Child Sexual Abuse 
The Child Sexual Abuse spoke is focused on dramatically decreasing the incidents of child sexual abuse in the state of Utah, as well as supporting those who have survived such abuse no matter their current age. The statistics tell us that thousands of Utah children—approximately 1 in 7—are sexually abused each year. Freeing individuals and society from child sexual abuse and its lasting impacts is one of the most important efforts that Utahns need to embrace to ensure residents experience safety and security—a basic human right. This spoke is part of the SAFE Coalition, which seeks to change Utahns’ perceptions of child sexual abuse and move them to act. Spoke leaders and affiliates believe that working together, we can protect Utah’s most valuable resource—its children. To learn more, check out the resource box below.
Spoke Leaders
Chris Yadon
Managing Director, Saprea
LinkedIn Profile
Chris Yadon is the Managing Director of Saprea. His specialties are operational efficiency, systems and process implementation, growth strategy, and market development and penetration.
Laurieann Thorpe
Executive Director, PCA Utah
LinkedIn Profile
Laurieann Thorpe is the Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Utah. She guides, directs, and oversees this nonprofit organization that works to end child abuse and to support stronger families in Utah.
Heather Stewart
Deputy Director, CJC Program
Heather Stewart is the Deputy Director of the Utah Children’s Justice Center Program. She manages the statewide forensic interview curriculum/training program, and provides consultation and expert witness services to prosecutors and child protection attorneys in Utah.
Jake Neeley
Director, Malouf Foundation
LinkedIn Profile
Jake Neeley is the Executive Director of the Malouf Foundation. He oversees the strategic development and general management of company initiatives, focusing on program development and evaluation.
Bold Vision & Goals
To make Utah a place where more girls and women can thrive, the Child Sexual Abuse spoke leaders and partners have crafted the vision and goals below.
Vision: To significantly reduce child sexual abuse in the state of Utah.
Goals:
- Change Utahns’ agreement (understanding and perceptions) in the following areas: [Metric Dashboard]
- In your immediate community (e.g., neighborhood, family, faith, club, business), child sexual abuse is a problem. [Increase agreement by 15% by 2026 and 30% by 2030]
- Child sexual abuse is preventable. [Increase agreement by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]
- Child sexual abuse is more prevalent in Utah than the national average. [Increase agreement by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]
- I know where to find resources to help prevent child sexual abuse. [Increase agreement by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030].
- Pass public policies aligned with best practices and research shown to prevent and reduce child sexual abuse. [Metric Dashboard]
- Conduct at least two academic comprehensive studies about child sexual abuse in Utah by 2030, to include (but not limited to): [Metric Dashboard]
- The percentage of Utahns who understand that healthy relationships can mitigate the negative impacts of child sexual abuse.
- The percentage of Utahns who understand the potential long-term negative effects of child sexual abuse.
- Expand child sexual abuse prevention education in Utah by connecting individual schools to providers/curriculum options, reaching 50% of elementary schools by 2026 and 100% by 2030. [Metric Dashboard]
Thriving Statement: Women and girls thrive when they have autonomy over their bodies and do not experience any type of child sexual abuse.
- What Utahns Need to Know
- Informational Video
- Spoke Introduction Podcast
- LinkedIn Group
- Working Group Interest Form
- Living Room Conversation Guide
- Research Summary
- Child Sexual Abuse Statistics
- Child Sexual Abuse Statistics [Spanish]
- UWLP Podcast: Child Sexual Abuse
Partners
Working Group Leaders
- Events: Sawsha Turpin (Community Advocate) & Pam Peeler (Event Planner, Saprea)
- Grassroots Awareness: Karina Brown (Policy Analyst, Cache County) & Lindsay Butrum (Policy Implementation/Grants Manager, The Policy Project)
- Grassroots Policy: Taryn N. Evans (Attorney & Founding Partner, Adair Evans, LLC)
- Marketing: Schae Richards (Public Relations Specialist, Malouf)
- Organizational Outreach: Janelle Christensen (Executive Director, Family Haven) & Cara Baldree (Educator/Child Advocate)
- Research & Data: TBD
What You Can Do
Explore information and resources on child sexual
abuse in Utah. See the Resources section on this page.
Share a resource you found helpful on child sexual abuse with at least one person each month. You can do this in person or through phone, text, email, or social media.
Ask a local elementary school if it is providing child sexual abuse prevention education for their students; if not, encourage school leaders to do so. Work with the Child Sexual Abuse Spoke leaders to get them connected with an approved provider.
Get Engaged: We encourage everyone to learn more about child sexual abuse and to utilize the educational prevention and healing resources available. You can get involved by signing up for our email newsletter, participating in a working group, and attending and inviting others to related events including the annual SAFE Symposium. Reach out to our Spoke Coordinator to get connected!
Alexa Simon
Spoke Coordinator
LinkedIn Profile
alexabsimon@gmail.com