Addressing the Needs of Children and Families After Mass Violence

While the presence of child sexual abuse images in child sexual abuse cases is not new, the sheer scale and scope and ubiquity of it all is. The exponential growth in the trading of these images has created a sophisticated marketplace designed around exploiting children. Three guests join us today to discuss child sexual abuse materials online (CSAM): Elizabeth and Ted Cross and Stefan Turkheimer. 

What Liz and Ted set out to learn was the degree to which incest played into the production of this material, what types of sex acts those trading in CSAM were most interested in, and what ages were most common among the child victims. It’s terribly disturbing but also important for us to understand in order to properly combat it.  

We speak with Stefan about important policy implications. What can policy makers do to hold tech companies more responsible for preventing the proliferation of these materials? And how do we leverage the resources needed to serve victims? Please take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

• The scope of the problem (2:06)
• A sea of red dots (4:16)
• Research design (12:35)
• Findings (20:41)
• Severity of abuse (24:03)
• The link with incest (28:45)
• Public policy (30:25)
• Implications for practice (38:29)
• For more information (41:25)

Links:

Elizabeth Cross, Ph.D., Cross Associates Research & Evaluation Services, LLC, and adjunct professor of social work and child advocacy at Montclair State University

Theodore Cross, Ph.D., senior research specialist – research professor, Children and Family Research Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Stefan Turkheimer, vice president for public policy, RAINN

NCMEC CyberTipline

Child Rescue Coalition 

Map and severity of abuse list from a presentation by Cross, Cross, Cooper, Turkheimer, and Bailey to the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Congress

Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC)

Camille Cooper

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act

EARN IT Act

Project Safe Childhood Act

Child Rescue Act

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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The rise in myths and conspiracy theories about human trafficking have been one of the most frustrating parts of being a child abuse professional over the past few years. It has been a deadly game of whack a mole, because as soon as one myth or conspiracy theory is debunked, yet another arises.

Dr. Maureen Kenny, a professor of psychology at Florida International University, set out to explore why and how these conspiracy theories were endorsed by a diverse college population in hopes that this would give us insight into better education strategies for the wider public. If you have ever moaned and groaned your way through a media report with whackadoodle ideas about trafficking or rolled your eyes at a movie that depicted it all wrong, this episode is for you. Please take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

• Origin story (1:55)
• What is human trafficking? (3:01)
• Why the uptick in myths and conspiracy theories? (5:06)
• Why we want to believe (13:13)
• Language choices (16:42)
• What kids need to know (18:49)
• Surprising findings (22:41)
• The scale of misinformation (24:41)
• Influencing the influencers (26:15)
• Future research (31:27)
• Advice for child abuse professionals (37:40)
• One bright note (38:50)
• For more information (40:10)

Links:

Maureen C. Kenny, Ph.D., professor, associate chair Academic Personnel and Diversity, Florida International University

“Conspiracy Theories of Human Trafficking: Knowledge and Perceptions Among a Diverse College Population,” Maureen C. Kenny, Claire Helpingstine, and Tracy Borelus (2023), Journal of Human Trafficking, DOI: 10.1080/23322705.2023.2225367

The study Teresa mentions: “‘Influencing the Influencers:’ A Field Experimental Approach to Promoting Effective Mental Health Communication on TikTok,” Matt Motta, Yuning Liu, and Amanda Yarnell (2023); there are multiple news stories about the study, including a recent NPR article by Andrea Muraskin (January 5, 2024)

Dr. Kenny suggests these websites to learn more about myths and facts of human trafficking:

• Polaris Project 
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Trafficking In Persons, OUT OF THE SHADOWS: Exposing the Myths of Human Trafficking (hhs.gov) 
• National Human Trafficking Hotline: Myths & Facts

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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Geoff Sidoli joins us from NCA’s Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes to talk about kids with sexual behavior problems. Myths abound about why these kids act out, how treatable they are, and what treatment settings and methods may be most helpful. But research shows that these kids are treatable. So how do we set these kids on a better life trajectory and improve safety at home and in the community?

