ethanporcaro/eric-fulltext-meta huggingface dataset:
Sex Trafficking of Minors in the U.S.: Implications for Policy, Prevention and Research
Author: Kotrla, Kimberly
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Crime,Victims of Crime,Children,Sexual Abuse,Recruitment,Power Structure,At Risk Persons,Public Policy,Research,Child Abuse,Legislation,Intervention,Criminals,Prevention,Educational Needs

Context: Information currently available on the trafficking of minors in the U.S. for commercial sexual exploitation includes approximations of the numbers involved, risk factors that increase the likelihood of victimization and methods of recruitment and control. However, specific characteristics about this vulnerable population remain largely unknown. Objective: This article has two distinct purposes. The first is to provide the reader with an overview of available information on minor sex trafficking in the U.S. The second is to present findings and discuss policy, research, and educational implications from secondary data analysis of 115 cases of minor sex trafficking in the U.S. Design: Minor sex trafficking cases were identified through two main venues--a review of U.S. Department of Justice press releases of human trafficking cases and an online search of media reports. Searches covered the time period from October 28, 2000, which coincided with the passage of the VTVPA through October 31, 2009. Cases were included in analysis if the incident involved at least one victim under the age of 18, occurred in the U.S., and at least one perpetrator had been arrested, indicted, or convicted. Results: A total of 115 separate incidents involving at least 153 victims were located. These occurrences involved 215 perpetrators, with the majority of them having been convicted (n = 117, 53.4%), The number of victims involved in a single incident ranged from 1 to 9. Over 90% of victims were female who ranged in age from 5 to 17 years. There were more U.S. minor victims than those from other countries. Victims had been in captivity from less than 6 months to 5 years. Minors most commonly fell into exploitation through some type of false promise indicated (16.3%, n = 25), followed by kidnapping (9.8%, n = 15). Over a fifth of the sample (22.2%, n = 34) were abused through two commercial sex practices, with almost all (94.1%, n = 144) used in prostitution. One of every five victims (24.8%, n = 38) had been advertised on an Internet website. Conclusions: Results of a review of known information about minor sex trafficking and findings from analysis of 115 incidents of the sex trafficking of youth in the U.S. indicate a need for stronger legislation to educate various professional groups, more comprehensive services for victims, stricter laws for pimps and traffickers, and preventive educational interventions beginning at a young age.
A Tale of Two States: What We Learn from California and Texas
Author: Tortolero, Susan R.
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Adolescents,Pregnancy,Prevention,Case Studies,State Programs,State Policy,Race,Ethnicity,Socioeconomic Influences,Contraception,Program Descriptions,Private Agencies,Access to Health Care,Sex Education,Comparative Analysis

Teen birth rates and teen pregnancy prevention strategies vary widely across individual states in the US, which has the highest overall teen birth rate among developed nations. California and Texas, the two most populous states currently accounting for a quarter of all teen births, have taken very different approaches to addressing adolescent reproductive health. This case study examines the racial/ethnic composition and socioeconomic factors of these two states from 1981 to 2008. State programs and policies implemented between 1991 and 2008 as well as changes in access to contraception and public-private partnerships are discussed. Based on the lessons learned from California, a similar multifaceted campaign in Texas may be effective in reducing teen births.
Runaway and Throwaway Youth: Time for Policy Changes and Public Responsibility
Author: Colby, Ira
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Runaways,Homeless People,Public Policy,Federal Legislation,Child Safety,Child Health,Sexual Abuse,Violence,Risk,Victims of Crime

The traditional American dream of owning a home, obtaining a college education, and working at a good, paying job is only that, a dream, for scores of homeless youth in America today. There is a growing street population of young people who have been thrown out of their homes by their caretakers or their families, and who face life-threatening situations each day. For these youth, the furthest thing in their lives is reaching the so-called &quot;American Dream;&quot; and their most immediate need is survival, simply living out the day in front of them. They have few options that lead to a decent and safe living environment. Their age, lack of work experience, and absence of a high school diploma make it most difficult to find a job. As a result, they turn to other means for survival; runaways and throwaways are most vulnerable to falling prey to the sex trade, selling drugs, or being lured into human trafficking, and some steal or panhandle. Street youth end up spending their nights in bus stations or finding a room in an abandoned building or an empty stairwell to sleep. Attempting to identify a specific number of homeless youth is difficult at best, but what is even more perplexing is our continued inability to effectively protect our children. We are left with a basic question framed by the fundamental tenets of justice: what is a community's responsibility to its youth who, for whatever reason, end up living on the streets or in unsafe, abusive environments? The purpose of this paper is to briefly outline the characteristics of homeless youth, in particular differentiating between throwaways and runaways; explore the current federal response to homeless youth; and finally, address the nagging question that swirls around all children: can we aggressively aspire to be a community where every child is healthy and safe, and able to realize his or her fullest potential?
Adolescent Sexual Behavior: Examining Data from Texas and the US
Author: Markham, Christine
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Sexuality,Health Behavior,Contraception,Middle School Students,High School Students,Risk,Urban Schools,School Districts,Incidence,Pregnancy,Sexually Transmitted Diseases,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS),Sex Education,Evidence Based Practice,National Surveys,Race,Ethnicity

