Description
Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST), or the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), often occurs in the context of vulnerabilities created by social systems. Children who lack access to supportive services and/or supervision, awareness and prevention education, ability to report abuse, etc., are at higher risk of exploitation and abuse. Varying at-risk populations will be defined and described (e.g., child-welfare-involved, LGBT, and Deaf children and youth) in terms of demographics (e.g., age, incidence of trafficking in the population, risk factors, and special considerations for intervention and prevention). The overall issue of trafficking risk within these special populations will be explored from a systems perspective, which conceptualizes vulnerability within the context of societal supports, such as mental health care, education and economic systems, and the accessibility of services to each group. This training will seek to provide an overview of the topic of CSEC and how to engage with various at-risk child and youth populations. During this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to identify trafficking warning signs and risk factors and will outline next steps for effective and trauma-informed engagement with youth.
District of Columbia:
This workshop meets the continuing education requirement for DC Public Health Priorities in the following topic: 3. Identifying and reporting abuse (child and adult), neglect (child and adult), human trafficking, and domestic violence.
Instructor
M. Elizabeth Bowman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at Gallaudet University. She is also a minor domestic sex trafficking survivor, anti-trafficking advocate, mother of two teens, researcher, clinician, and speaker. In her clinical practice she works with trafficking survivors using trauma-informed yoga group therapy and supports children and adolescents with anxiety and other challenges. She holds clinical social work licensure in DC, Florida, Virginia, and Maryland and is a Registered Yoga Teacher, RYT-200. She is the founder and executive director of the Restoring Ivy Collective in Washington, D.C., a survivor-led organization which provides referral and outreach, group therapy, and support to survivors of sex trafficking with a focus on intentional community.
Agenda & Learning Objectives
AGENDA:
9:50 – 10:00 Log on
10:00 - 11:30
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Introductions and icebreaker
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HT 101
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Defining human trafficking, with a focus on sex trafficking.
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How it happens, business models/interpersonal relationships, and the thin lines between trafficking and exploitation, opening up the definition slightly.
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Red flags.
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Who's at risk? Vulnerabilities
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Who's the trafficker? Intersectionality with Intimate Partner Violence
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How to be trauma-informed and victim-centered.
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Vulnerability and trafficking
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Ecosystems framework (Bronfenbrenner)
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Who is vulnerable? why?
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Exploitation from a macro lens
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Culture, environment, systems
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Social support networks and prevention
11:30 – 11:45 Break
11:45 – 1:15
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Disabilities and accommodations
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Types of disabilities
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Sensory, mobility, intellectual, mental health, other
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How to consider accommodations broadly
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Practice applications
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Resources for support
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Discussion/Q&A
1:15 Adjournment
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
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Define vulnerability to exploitation within a social systems context that emphasizes societal accountability and service provision.
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Detail resources, programs, and organizations that are available to assist and support persons with disabilities and that are informed by specialized knowledge about both sex and labor trafficking.
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Discuss current gaps and needs facing the community in this area.
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Identify challenges in the law and policies needed to improve our responses.
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Brainstorm and propose concrete next steps to take for those in the justice system, those using social services, and for communities as a whole to better address the needs and responses to persons with disabilities who are at risk and who are trafficked.
Bibliography & References
BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES
Sullivan, P .M., Vernon, M., & Scanlan, J.M. (1987). Sexual Abuse of Deaf Youth. American Annals of the Deaf 132(4), 256-262. doi:10.1353/aad.2012.0614.
Jones, S. (2017). Enablers of help-seeking for deaf and disabled children following abuse and barriers to protection: a qualitative study. Child & Family Social Work, 22(2), 762–771. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12293
Wakeland, A. (2017). What is the prevalence of abuse in the deaf/hard of hearing population? The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 29(3), 434–454. https://doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2017.1416659
Mertens, D. (1996). Breaking the Silence About Sexual Abuse of Deaf Youth. American Annals of the Deaf (Washington, D.C. 1886), 141(5), 352–358. https://doi.org/10.1353/aad.2012.0257.
Schild, D. (2012). Trauma Exposure and Traumatic Symptoms in Deaf Adults. Psychological Trauma, 4(1), 117–127. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021578
Titus, J. (2010). The Nature of Victimization Among Youths With Hearing Loss in Substance Abuse Treatment. American Annals of the Deaf (Washington, D.C. 1886), 155(1), 19–30. https://doi.org/10.1353/aad.0.0127
Kvam, M.H. (2004). Sexual abuse of deaf children: A retrospective analysis of the prevalence and characteristics of childhood sexual abuse among deaf adults in Norway. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28(3), 241-251, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2003.09.017.
Lalor, K., & McElvaney, R. (2010). Child sexual abuse, links to later sexual exploitation/high risk sexual behavior, and prevention/treatment programs. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 11(4), 159–177. doi:10.1177/1524838010378299
Landers, M., McGrath, K., Johnson, M.H., Armstrong, M.I., & Dollard, N. (2017). Baseline Characteristics of Dependent Youth Who Have Been Commercially Sexually Exploited: Findings From a Specialized Treatment Program. JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, 26(6), 692-709 https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2017.1323814
National Research Council 2013. Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/18358.
Miller-Perrin, C. & Wurtele, S.K. (2017) Sex Trafficking and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, Women & Therapy, 40:1-2, 123-151, DOI: 10.1080/02703149.2016.1210963
Withers, M. (2017). The Underrecognized Victims of Trafficking: Deaf Women. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/modern-day-slavery/201709/the-underrecognized-victims-of-trafficking-deaf-women
Franchino-Olsen, H., Silverstein, H.A., Kahn, N.F. and Martin, S.L. (2020). Minor sex trafficking of girls with disabilities. International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 13 (2), 97-108. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-07-2019-0055
Gibbs, D.A., Feinberg, R.K., Dolan, M., Latzman, N.E., Misra, S., Domanico, R. (2018). Report to Congress: The Child Welfare System Response to Sex Trafficking of Children: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
Target Audience
Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
We welcome anyone interested in the topic!
Late Fees and Refunds
The base price is $70, which includes CE credit.
Late Fee: On 5/23/2025, a non-refundable late fee of $20 is added to the base price. Late fees cannot be refunded or applied to account credit.
Cancellations: **ALL cancellations will be subjected to a $35.00 administration fee.** To be eligible for a refund or CPE account credit, cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the workshop.
For more information, please read the general policies on our website.
ADA Accommodations
If you are requesting ADA accommodations, please contact our office via email at least two weeks prior to the workshop date. Requests after that date may not be fulfilled.
Our email address is cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu.
Evaluation
Participants will have access to the evaluation after attendance has been verified. Evaluations will be available for one (1) week after the workshop has ended.
After one (1) week, participants will no longer have access to the evaluation and will have to contact CPE about reactivation.
