CHILD USA in partnership with the Foundation for Global Sports Development has announced a $50,000 grant to fund a study to determine the incidence of child abuse and neglect within elite athletics.
CHILD USA will study the extent to which young elite athletes are vulnerable to abuse, including when and how it happens. The ultimate goal of the study is to determine the best policies and potential legal reforms necessary to protect athletes from sexual abuse in the future.
CEO and Academic Director of CHILD USA, Marci Hamilton said, “We will work with University of Pennsylvania Professor Richard J. Gelles to create the survey instrument, test it, and distribute it to a wide array of athletes starting September 2018. The survey will be launched with Dr. Steven Ungerleider, Executive Board Member of GSD, at the first national symposium on Athletes and Abuse on April 25 at the University of Pennsylvania. We cannot adequately protect children from sex abuse without directly studying those potentially at risk.
GSD Executive Board Member, Dr. Ungerleider said, “For many years, GSD has worked to end the abuse of children and young athletes. This study is deeply needed, and we are honored to support it.”
The study is scheduled to be completed by 2019.
