Unveiling the Mask: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children & Exploring its impact in Schools

Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

Liberty University

First Presenter’s Email Address

N/A

First Presenter's Brief Biography

N/A

Second Presenter's Institution

Liberty University

Third Presenter's Institution

Liberty University

Fourth Presenter's Institution

NA

Fifth Presenter's Institution

NA

Location

Session 4 Breakouts

Strand #1

Hands: Safety & Violence Prevention

Strand #2

Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership

Relevance

This session more than any other session directly relates to the “hands” strand. School leaders and counselors, especially during the time of a global epidemic, are called to serve, lead, and inspire all students especially those who are most vulnerable like those entrapped in human tracking. School is often a safe place for these students and with the recent school closings where does that leave our most vulnerable students upon returning to school? The session will target school professionals, individuals working in private practice, and community agencies. To provide the most appropriate support, schools are encouraged to: (a) work closely with mental health and community agencies in making the necessary referral, (b) provide school-wide trainings necessary for implementing a trauma-informed approach that may include universal screenings and assessments and (c) assist with identifying policies and procedures that may be potentially harmful to the victims.

Brief Program Description

With Georgia becoming a hotspot for human trafficking, school professionals having a better understanding of the trauma that surrounds victims of the commercial sexual exploitation of children and its impact on their academic, behavior, and self-identity is crucial. Schools having awareness of how to identify victims and provide the appropriate resources, crisis interventions, and/or preventive practices are equally important in protecting our youth from sex-trafficking and further sexual trauma.

Summary

In the United States, there is so much misinformation and a lack of information concerning CSEC with Atlanta, Georgia ranking one of the top sex trafficking locations in the country (CPPS, 2013). One study reported 65% of men buying sex with children in and around suburban and metro Atlanta and 9% near the airport (CPPS). As a clinical therapist and former school counselor in Georgia, I am deeply concerned. Because detection is much more difficult, our school professionals are often unaware of the warning signs to identify these victims and often lack the training and resources needed to prevent misdiagnoses in our schools. Leite, Idzelis, Kelley, and Atella (2009) report that there is a need to “improve our ability to identify trafficking victims.” The purpose of this session is to help schools, mental health professionals, and community agencies identify the warning signs, and implement trauma informed approaches and prevention opportunities that will aid in ending.

The session will target school professionals, individuals working in private practice, and community agencies. School professionals having a better understanding of the trauma that surrounds victims of the commercial sexual exploitation of children and its impact on their academic, behavior, and self-identity is crucial. Schools having awareness of how to identify victims and provide the appropriate resources, crisis interventions, and/or preventive practices are equally important in protecting our youth from sex-trafficking and further sexual trauma. To provide the most appropriate support, counseling professionals are encouraged to: (a) work closely with schools and community agencies to provide trainings necessary for implementing a trauma-informed approach that may include universal screenings and assessments and (b) assist schools with identifying policies and procedures that may be potentially harmful to the victims.

The session will also provide attendees with in-person handouts and materials that focus on best-practice strategies and approaches for schools and mental health professionals working with children and adolescents. A list of research-based resources will also be shared along with helpful websites and psychoeducation material.

Evidence

This topic is extremely important in counseling because it is a human rights issue that often does not receive the attention needed in our country and countries around the world. I have personally traveled twice to countries in Asia where the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) is unimageable. As a therapist, ASCA finalist, and former school counselor in Georgia, I am concerned that Atlanta is considered a “major hub for trafficking in the nation” (Griffin, 2018).

In the US, Atlanta is considered a “major hub for trafficking in the nation” (Griffin, 2018) and only second to Las Vegas for sex trafficking. A study conducted by Georgia Cares reported that over 90% of underaged sex trafficking victims in Georgia were actually enrolled in school when exploited (Griffin, 2018). For many children, school is a safe place for them. With the appropriate training in prevention, evidence-based practices, and resources, schools could possibly aid in the efforts to end CSEC. In the US alone, human trafficking is a $9.8 billion supply and demand driven industry where pimps commonly sell minor girls for $400.00 an hour several times a day (Smith, Vardaman, & Snow, 2009). Statistics show that 1 out of 5 girls and 1 out 10 boys will be sexually exploited by the time they reach adulthood with the average age for exploitation is 13 (Griffin, 2018). In other countries, the age drops to age 3 (Griffin, 2018). Because the research is limited on CSEC in the US, schools are often unaware, unprepared, and misinformed on how to identify victims of CSEC. Most of these victims are in schools every day undetected and unsupported. Often these victims exhibit behaviors that are misdiagnosed as ODD, ADHD and other childhood disorders when they may be symptoms of trauma.

