CSTOP Now! Training for Preventing Child Sex Trafficking

Overseen By Emily Clear, MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Ann Coker

Disqualifiers: Not in intervention schools

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

5408 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests an online training program designed to help middle school staff in Kentucky recognize and prevent child sex trafficking. The goal is to equip staff with the skills and knowledge to identify and assist children at risk. Participants will receive either the CSTOP Now! training or a similar program developed with Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky. Middle school staff working in public schools in specific Kentucky counties are eligible to participate. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to important research that could enhance the safety and well-being of children in their community.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications to participate in the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this program is safe for middle school staff?

Research shows that the CSTOP Now! program serves as a training tool for middle school staff, helping them recognize, intervene, and stop child sex trafficking. As a training program rather than a medicine or medical procedure, it lacks the safety risks associated with drug treatments.

The program's safety concerns its impact on school staff and students. So far, studies have not identified any negative effects from the training itself, indicating that participants generally receive it well. The program provides valuable information and skills, empowering rather than harming participants.

In summary, CSTOP Now! is a safe educational and preventive program with no known negative effects on participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the CSTOP Now! training because it offers a proactive approach to preventing child sex trafficking by equipping middle school staff with the skills and knowledge to identify and intervene effectively. Unlike traditional awareness campaigns or basic training sessions, CSTOP Now! uses an online, interactive learning platform that actively engages participants, making the learning process more dynamic and impactful. This innovative method aims to empower educators with the tools to challenge misconceptions and take timely action, potentially disrupting the cycle of trafficking before it escalates.

What evidence suggests that this trial's programs could be effective for preventing child sex trafficking?

Research shows that the CSTOP Now! program, one of the training options in this trial, helps middle school staff in Kentucky recognize and respond to child sex trafficking (CST). Early results suggest that training programs like CSTOP Now! effectively boost staff knowledge and skills to identify and prevent CST. This program uses an online, interactive format to teach staff how to recognize signs of trafficking, take action when needed, and dispel harmful myths about CST. While specific data on CSTOP Now!'s success is still being gathered, similar educational programs have shown positive results in increasing awareness and readiness among school staff. The goal is to empower educators to act as informed bystanders, potentially reducing the risk of CST in their communities. Another training option in this trial is the Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky Online Training, which also aims to equip middle school staff with the skills to identify and address CST. ^{1 3 4 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Ann L. Coker, PhD, MPH

Principal Investigator

University of Kentucky

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for staff at Kentucky public middle schools, specifically those in designated intervention or attention control schools/counties. It aims to involve individuals who are part of the school system and can help prevent child commercial sexual exploitation or trafficking.

Inclusion Criteria

Kentucky middle school staff in the intervention or attention control schools/counties

Kentucky middle school staff in a public school

Exclusion Criteria

Kentucky middle school staff not in intervention or attention control schools/counties

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training

Middle school staff receive online training on child sex trafficking prevention and intervention

Ongoing throughout school terms

Online training sessions

Evaluation

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the training program through surveys and assessments

4 years

Surveys at the end of each school term

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to child sex trafficking

Year 2-Year 4

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• CSTOP Now!
• Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky Online Training

Trial Overview The CSTOP Now! program is being tested against Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky Online Training. The study focuses on implementing a multi-level bystander-informed program to see if it effectively prevents child sex trafficking within the context of middle schools.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: CSTOP Now! Child Sex Trafficking Stops with You Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

For this RCT, our research team has created CSTOP Now! online, interactive learning management system training. This CSTOP Now! online training will be offer to middle school staff in Kentucky counties randomized to this experimental intervention arm. This training seeks to provide middle school staff with information and resources to identify, intervene in, and prevent child sex trafficking (CST). This training will provide middle school staff with the knowledge, skills, and efficacy to intervene with children at risk of or experiencing CST. This training will also provide staff with skills to disrupt harmful attitudes or misinformation about CST.

