TY - JOUR
T1 - Educating students about sex trafficking and responding to students’ needs
T2 - Principals’ perceptions and practices
AU - Rizo, Cynthia F.
AU - Klein, L. B.
AU - Chesworth, Brittney R.
AU - Franchino-Olsen, Hannabeth
AU - Villodas, Melissa L.
AU - Macy, Rebecca J.
AU - Martin, Sandra L.
PY - 2021/4/3
Y1 - 2021/4/3
N2 - There is growing interest in educating youth about sex trafficking, coupled with a recognition that both traditional and alternative schools are promising venues for addressing sex trafficking and reaching students with such content. As principals play a key role in determining the programming and protocols in their schools, the current investigation surveyed principals in traditional and alternative public schools in one southeastern state regarding: (a) their perceptions on sex trafficking and the role of schools in teaching about and responding to sex trafficking; (b) their school’s current efforts to teach about and respond to sex trafficking; (c) the preparedness of their school personnel for handling sex trafficking concerns, identifications, or disclosures; (d) their perceived challenges to educating youth about sex trafficking in schools; and (e) their recommendations for educating youth about sex trafficking in schools. Responses from 76 principals illuminate schools’ limited efforts to teach about and respond to sex trafficking, as well as challenges related to school personnel preparedness for addressing sex trafficking. The study offers preliminary guidance for educating youth about sex trafficking in schools and stresses the importance of ensuring that school personnel are knowledgeable about sex trafficking and well prepared to handle sex trafficking concerns.
AB - There is growing interest in educating youth about sex trafficking, coupled with a recognition that both traditional and alternative schools are promising venues for addressing sex trafficking and reaching students with such content. As principals play a key role in determining the programming and protocols in their schools, the current investigation surveyed principals in traditional and alternative public schools in one southeastern state regarding: (a) their perceptions on sex trafficking and the role of schools in teaching about and responding to sex trafficking; (b) their school’s current efforts to teach about and respond to sex trafficking; (c) the preparedness of their school personnel for handling sex trafficking concerns, identifications, or disclosures; (d) their perceived challenges to educating youth about sex trafficking in schools; and (e) their recommendations for educating youth about sex trafficking in schools. Responses from 76 principals illuminate schools’ limited efforts to teach about and respond to sex trafficking, as well as challenges related to school personnel preparedness for addressing sex trafficking. The study offers preliminary guidance for educating youth about sex trafficking in schools and stresses the importance of ensuring that school personnel are knowledgeable about sex trafficking and well prepared to handle sex trafficking concerns.
KW - domestic minor sex trafficking
KW - education
KW - principals
KW - school
KW - sex trafficking
KW - youth
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076877086&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/23322705.2019.1698922
DO - 10.1080/23322705.2019.1698922
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85076877086
VL - 7
SP - 202
EP - 223
JO - Journal of Human Trafficking
JF - Journal of Human Trafficking
SN - 2332-2705
IS - 2
ER -