Learn how to identify and prevent sexual exploitation of students in your school! Though most schools are safe environments for students, research shows that sexual abuse of children at all levels is on the rise. Recent media attention has captured the public's growing concern about the number of cases involving boys molested by adult females. Nationally recognized risk management expert and author Robert J. Shoop was recently quoted in USA Today (November 30, 2005), noting that "In the past 18 months, at least 25 cases nationwide involved female teachers molesting students." He has also addressed the topic of sexual exploitation as a guest on CNN, The Today Show, ABC's 20/20, ESPN's Outside the Lines, and other independent television talk shows. In his new book, Shoop identifies the early warning signs of sexual abuse in schools. Based on interviews, newspaper reports, journal articles, court records, and personal experiences gained from 25 years of consulting with school districts in the areas of harassment, abuse, risk management and negligence, this book demonstrates the critical need to implement strategies so students are protected while also learning how to protect themselves. Shoop's two-fold objectives are: How to spot sexual exploitation and what early warning signs to look for and How to stop sexual exploitation--actions that schools and parents can take to prevent sexual abuse, and how to respond promptly and appropriately if it occurs Sexual Exploitation in Schools prepares educators to manage one of the most difficult and troubling issues in our public and private schools. Explanations are provided concerning the legal context, consequences and pathology of sexual exploitation, district and employee rights, conducting an investigation, and steps educators and parents can take so that students will be safe in their learning environment, leading to a successful and healthy future.

Every day in the United States, children and adolescents are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Despite the serious and long-term consequences for victims as well as their families, communities, and society, efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to these crimes are largely under supported, inefficient, uncoordinated, and unevaluated. Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States examines commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States under age 18. According to this report, efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to these crimes require better collaborative approaches that build upon the capabilities of people and entities from a range of sectors. In addition, such efforts need to confront demand and the individuals who commit and benefit from these crimes. The report recommends increased awareness and understanding, strengthening of the law's response, strengthening of research to advance understanding and to support the development of prevention and intervention strategies, support for multi-sector and interagency collaboration, and creation of a digital information-sharing platform. A nation that is unaware of these problems or disengaged from solutions unwittingly contributes to the ongoing abuse of minors. If acted upon in a coordinated and comprehensive manner, the recommendations of Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States can help advance and strengthen the nation's emerging efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States.

How Serious Is the Problem? Unfortunately, some educators still think sexual harassment is not a real problem for their students. To counter this view, the authors include information from recent surveys in which 4 out of 5 students reported that they have been the target of some form of sexual harassment during their school lives. Of those students, one in four reported being targeted "often." These victims often feel helpless and hopeless; many carefully plan their activities in order to avoid their harassers. Surprisingly, much of the harassment students experience is initiated by other students - in high school, junior high, and middle schools, even in elementary schools (including the lower grades). That's why the authors believe it's critically important for every school district to have a formal plan for eradicating sexual harassment.

This is the first comprehensive text to critically analyze the current research and best practices for working with children, adolescents, and adults involved in sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). With a unique, research-based focus on practice, the book synthesizes the key areas related to working with victims of sex trafficking/ CSE including prevention, identification, practice techniques, and program design as well as suggested interagency, criminal justice, and legislative responses. Best practices are examined through an intersectional, trauma-informed lens that adheres to principles of cultural competency. Highlights include: Integrates a trauma informed lens in practice, program design, and interagency responses. Uses an intersectional approach to examine identity-based oppression such as race, class, sex, LGBTQ identities, age, immigrant status, and intellectual disabilities. Highlights the importance of cultural competency in practice and program design, prevention and outreach efforts, and interagency and criminal justice system responses. Reviews the different types of sex trafficking and CSE, the physiological and psychological effects, various risk factors, and the distinct needs of survivors to encourage practitioners to tailor interventions to the specific needs of each client. Examines the role of social workers and practitioners in interagency, legislative, and criminal justice responses to sex trafficking. Takes a broad societal perspective by examining the role of macro-level risk factors facilitating sex trafficking victimization. The book analyzes the commonly reported indicators of sex trafficking/CSE, how to conduct a screening with potential victims, and direct practice techniques with various populations including evidence-based trauma treatments. Other chapters guide the reader in implementing trauma-informed programming in a variety of organizational settings, advocating for sex trafficking and CSE survivors within the criminal justice system, and implementing effective prevention and outreach programs in schools and community organizations. Intended as a text for upper division courses on sex or human trafficking, interventions with women, trauma interventions, violence against women, or gender and crime taught in social work, psychology, counseling, and criminal justice, this book is also an ideal resource for practitioners working with victims of sex trafficking and CSE in a variety of settings including child protective services, the criminal justice system, healthcare, schools, and more.

Sexual assaults are special crimes that require an inter-multidisciplinary approach. This book brings together the work of distinguished scientists on sex crimes and their prevention. It is organized into two sections on the behavioral aspects of sexual abuse/assault and the methods of responding to these types of cases. Chapters address such topics as child abuse, dating violence in the online era, marital rape, and much more.

With conversations about sexual violence, consent, and bodily autonomy dominating national conversations it can be easy to get lost in the onslaught of well-intended but often poorly executed messages. Through an exploration of research, scholarly expertise, and practical real-world application we can better formulate an understanding of what consent is, how we create consent cultures, and where the path forward lies. This book is designed with both educators and parents in mind. The tools highlighted throughout help adults unlearn harmful narratives about consent, boundaries, and relationships so that they can begin their work internally through modeling and self-reflection. We then uncover what consent truly is and is not, how culture plays an integral role in interpersonal scripting, and how teaching consent as a life skill can look in and out of the classroom. By integrating the need for consent to be taught in schools and homes we build bridges between the spaces where children learn and create alliances in the often-daunting task of eradicating rape-culture. This book is perfect for those already comfortable and familiar with this topic as well as those newer to understanding consent as a paradigm. Starting with a strong historical and research-informed foundation the book builds into action-oriented guidelines for conversations, curriculum, and community activism. This blended approach creates a guidebook that is unlike anything else on the market today.