Adult Programs.
The Adult Responsibility Project is a key component of the Healthy Relationships Project®, designed specifically for adult audiences. This empirically-based, safety-supporting program includes twelve in-depth topics that help adults build the knowledge and skills needed to prevent child sexual abuse and promote healthy relationships.
The program is currently being used in 39 states and Washington, D.C., reflecting its wide reach and trusted impact.
Upcoming Events
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Nurturing and Safe Environments for Children with Disabilities
Tuesday, October 13
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST -
Overcoming Barriers to Protecting Children
Thursday, October 15
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST -
Everything Everyone Needs to Know
Monday, October 19
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST -
Brain Development and Learning Consent
Monday, October 26
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST -
Nurturing Healthy Sexual Development
Tuesday, November 3
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST -
Understand, Recognize, and Respond to Grooming Behaviors
Monday, November 9
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST -
Informed Supervision of Youth to Support Safe Interactions
Tuesday, November 10
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST -
Nurturing, Valuing, and Protecting LGBTQIA+ Youth
Tuesday, December 8
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST -
Understanding and Responding to the Sexual Behaviors of Adolescents
Tuesday, December 15
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST -
Understanding and Responding to the Sexual Behaviors of Children
Thursday, December 17
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST
Our Trainings
Brain Development and Learning Consent
Children build the foundation for healthy relationships early in life—and learning to understand and respect others’ feelings about touch is key. This training introduces the concept of empathy-based consent and explores how early brain development plays a crucial role in building this lifelong skill.
Participants will learn how to:
Understand the building blocks of empathy-based consent
Explore the developmental connection between childhood empathy and respectful adult behavior
Review brain science findings on when and how empathy is most effectively learned
Apply practical, primary prevention strategies that begin in early childhood
This training is ideal for:
Professionals working with at-risk youth (e.g. residential care staff, therapeutic foster/kinship caregivers)
Counselors, social workers, early childhood and afterschool educators
Mentors, substitute teachers, and youth-serving professionals
Parents, grandparents, and caregivers seeking prevention tools
Credit & Certification:
Qualifies for Afterschool and Advanced Specialized Care hours in BFIS
Eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credits for Vermont professionals in select fields
Everything Everyone Needs to Know
This interactive training equips adults with the knowledge and tools to help protect children from sexual abuse. Participants will explore practical strategies for recognizing concerns, responding to potential abuse, and supporting healthy behaviors at every stage of childhood.
Participants will learn how to:
Use interactive tools and strategies to help keep children safe from sexual abuse
Understand grooming behaviors and ways to respond to protect children
Talk with children at different developmental stages about healthy behaviors
Respond to incidents of potential child sexual abuse
This training is ideal for:
Educators and after-school professionals
Social workers, mentors, and coaches
Parents, caregivers, grandparents, and foster parents
Other professionals who work with children
Credit & Certification:
Qualifies for Afterschool and Advanced Specialized Care hours in BFIS
Vermont professionals in select fields may earn Continuing Education (CE) credits
Informed Supervision of Youth
Adults play a critical role in supporting healthy sexual development in young people. Effective supervision is an important tool for preventing harm and promoting safe, healthy relationships.
This advanced training explores why some youth display concerning or harmful sexual behaviors. Participants will learn how to weigh risk factors against protective factors and provide targeted support that helps young people build healthy relationship skills.
Participants will learn how to:
Understand factors that contribute to concerning and harmful sexual behaviors in youth
Identify ways to offset risk factors by strengthening protective factors
Provide targeted support that fosters healthy relationship skills
This training is ideal for:
Residential care staff and therapeutic foster parents
Counselors and social workers
Educators and after-school professionals
Other professionals working with at-risk youth
Please Note: This is an advanced training. It is strongly recommended that participants complete Understanding and Responding to the Sexual Behaviors of Children or Understanding and Responding to the Sexual Behaviors of Adolescents before taking this course.
Program Background:
This content includes guidance developed at the Kempe Center for the Prevention & Treatment of Child Abuse & Neglect, with contributions from Gail Ryan, MA, Director of the Kempe Perpetration Prevention Program, and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Credit & Certification:
Qualifies for Afterschool and Advanced Specialized Care hours in BFIS
Vermont professionals in select fields may earn Continuing Education (CE) credit
Keeping Adolescent Youth Safe on the Internet
Today’s adolescents are growing up in a world deeply connected to technology. Tweens and teens often navigate online relationships and digital spaces with increasing independence—making it essential for the adults in their lives to be informed and prepared.
This training provides a deeper understanding of the digital risks youth face, including online grooming, in-person grooming facilitated by digital communication, sexting, and exposure to pornography. It also addresses the legal implications of both consensual and non-consensual sexting among minors.
