Understanding trauma and its relevance to child sexual exploitation

2019 ◽  
pp. 151-172
Author(s):  
Kristine Hickle
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Complex Trauma ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Extreme Stress ◽  
Child Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Trauma Informed ◽  
Trauma Informed Practice ◽  
Trauma Responses ◽  
The Impact

This chapter provides a brief overview of the research on trauma, specifically in relation to the impact of developmental and complex trauma and sexual abuse. An overview of the growing body of research on trauma-informed approaches to practice is also given. It considers how trauma responses are developed while enduring extreme stress, and how these responses may be evident among children and young people with child sexual exploitation (CSE) experiences. The chapter also considers how systems designed to protect and support traumatised children and young people often contribute to their re-traumatisation. It explores principles of trauma-informed practice that are useful in meeting the needs of young people victimised by CSE, discusses how trauma-informed approaches align with strengths-based and relationship-based approaches to CSE practice, and how such approaches can help practitioners understand and promote resilience.

Behaviour: Promoting inclusion using a trauma-informed approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 292-294
Author(s):  
Pooky Knightsmith
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
School Staff ◽  
Challenging Behaviour ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Practical Advice ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Trauma Informed ◽  
Trauma Responses

Children and young people who have experienced trauma may exhibit challenging behaviour as a result of learned trauma responses. Pooky Knightsmith provides some practical advice for school staff members on providing a more inclusive trauma-informed approach.

Strengthening (Re)integration from Child Sexual Exploitation: Children and Young People’s Recommendations

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-190
Author(s):  
Lopa Bhattacharjee ◽  
Helen J. Veitch
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Urban Community ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Financial Independence ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Psychosocial Wellbeing ◽  
Child Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Care Leavers ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
New Community

This article explores care leavers’ views and recommendations for practitioners and policymakers on the transition from leaving care to living independently in the community. Seven young adults fully reintegrated through programmes in Kathmandu, Nepal, co-produced action research with 21 of their peers (aged 16–26 years). This article outlines how children and young people affected by child sexual exploitation experience community reintegration, and their views on the key issues, reintegration services need to consider. Findings explored boys’ and girls’ experiences of stigma and discrimination by community members and revolved around social and cultural norms and narratives on masculinity and femininity that denied their victimhood. This article focuses on the theme of independence as it appears to reflect a changing context for reintegration practitioners in South Asia. Children and young people had not been reintegrated in their family; instead, they were living independently—a situation that can be described as ‘integration’ (with an urban community) rather than ‘reintegration’ (with their family of origin). Research participants’ exploration of ‘independence’ reflected this context and was defined as emotional or financial independence. The research appears to identify an adaptation to reintegration services to enable a smoother transition for care leavers. Most models of reintegration assume that children will ‘reintegrate’ with their families of origin. This research found that children sexually exploited in Kathmandu chose to ‘integrate’ into a new community to overcome isolation, exclusion and non-acceptance by their families and communities of origin and, in so doing, experienced emotional and financial independence. In this context, successful integration requires the provision of activities for parents that explain indicators of trauma so that they can appropriately support their children. In addition, support for care leavers targeted on psychosocial wellbeing, life-skills and income generation enables young people to live independently from their families and be ‘integrated’ into an urban community.

scholarly journals Moving Towards Self-actualization: A Trauma-Informed and Needs-Focused Approach to the Mental Health Needs of Survivors of Commercial Child Sexual Exploitation

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Julie Anne Laser-Maira ◽  
Donna Peach ◽  
Charles E. Hounmenou
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Hierarchy Of Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Child Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Self Actualization ◽  
Trauma Informed ◽  
The Impact