Topics in this episode:

• Origin story (1:43)
• Risk factors (4:15)
• A range of behaviors (9:09)
• Myths and blind spots (12:18)
• Effective treatments (22:31)
• Research gaps (30:13)
• For more information (40:20)

 Links:

Geoff Sidoli, MSW, LCSW, coordinator of mental health programs, NCA Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes

Problematic sexual behaviors

Patrick Lussier, Ph.D.

James R. Worling, Ph.D., C.Psych.

“20-year prospective follow-up study of specialized treatment for adolescents who offended sexually”

“An Empirically-Based Approach for Prosecuting Juvenile Sex Crimes,” Paul Stern, JD

“Impressions of child advocacy center leaders: How problematic sexual behavior in children and adolescents is perceived by community professionals”

Jane Silovsky, Ph.D., appeared in Season 3, “Sexual Behavior in Youth: What’s Normal? What’s Not? And What Can We Do About It?”

“Quantifying the Decline in Juvenile Sexual Recidivism Rates,” Michael F. Caldwell, PsyD

Brian Allen, PsyD; the phase-based treatment model

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Melissa D. Grady

Ashley Fiore, MSW, LCSW

Kevin M. Powell, Ph.D.; resiliency and protective factors model

Daniel J. Siegel, MD

 Visit us at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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Homeschooling is the fastest-growing form of education in the U.S., a surge in popularity that crosses every demographic, political, and geographic line. Most parents who homeschool do so with their children’s very best interests in mind. But what about that small but very critical percentage of parents who homeschool in order to hide their child from public view and abuse them? How do we create a policy environment that enhances safety for all children? And how can we factor a homeschool population into child abuse prevention and intervention efforts? Join us as we speak with Angela Grimberg from the Coalition for Responsible Home Education.

Topics in this episode:

• Origin story (02:19)
• About homeschooling (04:38)
• Research (08:10)
• Public policy recommendations (11:04)
• Advice for child abuse professionals (14:47)
• Parents’ reactions (20:31)
• Share and subscribe (22:42)

 Links:

Angela Grimberg, executive director, the Coalition for Responsible Home Education

Homeschooling’s Invisible Children database

Homeschooling: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (October 8, 2023) featured the Coalition

11 states with no homeschooling notification requirements: Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Texas

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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In the U.S., there are at least 1.2 million immigrants from Middle Eastern and North African countries, and close to 4 million descendants from prior waves of immigration. Yet there’s very little research on the experiences of those families with the U.S. child welfare system. What do we need to know to deliver relevant and culturally appropriate services? Are we affected by assumptions or stereotypes? Do we understand these families’ unique challenges and strengths? Dr. Marina Bassili joined us to help us explore the topic.

Topics in this episode:

• Origin story (1:53)
• What are MENA families? (4:25)
• Families’ trauma history (9:15)
• Myths, stereotypes, biases (12:31)
• Cultural specifics to pay attention to (18:20)
• Corporal punishment (20:42)
• Advice for child abuse professionals (23:14)
• A cup of tea (31:42)
• Three takeaways (33:38)
• Good intentions don’t stop racism (39:05)
• For more information (40:46)

Links:

Marina Bassili, PsyD, licensed psychologist and adjunct faculty, Pepperdine University

Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody

Gimel Rogers, PsyD, ABPP

“Cultural Considerations for Families Involved in the Child Welfare System: A Focus on Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Families,” Marina Bassili, PsyD; Gimel Rogers, PsyD, ABPP; APSAC Advisor, 2023 Number 2

International Organization for Migration

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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To truly address child physical abuse, we have to understand the scope of the problem and how the use of corporal punishment can escalate to the point in which children are harmed. What Dr. Amy Slep and her team did was to set up their research in such a way that it was truly anonymous, and parents could feel very safe to be completely honest about their use of corporal punishment and even their own self-identified physical abuse of their own children. As you will hear, parents admit—and to a shocking degree—physically disciplining infants, an unsafe practice that warrants help and support immediately. They admit a range of behaviors far beyond the spanking with an open hand that some of us might remember from childhood. And a heartbreaking number admit to physically disciplining—to the point of physical abuse—their own children, whether because of corporal punishment taken too far or out of frustration or anger. 