Participants will learn how to:
Identify risks to children and youth in the digital environment, including online grooming, digitally facilitated in-person grooming, sexting, and online pornography
Implement protective factors to reduce online risks
Develop and implement organizational policies that support digital safety
Respond to concerning digital behaviors in adolescents
Support youth experiencing online exploitation or unwanted digital interactions
Access resources for removing harmful content from the internet
This training is ideal for:
Educators
Afterschool professionals
Caregivers of adolescents and teens
Credit & Certification:
Qualifies for Afterschool and Advanced Specialized Care hours in BFIS
Vermont professionals in select fields may be eligible to earn 2 Continuing Education (CE) credits
Note:
If you’re looking for a training geared toward younger children, we recommend TECHNICOOL: Keeping Kids Safe on the Internet.
Nurturing and Safe Environments for Children with Disabilities
Children with disabilities are at a higher risk of child sexual abuse than their peers, but prevention is possible. This training explores the specific challenges children with disabilities may experience and practical ways to create safer environments at home, at school, and in youth-serving organizations and residential settings.
Participants will learn how to:
Understand the higher prevalence of child sexual abuse among children with disabilities
Identify specific challenges that may increase the risk of abuse
Develop organizational policies and practices that better protect children with disabilities
Strengthen family norms and practices that support children's safety
This training is ideal for:
Educators, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals
Social workers and healthcare and home health professionals
Residential care staff, mentors, and volunteers
Coaches, parents, caregivers, grandparents, and foster parents
Other professionals who work with children with disabilities
Credit & Certification:
2 Continuing Education (CE) credits are available for Vermont social workers, allied mental health professionals, behavior analysts, psychoanalysts, psychological examiners, and alcohol and drug abuse counselors.
Nurturing Healthy Sexual Development
Learn how to support open, age-appropriate conversations with children and respond confidently to questions and behaviors related to sexuality. This training empowers adults to nurture healthy sexual development in children—an essential part of preventing child sexual abuse and reducing the risk of problematic sexual behavior.
Participants will learn how to:
Recognize healthy sexual development across childhood stages
Identify and respond to typical and concerning sexual behaviors
Provide accurate, supportive answers to children’s questions
Promote body safety and positive messages around sexuality
This training is ideal for:
Infant through after-school educators
Social workers, youth mentors, and volunteers
Parents, caregivers, grandparents, and kinship caregivers
Coaches, substitute teachers, and other youth-serving professionals
Credit & Certification:
Qualifies for Afterschool and Advanced Specialized Care hours in BFIS
Eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credits for Vermont professionals in select fields
Nurturing, Valuing, and Protecting LGBTQIA+ Youth
This interactive training explores sexuality, gender identity, and current data related to LGBTQIA+ youth. Participants will learn about the LGBTQIA+ community, discuss the importance of supporting young people's exploration of gender identity, and examine factors that may increase the risk of child sexual abuse among LGBTQIA+ youth. The training also explores inclusive practices and prevention strategies that adults and youth-serving organizations can use to help keep young people safe.
Participants will learn how to:
Understand the LGBTQIA+ acronym and basic concepts related to sexuality and gender identity
Explore current data on child sexual abuse and its impact on LGBTQIA+ youth
Identify factors that may increase the risk of abuse for LGBTQIA+ youth
Recognize inclusive practices and prevention strategies that support youth safety
This training is ideal for:
Residential care staff and therapeutic foster parents
Counselors and social workers
Educators, early childhood educators, and after-school professionals
Mentors and other professionals who work with at-risk youth
Parents, grandparents, and foster parents
Credit & Certification:
2 Continuing Education (CE) credits are available for Vermont social workers, allied mental health professionals, behavior analysts, psychoanalysts, psychological examiners, and alcohol and drug abuse counselors.
Overcoming Barriers to Protecting Children
Many adults and communities are deeply committed to preventing child sexual abuse—but real-world relationships and social dynamics can make it difficult to take action. This training explores the common barriers adults face when addressing concerning behaviors and offers concrete strategies for creating safe, protective environments for children.
Participants will learn how to:
Recognize and navigate barriers to protecting children
Support community-wide prevention efforts through a safety-supporting lens
Respond thoughtfully when relationships complicate protective actions
This training is ideal for:
Infant through after-school educators
Social workers, mentors, and volunteers
Parents, caregivers, grandparents, and foster or kinship caregivers
Coaches, substitute teachers, and other professionals who work with youth
Credit & Certification:
Qualifies for Afterschool and Advanced Specialized Care hours in BFIS
Eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credits for Vermont professionals in select fields
TECHNICOOL: Keeping Kids Safe on the Internet
Children and teens face a growing range of digital risks—including exposure to online pornography, grooming, and sexting. This training equips adults with the knowledge and tools to help children safely navigate the online world and respond effectively to concerning digital behaviors.
