The Daniel Morcombe Foundation is proud to have funded Protective Pathways - a prevention program that I believe is not just timely, but essential. This program empowers parents, carers and professionals with the knowledge, tools and confidence to create truly safe spaces for children - in homes, schools, community settings and online. What makes Protective Pathways especially compelling is that it is evidence-informed and grounded in rigorous research. The underlying framework - Dr Julia Rudolph’s Two Pathways Model - draws on peer-reviewed studies and a strong theoretical foundation to offer practical, research-backed strategies. I firmly believe that while traditional prevention approaches have often focused narrowly on educating children, prevention should - and must - begin with adults. Protective Pathways is precisely that future of prevention. I wholeheartedly endorse this work.
Beth McNamara (National Education Manager, Daniel Morecombe Foundation)
As an agency with a focus on the prevention of child sexual abuse, Bravehearts acknowledges the importance of Dr Julia Rudolph’s work in the area of protective parenting. Parents and primary caregivers play a primary role in developing resiliency in children and Julia’s research provides us, and other organisations working within this space, with an applied approach to engaging parents and primary caregivers in bridging the gap between prevention knowledge and parenting practices that better guard children and young people from sexual harm.
Carol Ronken (Director of Research, Bravehearts)
Julia brought a calm, knowledgeable approach to an important and
sensitive topic, sharing thoughtful insights around child safety, safe
caregiving environments and protective practices. Her contribution
supported meaningful conversations among parents and carers and helped
create greater awareness around how we can better protect and nurture
children in our communities.
Julia’s work reflects a strong commitment to family wellbeing, and she
approached her session with professionalism and care. We appreciated the
time and preparation she invested in being part of the event and the role
she played in supporting our wider vision of educating and empowering
families.
I have worked in the field of child sexual abuse for the last 17 years and have a particular interest in intrafamilial child sexual abuse, in particular working with non-abusing parents and carers of sexually abused children. I attended a teaching session with Julia and was delighted to hear of her situational approach to parents as protectors, and her acknowledgement that teaching children to protect themselves is mostly ineffective. She presented research in this session that enabled me to talk about the reasons why ‘protective behaviours’ or ‘keep safe’ work with children has limited worth – previously I had talked about this, but without knowledge of the research base that Julia presented. This has significantly improved this part of the training that we at the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse deliver – and as a key provider of training on intrafamilial child sexual abuse to professionals working in both the statutory and voluntary sector across England and Wales, the impact of this has been, and will continue to be broad.
Anna Glinski (Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, UK)
Julia has inspired the academic field in Poland with her innovative and robust approach to designing prevention measures of child sexual abuse. In 2022 Julia was one of the key note speakers at the 19th conference “Assistance to child survivors of abuse” - the most popular thematic event for Polish professionals interested in child abuse: psychologists & psychotherapists, pedagogues, teachers, judges, prosecutors, attorneys, police and healthcare. Julia’s research articles on child sexual abuse prevention were also published in the Polish quarterly for professionals “Child abuse”. As the Empowering Children Foundation, the biggest NGO in Poland dealing with child abuse, we really appreciate Julia’s findings, proposed solutions and the way she inspires and cooperates with our environment.
Marta Skierkowska (Empowering Children Froundation, Poland)
Julia’s work has significantly increased our empirical understanding of positive protectors factors within families that contribute to the prevention of child sexual abuse. Her presentations of her research to practitioners and researchers within organisations such as the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and NOTA (the National Organisation of the Treatment of Abuse) have been positively received and are influencing the direction of travel in the prevention of child sexual both in the UK and beyond.
Stuart Allardyce (Director, Lucy Faithfull Foundation | Stop It Now! UK and Ireland)
I can confirm that I have used the work of Dr Julia Rudolph in my research and policy work, in particular the need to work closely with parents in relation to prevention of child sexual abuse. As my research has focused predominantly on informal disclosure and parents are important disclosure recipients, particularly for young children, Dr Randolph’s work has informed my own disclosure research that focuses on helping children tell.
Rosaleen McElvaney (Clinical Psychologist, Ireland)
Education for children is often the 'default' position in CSA prevention and whilst there is some understanding that 'involving parents' is helpful, my impression is that it rarely goes beyond the superficial. The presentation was particularly powerful in identifying the need not to 'ditch' education approaches but to move beyond education only. The two pathways model combining the evidence base around situational prevention and the role of attuned parenting in increasing children's resilience offers a much needed focus on evidence based approaches.
Participant and Policy Officer at NSPCC
We love the two pathway model. Some of us have attended an online webinar where you talked about your parenting programme and this is the model we use with our clients. I also facilitate workshops for social work students and we mention your two pathway model and signpost students to your research/work.
Midwife, Together for Childhood, UK
Participant, Academic Session
Thank you for your insightful session yesterday; it was incredibly helpful and has given me much to reflect on.
Participant, Session at a school
It was all relevant and great to listen to. Lots of information about how to identify the danger of grooming and also how to prevent it from the start.
Relevant to anyone with kids. Simple tools and steps to put in place.
This session should be in the local community and in the childcare centres.
Participant, Session at a school
Everything is clear and well-structured. I loved the support materials. It feels like a lot of information was covered and it all felt easy to follow and the time flew by. Thank you.
Participant, Session at a school
Extremely informative, very interesting and great content.The recognising signs/red flags was very helpful, as was knowing how to put a plan/structure in place to make it difficult for abuse.
As a parent it reinforced some of what i do, but also gave me strategies to keep moving forward.
Participant, Session at a school
Extremely informative, very interesting and great content.The recognising signs/red flags was very helpful, as was knowing how to put a plan/structure in place to make it difficult for abuse.
As a parent it reinforced some of what i do, but also gave me strategies to keep moving forward.
Participant, Session at a school
The session was clear, concise and data based. Children must have parent protection. All parents need to be aware of this stuff.
Participant, Session at a school
Great information and insightful. Great analogies with 'elevator' and acronyms. Fabulous visuals that were clear and memorable. Fabulous! Thank you so much!
Participant, Session at a school
Clear and precise information. Good to understand signs and what social media are a risk.