Topics in this episode:

• Origin story (02:49)
• What are corporal punishment and physical abuse? (05:31)
• How the study encouraged honesty (11:28)
• Studying military families (15:51)
• Family size and physical abuse (21:39)
• Physically disciplining infants (24:18)
• Public policy implications (31:57)
• What’s next in research? (35:34)
• For more information (39:53)

 Links:

Amy M. Smith Slep, Ph.D., professor, Family Translational Research Group, New York University

DSM – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

ICD – International Classification of Diseases

“Glimpsing the Iceberg: Parent-Child Physical Aggression and Abuse,” Amy M. Smith Slep, Kimberly A. Rhoades, Michael F. Lorber, Richard E. Heyman (2022). Child Maltreatment, 0(0). DOI: 10.1177/10775595221112921

Child Maltreatment report series from the Administration for Children and Families has the most recent official statistics

National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence, Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire

Family Advocacy Program

“Know the Signs: Physical Abuse,” Alaska Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children’s Services

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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If you listened to the last episode, you learned a lot about effective, evidence-based treatment—specifically, TF-CBT. But what do you do if, as a clinician and researcher, you see that a population of kids is not, perhaps, receiving the full benefit of that treatment? What Dr. Isha Metzger did in recognizing that TF-CBT could be shaped into an even more effective treatment for Black children and youth is groundbreaking work.

This work in identifying racial stressors and racial traumas as compounding other forms of trauma has led to more tailored treatment. And her work identifying the inherent strength of Black families has been life-affirming and led to better engagement with treatment. Intrigued? Take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

• Origin story (1:29)
• Racial stressors (5:06)
• The potential impact on kids (9:05)
• Racial socialization (12:05)
• A new application of TF-CBT (15:49)
• What clinicians worry about (22:51)
• Building clients’ trust (27:05)
• Examples (34:51)
• Hope for the future (43:25)
• For more information (48:36)

Links:

Isha W. Metzger, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist, founder and director of The EMPOWER Lab, and assistant professor at Georgia State University

Dr. Metzger previously appeared in “The Meaning of Healing for Black Kids and Families,” (Season 2, Episode 16; August 20, 2020)

TF-CBT, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

TF-CBT and Racial Socialization implementation manual

More resources

National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center

Michael A. de Arellano, Ph.D.

Esther Deblinger, Ph.D., Judith A. Cohen, MD, and Anthony P. Mannarino, Ph.D.

“TF-CBT: Helping Kids Get Better,” with Anthony Mannarino (Season 5, Episode 16; October 16; 2023)

SAMHSA

John Lewis

PMR—progressive muscle relaxation

The C.A.R.E. Package for Racial Healing

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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In the mid-90s, little was known about how to effectively treat trauma, especially that trauma that can arise from child sexual abuse. Victims often languished in treatment for years with symptoms that might—or might not—ever improve. Then more research emerged on evidence-based treatments. These effective treatments—with Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) at the fore—were brief, reducing symptoms for many clients swiftly, and therefore swiftly getting kids back to their job of being kids. This has meant reduced suffering and improved healing for kids.

The most exciting part of TF-CBT has been its ongoing evolution as applications have been developed for many different populations. What’s next for TF-CBT? Take a listen to our conversation with Dr. Tony Mannarino, renowned expert in child trauma and one of the co-developers of TF-CBT.

Topics in this episode:

• Origin story (1:41)
• The impact of TF-CBT (4:51)
• Evolving different applications of TF-CBT (9:38)
• The most used applications (12:16)
• Up next: Parental substance abuse (20:06)
• The development process (25:32)
• Kids fill in the blanks (31:43)
• See kids as resilient, not broken (36:47)
• Ukrainian therapists (42:25)
• For more information (45:04)

Links:

Anthony P. Mannarino, Ph.D., professor and chair; director, Center for Traumatic Stress In Children and Adolescents, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Institute, Allegheny Health Network, Drexel University College of Medicine 

TF-CBT.org

Esther Deblinger, Ph.D.

