https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520909185
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
1–19
© The Author(s) 2020
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/0886260520909185
journals.sagepub.com/home/jiv
Original Research
Child Safety Matters:
Randomized Control
Trial of a School-Based,
Child Victimization
Prevention Curriculum
Melissa A. Bright, PhD,
1
Mona Sayedul Huq, PhD CHES,
1
Shivam Patel, BS,
1
M. David Miller, PhD,
1
and David Finkelhor, PhD
2
Abstract
Recognizing the potential of classrooms as a context for identifying and
addressing child victimization, several U.S. states now mandate the inclusion
of child abuse prevention in school curricula. There are, however, a limited
number of evidence-based and developmentally appropriate curricula designed
for elementary. This study utilized a randomized control trial (RCT) design to
evaluate the knowledge acquisition of children who received the Monique
Burr Foundation’s Child Safety Matters curriculum, a program designed to
educate kindergarten to Grade 5 children about bullying, cyberbullying, four
types of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect), and digital dangers.
Participants included 1,176 students from 72 classrooms in 12 Florida
schools across eight counties. Schools were matched in pairs and randomly
assigned to receive the program or be in a wait-list control. Knowledge was
assessed with a questionnaire administered prior to the curriculum (T1) as
well as approximately 3 weeks (T2) and approximately 7 months (T3) after
1
University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
2
University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA
Corresponding Author:
Melissa A. Bright, Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies,
Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, PO Box 110070, Gainesville, FL 32611-7011,
USA.
Email: Mbright08@ufl.edu
909185JIV XX X 10.1177/0886260520909185Journal of Interpersonal ViolenceBright et al.
research-article 2020