2023 Wednesday Schedule

The Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Youth is a severe form of abuse and trauma with a complex array of intersecting risk factors and impacts. This often includes youth engagement in concerning or problematic sexual behaviors that are challenging for professionals across multiple child-serving systems engaged in response to trafficking (child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, etc.). In the 1^st session of this 2-part workshop we will provide an overview of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploration and an initial exploration of vulnerabilities and impacts.

1. Define Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation
2. Describe at least 2 individual, familial, community, and societal risk factors for trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation
3. List and describe common trauma types and trauma-related impacts experienced by trafficked and exploited youth
4. Identify the intersection of concerning and problematic sexual behaviors, trafficking, vulnerability and impacts on clients

What About Black Girls? Working with Children with Sexual Behavior Problems from an Intersectional Lens
Tyffani Monford Dent, PsyD

1. Identify the importance of gender-specific treatment
2. Explain the role of intersectionality in providing culturally-informed services to Black girls
3. Identify best-practice treatment from a Resilient+Resistance framework

1. Define “responsivity factors” and identify at least 3 of these factors
2. Identify strategies for working with resistant youth and identify at least 2 factors related to motivation
3. Describe various learning styles and identify at least 2 interventions for youths’ learning style

1. Explain the benefit that a youth voice can have on clinical programs and how it differs from family and provider voices, especially when dealing with an extremely sensitive topic
2. Identify strategies for navigating sensitive, but needed interventions with community partners and stakeholders around the topic of serving children with problematic sexual behavior problems
3. Describe how trainings and engagements with stakeholders and community partners can become stronger by utilizing youth voice responsibly

1. Articulate the legislative history of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and explain how it impacts organizational and operational priorities
2. Explain how problematic sexual behaviors can disrupt foster placement
3. Explain the importance of using accurate age-appropriate information about human sexuality as a key component in promotion of sexual health and safety of children and youth

1. Cite current research information on adolescents who have engaged in illegal sexual behavior
2. Develop a framework for evidence-based decision making in response to adolescent illegal sexual offending
3. Identify key considerations for informed decisions in the court room at various points in a youth’s rehabilitation plan

The Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Youth is a severe form of abuse and trauma with a complex array of intersecting risk factors and impacts. This often includes youth engagement in concerning or problematic sexual behaviors that are challenging for professionals across multiple child-serving systems engaged in response to trafficking. The 2^nd session of this 2-part workshop will focus on the impact of sexual exploitation on a youth’s sexual development and behavior and begin a dialogue exploring how we, as professionals, conceptualize concerning sexual behaviors, sexual risk-taking behavior, and problematic sexual behavior in the context and aftermath of sexually exploitive experiences. Finally, we will apply this context to considerations and implications for intervention.

1. Conceptualize the interconnectedness of sexually exploitive experiences and the sexual development and behavior of youth
2. Differentiate definitions of concerning sexual behavior, sexual risk-taking behavior, and problematic sexual behavior through a trauma-informed lens
3. Examine the systematic vulnerabilities and strengths of youth who have experienced exploitation and explain how these dynamics manifest in the way youth present with professionals
4. Identify implications for trauma-informed interventions for youth who are demonstrating sexual behaviors of concern and who also have experienced sexual exploitation

1. Cite current statistical data on the numbers of children and teens in the U.S. struggling with LGBTQ+ identity
2. Identify at least 2 strategies for effective collaboration with parents struggling with their child’s LGBTQ+ identity
3. Identify best-practice interventions with children/ teens and their parents struggling with LGBTQ+ issues

1. Identify at least 2 strategies for effective collaboration with reunification issues
2. Identify the 3 main considerations in reunification
3. Identify at least 2 challenges for parents in sibling sexual abuse cases

1. Define the concepts of racial, cultural, and intergenerational trauma
2. Describe the short and long-term effects of racial trauma and racialized violence on youth
3. Identify and describe an intersectional framework into trauma assessment and treatment

Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT) have long been utilized to form strategies for the sexual abuse of children by adults, but studies show that up to 40% of alleged child sexual abuse cases referred to CAC’s occur between children. MDTs often find themselves inadequately prepared to determine the varying developmental and contextual needs of adolescents that initiate problematic sexual behaviors. The focus of this training will be to examine the systemic needs of MDTs and how they can form best practices by developing policies and procedures that are empirically supported and informed.

1. Describe normative sexual development for adolescents
2. Describe the process of identifying problematic sexual behaviors for adolescents and differentiating from normal sexual behaviors
3. Identify and develop strategies for multidisciplinary team members to utilize with problematic sexual behaviors in adolescents

Problematic sexual behavior (PSB) in children and youth can be challenging for families and communities holding inherent reluctance to engage or seek supportive services based on several factors such as cultural experience. Latinos are dramatically changing the demographic profile in the U.S. resulting in increasing numbers of Latinos being referred for services; yet remaining a demographic less likely to connect to services and/or being underserved.  Approaching clinical care for this population with sensitivity and cultural humility is critical for providers of PSB. Limited understanding of cultural norms and language may present as barriers which can be further impacted by the shame of PSB and cultural views of mental health treatment. This presentation will feature and review a guide on Cultural Considerations for working with Hispanic/ Latino/ and Latinx families with PSB focusing on the impact of PSB, clinical considerations, and the clinician’s role in engagement and treatment.

1. Explain how health-related beliefs, practices, and cultural values influence the understanding of problematic sexual behavior and parenting
2. Identify the power of cultural values that may influence a reluctance to seek or engage in supportive services on the various stages of treatment from the initial phone call, assessment, treatment, and completion of treatment to address problematic sexual behavior in youth
3. Identify at least 2 strategies that enhance effective communication and increased sensitivity working with Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx families

This workshop will aim to provide support to professionals in the inclusion of biological parent(s) who are involved in the child welfare system. A focused approach towards family reunification that includes increased attention on child safety, family well-being, and community partnerships resulted in a rate of reunification at 76% compared to a control group of 44% (Chambers, Brocato, Fatemi, & Rodriguez, 2016). This suggests the importance of community collaboration and involvement of biological parent(s) across all aspects of the child welfare case. As such, this presentation will discuss these approaches, emphasizing inclusion of biological parent(s) throughout, recommendations for the management of difficult parent behaviors, and a focused discussion related to provider/professional perception of the parent(s) as a means of supporting success.

1. Identify empirical evidence for parent-child visitation in child welfare cases to support ongoing inclusion of the biological parents in services for meeting long-term goals of family reunification
2. Identify recommendations for the management of difficult/ challenging emotions and behaviors demonstrated by biological parents in therapeutic services
3. Identify creative strategies to engage biological parents in services with and/or without their children in cases of foster care placement