Background: The US has higher rates of teen births and sexually transmitted infections (STI) than other developed countries. Texas youth are disproportionately impacted. Purpose: To review local, state, and national data on teens' engagement in sexual risk behaviors to inform policy and practice related to teen sexual health. Methods: 2009 middle school and high school Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data, and data from All About Youth, a middle school study conducted in a large urban school district in Texas, were analyzed to assess the prevalence of sexual initiation, including the initiation of non-coital sex, and the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors among Texas and US youth. Results: A substantial proportion of middle and high school students are having sex. Sexual initiation begins as early as 6th grade and increases steadily through 12th grade with almost two-thirds of high school seniors being sexually experienced. Many teens are not protecting themselves from unintended pregnancy or STIs -- nationally, 80% and 39% of high school students did not use birth control pills or a condom respectively the last time they had sex. Many middle and high school students are engaging in oral and anal sex, two behaviors which increase the risk of contracting an STI and HIV. In Texas, an estimated 689,512 out of 1,327,815 public high school students are sexually experienced -- over half (52%) of the total high school population. Texas students surpass their US peers in several sexual risk behaviors including number of lifetime sexual partners, being currently sexually active, and not using effective methods of birth control or dual protection when having sex. They are also less likely to receive HIV/AIDS education in school. Conclusion: Changes in policy and practice, including implementation of evidence-based sex education programs in middle and high schools and increased access to integrated, teen-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, are urgently needed at the state and national levels to address these issues effectively.
Dispelling the Myth: What Parents Really Think about Sex Education in Schools
Author: Tortolero, Susan R.
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Misconceptions,Parent Attitudes,Sex Education,Barriers,Decision Making,Contraception,Middle School Students,Prevention,Pregnancy,Participant Characteristics,Telephone Surveys,High School Students,Elementary School Students

Background: School-based sex education is effective in reducing risky sexual behavior among adolescents that may lead to unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. However, most sex education policies in the US do not support evidence-based programs. Understanding parental attitudes around sex education is crucial to overcoming perceived barriers to implementing school-based sex education. Little research has been published on the opinions of parents in Texas, which accounts for 12% of the nation's teen births. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether Texas parents favor teaching sex education in schools, in what grades they think sex education should be taught, what content they think should be taught, and who they think should make decisions regarding sex education. Methods: We commissioned a telephone survey of parents of children 18 years or younger in Harris County, Texas. Survey questions assessed demographic characteristics and opinions about sex education. We used chi-square tests to examine differences across sociodemographic characteristics. Results: 1,201 parents completed the survey. The majority of parents (80%) responded that sex education should begin in middle school or earlier, and two-thirds said that it should include information about condoms and contraception. Hispanic parents showed the highest support for teaching sex education and providing medically accurate information on condoms and contraception in middle school or earlier. Conclusion: Parents in Harris County overwhelmingly support sex education that includes medically accurate information about condoms and contraception beginning before high school. These data provide evidence to change sex education policies to better reflect parental opinions.
Health Care Providers&apos; Training Needs Related to Human Trafficking: Maximizing the Opportunity to Effectively Screen and Intervene
Author: Isaac, Reena
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Crime,Children,Child Abuse,Victims of Crime,Allied Health Personnel,Responsibility,At Risk Persons,Training,Sexual Abuse,Pornography,Child Health,Health Services