“Traumatized children may develop disconnected and distorted ways of processing emotions such as anger and fear, and having difficulty forming healthy relationships with others” (Leite, Idzelis, Kelley, & Atella, 2009). “Experts speak of the trauma suffered by child sex trafficking victims as more severe than most sexually based trauma given the chronic nature coupled with the reinforced victimization” (Smith,Vardaman, & Snow, 2009). Children with a history of sexual abuse is a common risk factor for exploitation (US Department of HHS, 2009). Nearly, 20 studies reported that 33-84% of women exploited admitted to having a history of sexual abuse as children (US Department of HHS, 2009). Schools who implement trauma informed practices could make all the difference with these victims.

Center for Public Policy Studies (CPPS). (2013). Georgia Human Trafficking Fact Sheet.

Retrieved on June 4, 2019 from http://www.htcourts.org/wp-content/uploads/GA-HT- Fact-Sheet- 6.4.13.pdf?Factsheet=HT-GA

Finklea, K., Fernandes-Alcantara,A.L.,Siskin, A. (2015). Sex Trafficking of Children in the

United States: Overview and Issues for Congress. Congressional Research Services.

Retrieved on June 3, 2019 from http://www.crs.gov.

Griffin, E. (2018). Sex Trafficking in ATL:What you don’t see behind closed doors. Retrieved

on June 4, 2019 from https://www.wabe.org/sex-trafficking-in-atl-what-you-dont-see- behind-closed-doors/

Koonce, S. (2017).Child Sexual Exploitation Compels a Multifaceted Analysis: Refining the

Supply and Demand Approach. Retrieved on June 4, 2019 from

https://jjlp.law.ucdavis.edu/archives/vol-21-no-1/JJLP-%20Vol21-%20Issue1-

%20Koonce.pdf

Leite, A.,Idzelis, M., Kelley, L.M., & Atella, J. (2009). Snapshot: Overview of domestic

trafficking of minors in the United States, Wilder Research, Saint Paul, MN. Retrieved on

June 3, 2019 from https://www.wilderresearch.org.

National Sexual Violence Resource Center (2015). Statistics About Sexual Violence. Retrieved

on August 27, 2018 from

https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/publications_nsvrc_factsheet_media-

Smith, L.A., Vardaman, S.H., & Snow, M.A. (2009). The National Report on Domestic Minor

Sex Trafficking: America’s Prostituted Children. Shared Hope International. Retrieved on

June 4, 2019 from

https://sharedhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/SHI_National_Report_on_DMST_2009.pdf

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) (2009). Human Trafficking Into and

Within the United States: A Review of the Literature: Minor Victims of Domestic Sex

Trafficking.Retrieved on June 4, 2019 from

https://aspe.hhs.gov/report/human-trafficking-and-within-united-states-review-

literature

Learning Objectives

  • Participants will learn both the risk factors and warning signs for identifying victims connected to Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)
  • Participants will learn ways sexual trauma can impact a child’s academic achievement, behavior, and self-identity.
  • Participants will learn evidence-based approaches, screening tools, and models for implementing trauma-informed practices and various preventive measures to end Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC).

Learning Objective 1

N/A

Learning Objective 2

N/A

Learning Objective 3

N/A

Biographical Sketch

Dr. TeShaunda Hannor-Walker is an Assistant Graduate Professor at Liberty University, a Licensed Clinical Therapist, and author of How to Raise a Successful Child with ADD. She served 15 years in the public schools and was named, The American School Counselor Association’s "Top Ten School Counselors in America." She is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Dr. Hannor-Walker has presented at local, state, and national conferences for over a decade on various counseling topics.

Sarah Kitchens, Ph.D., is an associate professor and instructional mentor at Liberty University. Prior to joining the faculty in 2014, Dr. Kitchens worked as a professional school counselor (K-12). Dr. Kitchens’ professional experience also includes non-profit work as a counselor. She is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC).

Lacey Ricks, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at Liberty University. Prior to Liberty University, Dr. Ricks worked as an assistant professor at the University of West Georgia and a school counselor for seven years. She is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and has presented at state, regional, and national conferences.

Keyword Descriptors

Sexual Exploitation, Trauma, Trauma-informed, sex trafficking, human trafficking, schools, counseling, mental health, sexual trauma

Presentation Year

2021

Start Date

3-9-2021 10:05 AM

End Date

3-9-2021 11:05 AM

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Mar 9th, 10:05 AM Mar 9th, 11:05 AM

Unveiling the Mask: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children & Exploring its impact in Schools

Session 4 Breakouts

With Georgia becoming a hotspot for human trafficking, school professionals having a better understanding of the trauma that surrounds victims of the commercial sexual exploitation of children and its impact on their academic, behavior, and self-identity is crucial. Schools having awareness of how to identify victims and provide the appropriate resources, crisis interventions, and/or preventive practices are equally important in protecting our youth from sex-trafficking and further sexual trauma.