Experts in the fight against the sexual exploitation of minors said there is a gap in highlighting how young men are targeted and new research said many Minnesota survivors are not getting the help they need to heal from their trauma.
A report from the group Protect All Children from Trafficking showed only 15% of sexually exploited boys received any form of specialized services compared to 65% of girls.
Lori Cohen, CEO of the group, said rates of human trafficking cases are higher for girls but added boys still need an adequate level of follow-up support. She explained it starts with how key figures in the community are trained to spot these cases.
"The tendency still is to look for that and identify it among girls and not among boys," Cohen pointed out.
The report found along with systemic barriers, there are masculine stereotypes fostering shame for a male to disclose they have been sexually exploited. Cohen acknowledged Minnesota is a leader in the child protection space but the authors said uneven implementation of the state's Safe Harbor law criminalizes boys who are victimized rather than supporting them.
In the school setting, Cohen stressed classroom disruptions can be a warning sign but feels boys are often treated differently when behavioral issues arise.
"A boy might be seen as acting up in school," Cohen observed. "Instead of having access to services that a girl who was acting up in school might get -- a social worker, a guidance counselor -- boys tend to be punished."
She added if it leads to an expulsion, the boy might encounter housing instability, putting them at greater risk of being exploited.
Researchers said safe, stable housing is an essential prevention tool but must include wraparound services like mental health care and job training. Even though the report looked at Minnesota data, Cohen feels the results resonate globally.
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People who have gone through the foster care system in Oregon will get a chance to help improve it. The Oregon Department of Human Services has agreed to a settlement in a class action lawsuit filed by foster children. As part of the agreement, foster youth and anyone who has aged out of care since 2019, when the suit was filed, will get a chance to share their feedback about the settlement with U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken on September 12th.
Emily Cooper, legal director for Disability Rights Oregon, one of the organizations that filed the initial lawsuit. She welcomes the opportunity for input.
"They have an opportunity to say, 'I think the state should also, maybe do these other things,' or 'the state should really focus on this.' And the court and we really want to hear from these children and young adults," she said.
A listening session is being held today at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. to provide instructions on how to share feedback. Cooper notes nearly 5,000 people will be eligible to participate. Those wanting to share must sign up online by August 15th or send a letter to Judge Aiken by August 16th.
Cooper said the state needs to make drastic changes to the foster care system. The initial suit was filed because of concerns about kids being abused, neglected and going without essential services. She says the state has agreed to make certain changes over the next ten years.
"Making sure that kids aren't cycling in and out of the system, going home, coming back. That's called reentry. It's making sure they have case plans within the first two months of entering care, making sure they get the services like medical, dental, mental health care when they're in care," Cooper said.
Cooper shared the agreement with one of the women involved in the case and she told Cooper she cried after reading it.
"She said, 'Because if all of these promises that are in this agreement had been kept before I entered care, I wouldn't have the scars I have. So I think this is not just for me but every single kid like me," Cooper added.
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Kids' summer camp means horseback riding, hiking and scavenger hunts. But one Indianapolis chef is using the school break to teach youths cooking and business skills.
The Culinary Art Summer Bootcamp instructs participants - generally ages 16 to 22 - on food handling, healthy meal preparation, and table etiquette.
Twelve students attended the first camp in 2023. This year, the enrollment number is 28.
Healthy Soul Indy founder and chef Tawana Gulley saw a niche she wanted to fill.
"The camp initially started with just me seeing that there were just wayward kids that needed some guidance and something to do," said Gulley. "The only thing that I felt like I could bring to the table and offer them was my skill set in the culinary-arts area."
Gulley credited career development teacher Eric Kilbride with creating the camp's blueprint and securing funding. She said previous students have received certification for culinary careers.
According to workforce site Indiana Career Explorer, the average annual salary for a chef is almost $55,000.
Business and food-industry professionals are invited to the camp to share their expertise about financial literacy, marketing, and having a business plan.
The importance of customer service and responsibility are discussed in roundtable talks. Gulley said she strives to provide a well-rounded camp experience.
"So after we train them, and after they go through their morning with an entrepreneur, they go out and they work with these vendors for two hours out of the day," said Gulley. "So, we have a certified trainer that comes and works out with the kids and talks to them about health and wellness."
Another important part of the camp is to raise participants' awareness about food deserts, particularly in urban areas.
The 2024 Survey Report: Food Assistance and Hunger in Indiana, indicates the U.S. Census found the percentage of Black households in Indiana with food insufficiency was twice as high - at 23%, while the general population is at almost 12%.
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Summer jobs are a boost for companies needing seasonal help. But Black and Latino youths are not seeing the opportunities come their way.
A report by the University of Illinois-Chicago Great Cities Institute has found these teens face fewer job prospects than white applicants.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security indicates 16 to 24-year-olds have had the highest unemployment rate among all age groups - including those at retirement age - since 2017.
Great Cities Institute Research Assistant Samantha Sepulveda Santos said some neighborhoods are struggling more than others.
"We can see," said Sepulveda Santos, "that the highest percentages of joblessness among students in Chicago - which is 93% - were found in areas in the South and Southwest. In Hilton, Bridgeport, McKinley Park, Fuller Park, and Back of the Yards."
Recovery time from pandemic-related shutdowns in the Chicago Public Schools system was slower than other area districts, according to the report.
Sepulveda Santos said she believes this data supports the necessity to implement programming for equal employment opportunities.
The report claims more than 163,000 16 to 24-year-olds in Chicago are unemployed and not enrolled in high school or college.
Sepulveda Santos acknowledged that competition is harder for these youths to enter a trade school to receive technical training for in-demand jobs - which could contribute to higher disparity numbers.
"And another factor we allude to as well is that not all people have the same opportunities," said Sepulveda Santos. "Not all people have the same networking, the same preparation for cover letters, for interviews. Most people have a leg up to be able to ask an aunt, an uncle, a neighbor for a job, as other people do."
The institute is seeking funding for a youth employment training program to teach teens about applying for jobs and being productive workers upon hire.
The study also suggests if Illinois spent $300 million on youth employment, crime rates could be reduced.
Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show in July 2023, the unemployment rate nationwide for Black youth was 18%, nearly 11% for Latinos, and 7% for white youths.
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