Human trafficking is a complex and multifaceted problem that takes the form of economic, physical and sexual exploitation of people, both adults and children, who are reduced to simple products for commerce. Human trafficking in the United States also has both a domestic and an international aspect. Health care providers are in a unique position to screen for victims of trafficking and may provide important medical and psychological care for victims while in captivity and thereafter. Trafficked persons are likely to suffer a wide spectrum of health risks that reflect the unique circumstances and experiences in a trafficked victim's life. Although trafficked victims typically have experienced inadequate medical care, once contact is made by the victim with the health care professionals, the opportunity then exists to identify, treat, and assist such victims. The range of services and supports required to appropriately respond to human trafficking victims once identified is broad and typically goes beyond just what is immediately provided by the health care professional and includes safe housing, legal advice, income support, and, for international victims, immigration status related issues. An informed and responsive community is necessary to serve both the international and domestic victims of human trafficking, and needs assessments demonstrated a number of barriers that hindered the delivery of effective services to human trafficking victims. One of the consistent needs identified to combat these barriers was enhanced training among all professionals who might come in contact with human trafficking victims. We highlight the efforts of the Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition (HRRC), a local grassroots non-profit organization whose mission focuses on raising awareness of human trafficking in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. HRRC responded to the consistent recommendation from various community needs assessments for additional training of front line professionals who would have the opportunity to identify human trafficking victims and supported the design and pilot testing of a health professions training program around human trafficking. Dissemination of this type of training along with careful evaluation and continued refinement will be one way for health care professionals to engage in a positive manner with human trafficking victims.
Food Insecurity and the Behavioral and Intellectual Development of Children: A Review of the Evidence
Author: Perez-Escamilla, Fafael
Date: 2012-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Food,Security (Psychology),Well Being,Correlation,Behavior Problems,Child Development,Cognitive Development,Emotional Development,Social Development,Mental Health,Parent Child Relationship,Stress Variables,Depression (Psychology),Public Policy,Health Services,Hunger,Family Environment,Poverty,Intellectual Development

Background: Given that an alarming 1 in 5 children in the USA are at risk of hunger (1 in 3 among black and Latino children), and that 3.9 million households with children are food insecure, it is crucial to understand how household food insecurity (HFI) affects the present and future well-being of our children. Purpose: The objectives of this review article are to: (i) examine the association between HFI and child intellectual, behavioral and psycho-emotional development, controlling for socio-economic indicators; (ii) review the hypothesis that HFI is indeed a mediator of the relationship between poverty and poor child development outcomes; (iii) examine if the potential impact of HFI on caregivers' mental health well-being mediates the relationship between HFI and child development outcomes. Methods: Pubmed search using the key words &quot;food insecurity children.&quot; For articles to be included they had to: (i) be based on studies measuring HFI using an experience-based scale, (ii) be peer reviewed, and (iii) include child intellectual, behavioral and/or socio-emotional development outcomes. Studies were also selected based on backward and forward Pubmed searches, and from the authors' files. After reviewing the abstracts based on inclusion criteria a total of 26 studies were selected. Results: HFI represents not only a biological but also a psycho-emotional and developmental challenge to children exposed to it. Children exposed to HFI are more likely to internalize or externalize problems, as compared to children not exposed to HFI. This in turn is likely to translate into poor academic/cognitive performance and intellectual achievement later on in life. A pathway through which HFI may affect child development is possibly mediated by caregivers' mental health status, especially parental stress and depression. Thus, HFI is likely to foster dysfunctional family environments. Conclusion: Findings indicate that food insecure households may require continued food assistance and psycho-emotional support until they transition to a &quot;stable&quot; food secure situation. This approach will require a much better integration of social policies and access to programs offering food assistance and mental health services to those in need. Findings also fully justify increased access of vulnerable children to programs that promote early in life improved nutrition as well as early psycho-social and cognitive stimulation opportunities.
Electronic Essay Writing with Postsecondary Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Author: Woods-Groves, Suzanne
Date: 2018-09-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Intellectual Disability,Writing Strategies,Developmental Disabilities,Pretests Posttests,Higher Education,Experimental Groups,Control Groups,Computer Software,Essay Tests,Mnemonics,Expository Writing,Writing Instruction,Scoring Rubrics

This study examined the efficacy of an electronic essay-writing strategy to improve the expository writing skills of 20 young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities enrolled in a program at an institute of higher education in the midwest. A pretest and posttest experimental design with random assignment to treatment or control group was used to investigate the mnemonic-driven electronic writing strategy. The writing strategy supported students' construction of essay responses using a computer. Students used the strategy and a computer word program to examine an electronically presented essay test question, plan through the construction of an electronic outline, and create and revise an electronic essay response. Pretest and posttest essay responses were evaluated through proximal and distal rubrics. Results revealed a significant positive effect for the treatment group when compared to the control group for overall essay quality including use of ideas and content, and word choice.
The Problem with Value-Added Measurement
Author: Rubinstein, Gary
Date: 2012-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Value Added Models,Academic Achievement,Teacher Effectiveness,Teacher Evaluation,Evaluation Methods,Public Education

