B4U-ACT

American anti-sexual abuse organization

Formation2003

FounderMichael Melsheimer, Russell Dick

Legal statusNonprofit organization

B4U-ACT

Formation	2003
Founder	Michael Melsheimer, Russell Dick
Legal status	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Baltimore
Location	Westminster, Maryland, United States
Board of directors	Russell A. Dick
Publication	B4U-ACT Quarterly Review
Expenses	$7,000 (in 2008)^[1]
Website	https://www.b4uact.org/

B4U-ACT (lit. 'Before you act') is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Baltimore^[1] that works to prevent child sexual abuse by providing resources and treatment for pedophiles.^[2]^[3]

B4U-ACT was founded in 2003 by Russell Dick and Michael Melsheimer.^[4]^[5] Melsheimer was a former YMCA director that served four years in a federal prison for aggravated sexual assault involving children and Dick a former director of social work of the Springfield Hospital Center.^[5]

B4U-ACT claims their aim is to provide mental health resources and conduct research.^[6]^[7] Since 2021, the organization has published a quarterly journal collecting reviews of their current research.^[8]

As of 2008, the organization had approximately 25 members.^[1]

During the development of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), B4U-ACT criticized the proposal of the American Psychiatric Association's Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Work Group regarding the inclusion of hebephilia as a subtype of pedophilia in the DSM-5.^[1]

In October 2022, Jacob Breslow, a member of the transgender charity group Mermaids resigned from office after it was reported that he had spoken at a 2011 event organized by B4U-ACT.^[9]

References

1 2 3 4 Johnson, Rebecca A.; Barrett, Marna S.; Sisti, Dominic A. (2013). "The Ethical Boundaries of Patient and Advocate Influence on DSM-5". Harvard Review of Psychiatry. 21 (6): 334–344. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000010. ISSN 1067-3229. PMID 24201823.
↑ Christiansen, Candice; Martinez-Dettamanti, Meg (2018), Lievesley, Rebecca; Hocken, Kerensa; Elliott, Helen; Winder, Belinda (eds.), "Prevention in Action: Exploring Prevention Initiatives and Current Practices", Sexual Crime and Prevention, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 27–56, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-98243-4_2, ISBN 978-3-319-98242-7, retrieved 2023-10-31{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
↑ Tereszcuk, Alexis (2023-05-11). "Fact Check: NO Evidence Pastel Rainbow 'MAP' Flag Signifies Normalizing Pedophilia". Lead Stories. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
↑ "Another shocking scandal at Mermaids". Spiked. 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
1 2 Bleyer, Jennifer (2012-09-24). "How Can We Stop Pedophiles?". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
↑ "About Us - B4U-ACT". 19 June 2021.
↑ Cohen, Lisa J.; Ndukwe, Nwayieze; Siegfried, Rachel; Kopeykina, Irina; Yaseen, Zimri S.; Galynker, Igor (2018). "Attraction Versus Action in Pedophilic Desire: The Role of Personality Traits and Childhood Experience". Journal of Psychiatric Practice. 24 (6): 374–387. doi:10.1097/PRA.0000000000000348. ISSN 1538-1145. PMID 30395545.
↑ "B4QR (Journal) - B4U-ACT". 5 January 2021.
↑ Beal, James; Bannerman, Lucy (2022-10-03). "Trustee of the transgender charity Mermaids quits after speech to paedophile aid group". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2026-04-11.

See also

References

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