Child sexual abuse impacts countless victims in the United States annually, with the vast majority of crimes going unreported. The lifelong effects of this type of abuse makes identifying and implementing effective preventative measures an absolute imperative for youth-serving organizations.
But organizations serving children and adolescents face significant challenges in ensuring the safety of the young people in their care – particularly as crimes such as online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and sextortion proliferate. While traditional background checks remain a standard hiring practice, research indicates they may not identify all potential risks to child safety.
In a 2013 entitled, “Sexual interest in children among an online sample of men and women: prevalence and correlates,” 6% of men indicated some likelihood of having sex with a child if they were guaranteed they would not be caught or punished (as did 2% of women). That figure is truly alarming, but more recent studies indicate that it may actually be an underestimate.
In a survey as part of a 2023 study by the University of New South Wales Sydney and Jesuit Social Services, one in six Australian men (15.1%) affirmed having sexual feelings for a child or teen younger than 18 years (with 4.9% reporting sexual feelings towards children).
Given these findings, how can youth-serving organizations screen for pedophiles as part of their hiring practices? One assessment tool – The Diana Screen® – offers a novel approach that could potentially identify predators who pursue access to children through employment or volunteer opportunities.
The Diana Screen® is a computer-based assessment tool developed by Abel Screening, Inc. for organizations that employ or engage volunteers to work with minors. The screening instrument is designed to evaluate applicants for positions involving direct or indirect contact with children and teenagers.
The assessment takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and is available in English and Spanish. Questions are written at a fourth-grade reading level to ensure comprehension across different educational backgrounds. Results are delivered as either “Pass” (lower-risk) or “Fail” (higher-risk) determinations, with administrative setup requiring minimal staff time.
The screening tool was developed based on two decades of research in child protection and risk assessment. It utilizes statistical models that analyze response patterns to identify potentially concerning applicant profiles.
The assessment targets two primary areas of concern:
According to published research, The Diana Screen® demonstrates the following performance metrics:
These statistics indicate false positive rates of 0.3% for male applicants and 1.1% for female applicants.
Various youth-serving organizations have incorporated The Diana Screen® into their hiring processes, including:
Some jurisdictions that have implemented the screening tool have reported reductions in youth-reported staff misconduct incidents. For instance, documentation shows decreases from 11.5% to 6.7% in one state and from 29% to 5% in another, though these figures should be considered alongside other factors that may influence reporting rates and organizational culture.
Research indicates that approximately 10% of children experience sexual abuse or misconduct by adults in caregiving roles. Many people assume that a criminal background check is enough to spot someone dangerous. But studies show that background checks miss most offenders. In fact, only a small number of abuse cases are ever reported to the police. The average survivor doesn’t speak up until they are around 52 years old. Accordingly, many people who have hurt children may not show up on any criminal record.
The Diana Screen® aims to help prevent abuse before it happens by specifically identifying two type of predators:
The assessment tool is named in memory of Diana, a five-year-old child who experienced abuse while in foster care. The naming serves to honor her memory while highlighting the tool’s child protection mission.
Organizations considering implementation of specialized screening tools should evaluate their current child protection policies, consult with legal counsel regarding hiring practices, and consider how tools such as The Diana Screen® may be effectively implemented within their broader safeguarding framework.
For additional information about The Diana Screen®, please visit www.TheDianaScreen.com.
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