Facilitating a School-Based Prevention of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Health Promot Pract. 2016 Jul;17(4):530-6. doi: 10.1177/1524839916628863. Epub 2016 Apr 15.

Abstract

The challenges of developing and researching a school-based prevention program using the participatory culture-specific intervention model are described here. We outline the problem of commercial sexual exploitation of children that motivated our project and the characteristics of students most at risk (African American girls in middle school). We provide an analysis of the factors that can facilitate creation and implementation of similar prevention programs in schools. These factors include establishing partnerships with community resources, including school insiders, and establishing trust, especially with students placed at risk.

Keywords: African American; prevention; school; sexualization.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Black or African American*
  • Female
  • Health Education / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Interinstitutional Relations
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • School Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Sex Work*
  • Trust