Participants will learn how to:
Identify digital risks such as sexting, online grooming, and exposure to harmful content
Develop strategies to keep youth safe in online environments
Support children who may be engaging in or affected by unsafe digital behaviors
This training is ideal for:
Infant through after-school educators
Social workers, youth mentors, and volunteers
Parents, caregivers, grandparents, and kinship caregivers
Coaches, substitute teachers, and professionals working with children
Credit & Certification:
Qualifies for Afterschool and Advanced Specialized Care hours in BFIS
Eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credits for Vermont professionals in select fields
Note on language:
The term child pornography is misleading and outdated. The correct term is child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which more accurately reflects the reality that such material documents acts of sexual violence against children.
Note:
For a training focused on older youth, we recommend Keeping Adolescent Youth Safe on the Internet.
Understand, Recognize, and Respond to Grooming Behaviors
As caring adults, it’s our responsibility to help create environments where youth feel supported, safe, and empowered. This training focuses on how grooming behaviors can unfold over time—and how to intervene early to prevent harm.
Participants will learn how to:
Distinguish between healthy adult-child interactions and boundary violations or pre-offending behaviors
Build the confidence and skills to intervene when concerns arise—at home, in the community, or within youth-serving organizations
Develop and implement proactive organizational policies that support safe environments
Identify key safety indicators in organizational handbooks and volunteer guidelines
This training is ideal for:
Educators, paraprofessionals, and special education staff
Social workers, healthcare and home health professionals
Residential care providers, mentors, and volunteers
Coaches, parents, caregivers, grandparents, and substitute or kinship caregivers
Credit & Certification:
Qualifies for Afterschool and Advanced Specialized Care hours in BFIS
Understanding and Responding to the Sexual Behaviors of Adolescents
Adults play a vital role in supporting healthy sexual development and preventing harm among prepubescent children. This training equips professionals and caregivers with the knowledge and tools to respond effectively to a range of sexual behaviors in childhood.
Participants will learn how to:
Distinguish between developmentally expected, problematic, and abusive sexual behaviors in children
Support healthy development while preventing problematic or harmful behaviors
Intervene early to redirect repeated harmful behaviors in ways that are safe, age-appropriate, and trauma-informed
Keep children safe—from others and from themselves—while encouraging positive development
This training is ideal for:
Residential care staff and therapeutic caregivers
Educators, early childhood professionals, and afterschool staff
Counselors, social workers, mentors, and volunteers
Parents, grandparents, and kinship/substitute caregivers
Program Background:
This content includes guidance developed at the Kempe Center for the Prevention & Treatment of Child Abuse & Neglect, with contributions from Gail Ryan, MA, Director of the Kempe Perpetration Prevention Program, and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Credit & Certification:
Qualifies for Afterschool and Advanced Specialized Care hours in BFIS
Vermont professionals in select fields may earn Continuing Education (CE) credits
Understanding and Responding to the Sexual Behaviors of Children
Adults play a vital role in supporting healthy sexual development and preventing harm among prepubescent children. This training equips professionals and caregivers with the knowledge and tools to respond effectively to a range of sexual behaviors in childhood.
Participants will learn how to:
Distinguish between developmentally expected, problematic, and abusive sexual behaviors in children
Support healthy development while preventing problematic or harmful behaviors
Intervene early to redirect repeated harmful behaviors in ways that are safe, age-appropriate, and trauma-informed
Keep children safe—from others and from themselves—while encouraging positive development
This training is ideal for:
Residential care staff and therapeutic caregivers
Educators, early childhood professionals, and afterschool staff
Counselors, social workers, mentors, and volunteers
Parents, grandparents, and kinship/substitute caregivers
Program Background:
This content includes guidance developed at the Kempe Center for the Prevention & Treatment of Child Abuse & Neglect, with contributions from Gail Ryan, MA, Director of the Kempe Perpetration Prevention Program, and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Credit & Certification:
Qualifies for Afterschool and Advanced Specialized Care hours in BFIS
Vermont professionals in select fields may earn Continuing Education (CE) credits
Program Data and Customized Training
Empirical Data
Review the research and evidence supporting the Adult Responsibility Project and the Healthy Relationships Project®. Learn more about the proven impact of our trainings!
Set Up a Training for a Closed Audience
We offer customized trainings for schools, youth-serving organizations, and community groups. Request a private session tailored to your team’s needs!
The Adult Responsibility Project is recognized as a promising strategy for international communities to decrease child sexual abuse by The Eradicating Child Sexual Abuse Project.
