How Can Parents Protect Kids From Sexual Abuse?

A new TV special aims to educate Florida parents about child sexual abuse and how to protect their kids.

"Intimate Crimes" will be shown on local stations around the Tampa Bay area in April as part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month and National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The 30-minute program, which features Florida experts, adult survivors of child sexual abuse, advocates and a convicted pedophile, is part of a statewide education campaign to raise awareness about child abuse reporting and prevention.

It's a topic that's on many parents' minds, even more so in the wake of recent child sex abuse scandals that have rocked institutions such as the Boy Scouts of America, Penn State University and the Catholic Church. With such horrific crimes seeming to be more prevalent — or more publicized — than ever, the program is an attempt to help prevent such abuse.

But will it work?

We want to hear from you, Tampa Bay: Can efforts like this TV special help protect kids from sexual abuse? Is it something that concerns you? What else should be done?

"Intimate Crimes" airs locally at 1:30 p.m. on April 13 and 27 on WWSB ABC, which is carried in Sarasota and on Verizon FIOS in the Tampa area.