The Parent Involvement Project was designed to teach parents skills needed to intervene and protect a child for whom they are concerned and to share their knowledge with other adults.

Effective child sexual abuse prevention is rooted in changing norms through participation and skill-building. This curriculum acknowledges that parents have the greatest influence on children, and provides pilot-tested methods to effectively educate parents and build skills critical to creating safe environments for children.

The project consists of two workshops that teach parents about child sexual abuse and abusers; what parents can say to kids when talking about personal boundaries and self-esteem; actions to take when they suspect or learn of abuse, and how to communicate consistently and respectfully with children; all known factors in enhancing child safety.

The program also incorporates the use of the Coalition of Pennsylvania Crime Victims Organizations Survivor Speaker’s Bureau, which provides parents with an opportunity to hear from survivors of sexual abuse and gain vital insight into prevention and protecting children.

The PNC Foundation, Pennsylvania State University, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Leo Niessen Jr. Charitable Foundation and the Grable Foundation have combined to provide funding to the Vision of Hope Fund to support the expansion of this project across the Southwest region of Pennsylvania.

This proven model for educating parents was initially launched by Pittsburgh Action Against Rape under a Special Initiative Grant from PCAR.