The author discusses how educational reformers have encouraged states across the country, as a requirement to be eligible for Race to the Top money, to measure teacher and school quality through value-added measurements. The idea behind value-added measurements is that a computer can take all the information about a class of students and determine what those students would score on the state exams ten months from now if they were taught in an &quot;average&quot; school by an &quot;average&quot; teacher. Ten months later the students take the test, and based on whether their results exceed or fall short of the computer's prediction, that school is given an &quot;A&quot; or an &quot;F&quot; rating, and the teacher is correspondingly rated as effective or ineffective. Unfortunately for schools and teachers, the computer isn't very good at predicting what it is supposed to do. With value-added, teachers rated highly effective one year might be highly ineffective the next despite, according to the teachers, the fact that they didn't do anything wildly different. The author suggests that the state tests are not very good, and threatening a teacher with termination or a school withturnaround unless they measure up on an unreliable scale is never going to improve education.
Word Study Intervention for Students with ASD: A Multiple Baseline Study of Data-Based Individualization
Author: Solís, Michael
Date: 2018-09-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Autism,Pervasive Developmental Disorders,Word Study Skills,Intervention,Reading Skills,Reading Instruction,Program Effectiveness,Grade 5,Grade 6,Grade 7,Intelligence Tests,Teaching Methods,Word Recognition

This multiple baseline across participants study examined the efficacy of a data-based individualization word study intervention for students with autism spectrum disorder (N=5) and low word reading skills. An experienced interventionist provided 1:1 word reading instruction in 30-minute sessions five times per week for an average of 10 sessions per participant. Intervention effects for directly taught words and words with similar spelling patterns were estimated using visual analysis and calculation of mean differences across baseline and intervention phases. Results indicate immediate and consistent improvements in word reading outcomes across all participants.
Individual, Family, and Neighborhood Characteristics and Children&apos;s Food Insecurity
Author: Kimbro, Rachel T.
Date: 2012-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Neighborhoods,Environmental Influences,Child Health,Well Being,Food,Hunger,Children,Census Figures,Kindergarten,Grade 3,African Americans,Hispanic Americans,Poverty,Immigrants,English (Second Language),At Risk Persons,Longitudinal Studies,Surveys,Individual Characteristics,Racial Differences,Ethnicity,Whites,Socioeconomic Status

A growing body of work documents the influence of neighborhood environments on child health and well-being. Food insecurity is likely linked to neighborhood characteristics via mechanisms of social disadvantage, including access to and availability of healthy foods and the social cohesion of neighbors. In this paper, we utilize restricted, geo-coded data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, which allows us to link individual children with their neighborhood's census characteristics, to assess how the neighborhoods of food secure and food insecure children differ at both the kindergarten level and in third grade. The average food insecure child lives in a neighborhood with a higher proportion of black and Hispanic residents, a higher proportion of residents living in poverty, and a higher proportion of foreign-born and linguistically isolated residents. After accounting for individual and household-level characteristics, children living in neighborhoods with a high proportion of Hispanic and foreign-born residents have a significantly increased risk of food insecurity compared to children living in neighborhoods which are predominantly white and have high socioeconomic status. We argue that interventions which take neighborhood context into account may be most efficacious for curbing child food insecurity.
Advancing Childhood Food Security through Organizing Strategies
Author: Singletary, Jon
Date: 2012-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Food,Security (Psychology),Community Programs,Program Descriptions,Federal Programs,Hunger,Poverty,Children,Organizations (Groups),Community Action,Cooperation,Private Sector,Public Agencies

This paper focuses on a project developed in Texas that utilizes community organizing strategies to advance childhood food security. With a dual focus on organizing policymakers and local communities, The Texas Hunger Initiative provides an example of an organizing project with the goal of ending childhood food insecurity in Texas.
A Multidisciplinary Team Experience with Food Insecurity &amp; Failure to Thrive
Author: Kersten, Hans B.
Date: 2012-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Food,Child Health,Hunger,Interdisciplinary Approach,Clinics,Health Services,Teamwork

Food insecurity (FI) affects millions of people in the United States and is associated with medical problems, as well as poorer physical and emotional-behavioral adjustment. Failure to thrive is a condition where children fail to gain an appropriate amount of weight, and it can cause long-term effects on cognitive and psychomotor development. While the extent to which FI may contribute to FTT is unclear, FI may contribute both directly through inadequate caloric or nutrient intake and indirectly through increased family stress, parental depression and a chaotic family environment. We present an overview of how FI and FTT may interact, followed by a case study from our multidisciplinary clinic for children with FTT. The importance of screening for FI as well as FTT is discussed. We describe ways for individuals, organizations, and agencies to help reduce the effects of FI in both individuals and their communities.