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

Trial Summary

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.

How is the CSTOP Now! treatment different from other treatments for preventing child sex trafficking?

CSTOP Now! is unique because it focuses on training and education to prevent child sex trafficking, rather than using traditional therapeutic or medical interventions. It emphasizes a public health approach, similar to programs like Stop It Now!, which use education and social marketing to empower individuals and communities to take responsibility for prevention. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Focus: Intervention \& prevention of child commercial sexual exploitation or trafficking (CST) In Kentucky, familial SU/D increases risk of CST. Primary goal: Implement and evaluate effectiveness of multi-level bystander-informed program (CSTOP Now!) aimed at Kentucky public middle schools for staff.

Research Team

Ann L. Coker, PhD, MPH

Principal Investigator

University of Kentucky

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Stop It Now! A Pilot Study Into the Limits and Benefits of a Free Helpline Preventing Child Sexual Abuse. [2018]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An evaluation of a child welfare training program on the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). [2013]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of the CSEC Community Intervention Project (CCIP) in five U.S. Cities. [2019]

4. England 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. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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