There is increasing evidence that children who are subject to commercial child sexual exploitation (CCSE) are likely to experience complex mental health needs. Failure to address the trauma experienced by victims of CCSE can lead to suicide attempts, self-harm, and long-term mental health needs (Powell, Asbill, Louis, & Stoklosa, 2018). A ‘trauma-informed’ approach (TIA) creates a responsive environment that improves the motivation of victims of CCSE to seek treatment and service providers to address unmet needs. Merging Maslow’s (1943) hierarchy of needs with a TIA approach provides a comprehensive framework to assess the service requirements necessary to meet CCSE survivors’ needs. Particularly, when Maslow’s hierarchy of needs model is coupled with contemporary extensions, which address our greater understanding of the neurological impact of abuse on physiological well-being greater resilience can be created. Additionally, a TIA instigates a shift from victims of CCSE being viewed as damaged, to an understanding of the impact abusive experiences have had on their development. That approach permits them and others to perceive their “survivorhood” and develop their capacity to achieve self-actualization. This paper critically examines what is constituted as best practice in trauma-informed mental health service delivery to not only meet needs but to support CCSE survivors’ attainment of self-actualization.

From Where to Where – Running Away from Care

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-19
Author(s):  
Annette Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Running Away ◽  
Opinion Piece ◽  
Trauma Informed ◽  
Therapeutic Services ◽  
Trauma Informed Practice

This opinion piece draws on the literature regarding absconding from care and its links with child sexual exploitation and trauma. The author draws on her experience in the child protection, out-of-home care and therapeutic services to raise some questions and suggest some themes about how the system responds when young people run away from what is purportedly safe to what is palpably unsafe. The article concludes with a brief description of trauma-informed practice and suggests that this concept is a useful contribution in our response to helping young people no longer needing to run.

scholarly journals Roma Children and Young People in Bulgaria: Patterns of Risk and Effective Protection in Relation to Child Sexual Exploitation

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate D'Arcy ◽  
Isabelle Brodie
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Child Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Prosecution Strategies ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Children In Care ◽  
Comparative Information

This article examines patterns of risk regarding child sexual exploitation (CSE). There is specific focus on those living in alternative care, child sexual exploitation and trafficking among Roma communities in Bulgaria and the UK. Data is drawn from a desk-based literature review and partnership work with Bulgarian and British academics and practitioners to explore the issues in both countries. Although there is limited statistical data on CSE and children in care across Europe and the risk-factors for Roma children and young people are still not being fully recognised, we can draw on what is known in Bulgaria to inform practice in the UK with emerging Roma communities. Research on CSE more generally can also inform awareness of risk factors particularly around care systems. Comparative information about what is known in the UK and Bulgaria is considered in order to make some recommendations for international prevention, protection efforts, and prosecution strategies for the future.

scholarly journals Young People’s Experiences of Attending a Theater-in-Education Program on Child Sexual Exploitation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah May ◽  
Juliane A. Kloess ◽  
Kari Davies ◽  
Catherine E. Hamilton-Giachritsis
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
School Based ◽  
Child Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Template Analysis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

Child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) has grave implications for the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. It has been linked to a wide range of difficulties which may extend into adulthood. School-based prevention programs that aim to raise awareness (and thereby have the potential to prevent CSEA) are popular, however, have historically lacked robust and consistent evaluation. The purpose of the present study was therefore to explore young people’s experiences of attending a school-based theater-in-education program, and the impact this had on their awareness and understanding of CSEA. Four focus groups of between four to six participants each were conducted with young people from two co-educational State schools in the United Kingdom. The approach of Template Analysis was used to analyze the data, and revealed a number of themes related to the superordinate themes of “Information and Detail Delivered” and “Format and Timing.” The results suggest that participants gained new awareness and understanding of aspects related to CSEA, including other forms of (criminal) exploitation, as well as how to avoid harm and what to do “if bad things happen.” Participants further reported that the theater performance/live element of the program was particularly impactful, feeling that this was delivered to them at the right time, but suggesting that younger people would also benefit from the important messages. In addition, areas for improvement were identified in terms of the delivery of the program, and the issue of victim blaming. Findings are discussed with a view to practical implications and directions for future research.

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