Group II: Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky Online Training Active Control 1 Intervention

With input from Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, our team developed training delivered via LMS and designed to identify child sex trafficking among middle school students. Only for middle school staff in counties randomized to the active comparator, we offer this online training using the same approach as that for staff in the intervention condition.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ann Coker

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3

Recruited

8,200+

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Collaborator

Trials

902

Recruited

25,020,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The CSEC Community Intervention Project (CCIP) successfully trained 211 participants from NGOs, law enforcement, and prosecution teams across five U.S. cities, enhancing their knowledge and skills related to the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

The evaluation indicates that professional training and cross-disciplinary collaboration are crucial for effectively addressing CSEC, highlighting the importance of teamwork among different sectors in combating this issue.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of the CSEC Community Intervention Project (CCIP) in five U.S. Cities. Ferguson, KM., Soydan, H., Lee, SY., et al.[2019]

A systematic review and interviews with 19 participants (13 child welfare workers and 6 survivors) identified key components for a care model for youth involved in sex trafficking, emphasizing the need for wraparound supports and trained caregivers.

Experts highlighted the importance of preventative measures, such as early risk assessments for youth in care, aligning with the literature's call for enhanced support systems and training for caregivers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Building a specialized model of care for youth involved in sex trafficking in child welfare: A systematic review and interviews with experts-by-experience. McDonald, KP., Fisher, R., Connolly, J.[2023]

The STOP IT NOW! campaign in Vermont is pioneering a public health approach to prevent child sexual abuse by emphasizing adult responsibility, which is a novel focus compared to other public health campaigns.

Survey results from sex offender treatment providers and state attorneys indicate that some adults voluntarily seek treatment for abusive behaviors, and some parents proactively seek help for their children with sexual behavior problems, highlighting potential avenues for intervention and prevention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a child sexual abuse prevention program--Vermont, 1995-1997. [2008]

The Stop It Now! helpline effectively provides support and guidance to individuals concerned about child sexual abuse, helping them modify behaviors to reduce the risk of abuse, as evidenced by positive feedback from users in the UK and Netherlands.

Despite its success, there is a challenge in ensuring that the helpline reaches those who need it most, highlighting the need for strategies to improve accessibility and expand the program's impact on preventing child sexual abuse.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Stop It Now! A Pilot Study Into the Limits and Benefits of a Free Helpline Preventing Child Sexual Abuse. Van Horn, J., Eisenberg, M., Nicholls, CM., et al.[2018]

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a CSEC webinar training program for child protective service employees using a randomized control group design, highlighting the need for effective training in addressing commercial sexual exploitation of children.

The findings contribute to the limited research on child welfare training programs and provide a replicable model for other state child welfare agencies looking to implement similar CSEC training for their staff.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An evaluation of a child welfare training program on the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). McMahon-Howard, J., Reimers, B.[2013]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05722769

CSTOP Now! Child Sex Trafficking Stops With You Evaluate the effectiveness of child sex trafficking (CST) prevention training implemented among middle school staff randomized, at the Kentucky county level ...

2. medicine.uky.edu medicine.uky.edu/departments/obgyn/cstop-now

Obstetrics and Gynecology | CSTOP Now! CSTOP NOW! logo Child Sex Trafficking STOPS with you. Learn more about this study! Click Here.

3. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23322705.2025.2525752?af=R

CSTOP Now!: Psychometric Evaluation of Child Sex ... ABSTRACT. Child sex trafficking (CST) is a worldwide public health and social justice issue. Evaluations of prevention program effectiveness ...

4. clinicaltrial.be clinicaltrial.be/en/details/191536?per_page=20&recruiting=1&enrolling_by_invitation=1&active_not_recruiting=1&not_yet_recruiting=0&completed=0&only_recruiting=0&only_eligible=0

CSTOP Now! Child Sex Trafficking Stops with You - Clinica... Evaluate the effectiveness of child sex trafficking (CST) prevention training implemented among middle school staff randomized, at the ...

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05722769?tab=history&a=4

CSTOP Now! Child Sex Trafficking Stops with You Evaluate the effectiveness of child sex trafficking (CST) training implemented among middle school staff randomized, at the Kentucky county level, to change ...

6. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/233468/cstop-now-child-sex-trafficking-stops-with-you/

CSTOP Now! Child Sex Trafficking Stops With You Evaluate the effectiveness of child sex trafficking (CST) training implemented among middle school staff randomized, at the Kentucky county ...