death

Child sexual abuse in the United States is costly, with an average lifetime cost of $1.1 million per death of female victims and $1.5 million per death of male victims, according to a new study.

Children on Sex Offender Registries at Greater Risk for Suicide Attempts, Study Suggests

A new study led by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that children who were legally required to register as sex offenders were at greater risk for harm, including suicide attempts and sexual assault, compared to a group of children who engaged in harmful or illegal sexual behavior but who were not required to register.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Welcomes New Health Advisory Board Chair

Stephen G. Moore, MD, MPH ’93, president and chief executive officer of CarDon & Associates, has been appointed chair of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s 39-member advisory board. In 2012, Moore and his wife Julia founded the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, an academic research center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health dedicated to applying the tools and methodology of prevention to the challenging social issue of child sexual abuse.

Johns Hopkins Establishes Center to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is establishing a new research center dedicated to the prevention of child sexual abuse. The Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse will promote a public health approach to prevent child sexual abuse, which will include research, policy analysis and education. The Moore Center is believed to be the first academic research center focused on the prevention of child sexual abuse.