Evaluating ReDirection: An Online Self-Help Program Preventing CSAM Use
- Protect Children
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
Protect Children’s ReDirection program, an online self-help program designed to reduce use of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), is currently undergoing a rigorous impact evaluation led by researchers at The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research.
A Critical Step in Preventing Child Sexual Abuse
This evaluation is a crucial step in generating evidence to support the prevention of child sexual abuse, a global epidemic affecting children worldwide. By assessing the effectiveness of ReDirection, we aim to better understand how online interventions can help to prevent future harm.
ReDirection Selected as One of Seven High-Potential Prevention Programs
The ReDirection program was chosen by Prevention Global, an initiative dedicated to advancing the effective prevention of child sexual abuse perpetration, as one of only seven programs to undergo rigorous impact evaluation.
What is the ReDirection Program?
Launched in 2021, ReDirection provides individuals with tools and guidance to manage and redirect harmful impulses, preventing potential abuse before it happens. This proactive, evidence-informed approach addresses the root causes of offending behaviour and helps create safer environments for children.
To date, the program has been visited hundreds of thousands of times, and user feedback suggests it has a positive impact in reducing the use of CSAM.
About Prevention Global
In May 2024, the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research introduced Prevention Global. This research initiative and comprehensive online resource hub showcases innovative approaches to preventing child sexual abuse perpetration and offers dedicated organisations a wealth of insights.
How the Evaluation Works
The study evaluates two versions of ReDirection, to determine the effectiveness of the program to reduce urges to use CSAM. Participants are randomly assigned to one of the two versions or placed on a six-week waitlist before accessing the intervention. The trial is available in English and Spanish.
Participants are recruited primarily through dark web search engines, via the ReDirection website, where they can choose to register for the study, which is hosted on Iterapi, a platform for internet-based psychological treatment.
The recruitment phase will run from 15 January 2025 to 15 July 2025.
The trial is led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Carissa Augustyn, and Co-Investigator, Dr. Michael Seto, in collaboration with Protect Children.
Why Are Evaluations Important?
These evaluations, conducted in collaboration with program developers, will provide critical data to inform policies, practices, and funding decisions aimed at preventing child sexual abuse worldwide.
Dr. Elizabeth Letourneau, PhD, Director of the Moore Center, emphasises the significance of this initiative: “We will soon have an explosion of data to inform critical questions about what works and what needs work when it comes to effectively preventing child sexual abuse perpetration.”
The evaluation of ReDirection will contribute to a growing body of knowledge aimed at making child sexual abuse preventable, not inevitable.
Help Us Recruit Participants
If you work with clients or patients struggling with their use of CSAM, you can support this vital research by sharing the link to the study: 🔗 www.redirectionprogram.com
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