Judith A. Cohen, MD

TF-CBT implementation manuals

Center for Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents

Isha W. Metzger, Ph.D., has previously been a guest on One in Ten (“The Meaning of Healing for Black Kids and Families”) and will join us on our next episode to discuss the new TF-CBT adaptation    

Ashley Dandridge, PsyD.

TF-CBT and Racial Socialization Implementation Manual

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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One of the most compelling problems in child sexual abuse prevention has been how to describe to parents, caregivers, and the general public exactly what signs to look for to identify concerns. Frankly, much of the discussion has been so general because, what might, with hindsight, have been a sign of abuse, might well in another setting be of no concern at all. Describing what grooming behaviors are has up until now been fraught and difficult.

Now enter researcher Elizabeth Jeglic from John Jay College, whose research looks at which behaviors are most clearly linked to child sexual abuse. And even more importantly, it identifies red flag behaviors that any mandatory reporter, parent, or professional can recognize to sound the alarm. This research has the potential to revolutionize both mandatory reporter training and the prevention education we conduct with kids in schools. And wait until you hear the implications for investigators and prosecutors as well. This is a seminal piece of research, and one we are all going to be citing and referring back to for years to come. Please take a listen.

This interview was originally published on March 24, 2023.

Topics in this episode:

• Origin story (1:48)
• What is grooming? (4:12)
• The hindsight bias (7:20)
• High-risk grooming behaviors (8:56)
• The kids abusers target (12:05)
• Favoritism and trust development (17:34)
• Post-abuse maintenance (24:33)
• Implications for prevention (27:35)
• Implications for investigation (32:24)
• For more information (38:21)

Links:

Elizabeth Jeglic, Ph.D., is a researcher and professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is the co-director of the Sex Offender Research Lab at college. The co-author of two books, Sexual Violence: Evidence Based Policy and Prevention and Protecting Your Child from Sexual Abuse, she also blogs for Psychology Today

 Georgia Winters, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the School of Psychology and Counseling at Fairleigh Dickinson University

The research paper we’re discussing today is “Identification of red flag child sexual grooming behaviors,” by Elizabeth L. Jeglic, Georgia M. Winters, and  Benjamin N. Johnson. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105998 This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC_ND license.

Sexual Grooming Model

Level of Concern Guide

Post-abuse maintenance chart

Megan’s Law

Jenna’s Law

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at On

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Research shows that about 75% of physical abuse starts as physical discipline gone terribly awry. We have years of data showing spanking is ineffective—and, in fact, harmful to kids. But often the topic is treated as a third rail by many child abuse professionals: avoided and ignored.

We spoke to Stacie LeBlanc, CEO of The UP Institute and a champion of No Hit Zones. Why is it so difficult for child abuse professionals to discuss spanking with parents? How do we get past the culture wars on this topic? And how can we open a respectful conversation that moves beyond “Well, I turned out fine”? How can No Hit Zones help?

This episode was originally published on May 7, 2020.

• Topics in this episode:
• Concerns for kids during the pandemic (1:17)
• Connection between spanking and physical abuse (2:53)
• The research (4:15)
• Poly-victimization and adverse childhood experiences (6:03)
• A common problem that’s hard to talk about (8:05)
• Handling parents’ objections (13:17)
• A respectful approach (21:00)
• Banning spanking, changing social norms (23:48)
• How to start a no-hit zone (26:23)
• For more information (34:06)

Links:

Stacie Schrieffer LeBlanc, MEd, JD, CEO of The UP Institute

No Hit Zone Toolkit

The No Hit Zone concept was created in 2005 by Dr. Lolita McDavid at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio

Elizabeth Gershoff, Ph.D.

Painless Parenting

National No Hit Zone Committee

Stop Spanking

U.S. Alliance to End the Hitting of Children has a list of organizations with policy statements on this topic

American Academy of Pediatrics put out a policy statement in November 2018

Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children has a map of global progress on the issue

JHACO (“Jayco”) refers to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

 For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.