Medical First Responders and Child Sexual Exploitation: Needs, Efforts, and Next Steps

Author: O’Brien, Jennifer; Della Penna, Ryan; Gonzalez-Pons, Kwynn & Mitchell, Kimberly

Abstract: Victims of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) often have medical needs requiring emergency care. Medical first responders (MFRs), such as ambulatory care providers and firefighters, have enormous potential to both identify these victims and link them to a host of services. Unfortunately, little is known about the MFR’s awareness of CSEC, or the range of strategies and procedures MFRs use with CSEC victims. The purpose of this study was to assess MFRs current needs and ongoing efforts to combat CSEC. To this end, a total of 210 MFRs completed a survey examining departmental awareness of CSEC, perceived scope, departmental preparedness, and comfort with both identifying and connecting CSEC victims to appropriate services. Approximately a third (37.1%) of respondents indicated their department had no awareness of CSEC. Most participants indicated that while CSEC was a “very large” issue in the United States (80.9%), it was not an issue in their community (51.2%). Participants noted a lack of community resources and feeling largely unprepared for the CSEC cases they had previously encountered. Overwhelmingly, results suggest that MFRs need training and support around CSEC identification and service needs. Next steps, including multidisciplinary teams inclusive of MRFs and screening protocols, are discussed.

Keywords: CSEC, first responders, training, children and youth