Engaging the brightest minds working to solve one of the world's toughest challenges—child abuse. Join us for conversations with leading experts on science, law, medicine, morality, and messaging. This podcast is brought to you by National Children's Alliance, the largest network of care centers in the U.S. serving child victims of abuse. Visit us online at nationalchildrensalliance.org.
Cases involving problematic sexual behavior are between a quarter and a third of all cases of child sexual abuse that come through Children’s Advocacy Centers. How do we understand this behavior in teens? What are risk factors and key opportunities to interrupt and disrupt this behavior? What do we know about evidence-supported treatment for these teens? And how may existing evidence-based treatments and approaches be shaped and applied? We speak with Dr. Melissa Grady at the School of Social Service at Catholic University and Dr. Jamie Yoder, assistant professor of social work at Colorado State University.
Topics:
01:50 – Origin story
08:37 – Trauma and childhood adversity
17:17 – Attachment
23:47 – Why TF-CBT?
32:09 – Findings
41:32 – What’s next?
48:32 – For more information
Links:
Melissa Grady, Ph.D., professor, National Catholic School of Social Service at Catholic University
Jamie Yoder, Ph.D., assistant professor of social work, Colorado State University.
“Developing a trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy application for adolescents with problematic sexual behaviors: A conceptual framework,” M. D. Grady, J. Yoder, E. Deblinger, A. P. Mannarino, Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 140, 2023, 106139, doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106139
Elizabeth J. Letourneau, Ph.D.
“Sexual Behavior in Youth: What’s Normal? What’s Not? And What Can We Do About It?” with Jane Silovsky, Ph.D. (Season 3, episode 15)
“Understanding Kids With Problematic Sexual Behaviors,” with Geoff Sidoli, MSW, LCSW (Season 5, episode 21)
“TF-CBT: Helping Kids Get Better,” with Anthony Mannarino, Ph.D. (Season 5, episode 16)
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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Child sex trafficking is not a new phenomenon. And thankfully, the general public and child abuse professionals have greater awareness than ever of it. But has the full story yet been told? To what extent has the experience of boys been a part of our understanding of sex trafficking of children and youth? What places boys at special risk for trafficking? What vulnerabilities do they have and how might that affect their recruitment? And how can we tailor programs to meet the unique needs and concerns of boys? Join us as we speak with Amanda Connella, graduate research assistant at the TIP Lab, and Dr. Sandra Stone, assistant dean for graduate studies at the University of South Florida, about how we can ensure that boys are no longer invisible victims.
Topics in this episode:
Links:
Amanda L. Connella, M.A., is a graduate research assistant at the TIP (Trafficking in Persons Risk to Resilience) Lab at the University of South Florida
“The Invisible Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Boys and Their Barriers to Access to Services,” graduate thesis, Amanda L. Connella
Sandra Stone, Ph.D., professor and assistant dean for graduate studies, University of South Florida
“Why Do People Believe Conspiracy Theories About Human Trafficking?”, with Maureen Kenny, Ph.D.
NIJ, National Institute of Justice
“The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in New York City, Volume One: The CSEC Population in New York City: Size, Characteristics, and Needs,” by R. Curtis, K. Terry, M. Dank, K. Dombrowski, and B. Khan (September 2008); Center for Court Innovation and John Jay College of Criminal Justice
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 site at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.
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Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more than three times more likely to experience abuse and neglect than children without these disabilities. We should see a prevention landscape filled with programs tailored to these children. Yet, as Dr. Melissa Bright from the Center for Violence Prevention Research tells us, few such programs exist, and even fewer have been researched for their effectiveness. Why does so little research exist on this uniquely vulnerable population? For child abuse professionals, how might we create or adapt prevention programs for these children? And how do we approach parents and caregivers who may have questions or concerns about prevention programming for their child? Take a listen.
Topics in this episode:
Links:
Melissa Bright, Ph.D., founder and executive director of the Center for Violence Prevention Research
“Parents’ and professionals perspectives on school-based maltreatment prevention education for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Csenge B. Bődi, Diana P. Ortega, LouAnne B. Hawkins, Tyler G. James, Melissa A. Bright, Child Abuse & Neglect, Vol. 145, 2023, 106428, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106428
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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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:
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
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)
Section 230 of the Communications Decency 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:
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:
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:
Links:
Geoff Sidoli, MSW, LCSW, coordinator of mental health programs, NCA Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes
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
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)
Kevin M. Powell, Ph.D.; resiliency and protective factors model
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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:
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:
Links:
Marina Bassili, PsyD, licensed psychologist and adjunct faculty, Pepperdine University
Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody
“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:
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
“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:
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
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)
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:
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
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
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.
Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.
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