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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for runaways
43 results foundAuthor: Legler, Mark S. Title: Homeless Young Adults and Criminal Victimization: Analysis and Comparison of Police Records in Hennepin County, Minnesota Summary: Building on research that has shown high rates of victimization amongst homeless youth, this paper examines rates for a cohort of homeless youth and a comparison group of low-income youth. The data is analyzed in two parts: an examination of 29 months of arrest and victimization records for homeless young adults provided services at a youth homeless outreach service in Minneapolis, and a comparison of 13 months of those records against the records of a cohort of young adults receiving food assistance. The association between criminal perpetration and victimization are analyzed as well as the effect of demographic variables (age, gender, and race). African Americans compose the majority of both the homeless and control samples (62% and 57% respectively). Thirty-two percent of the homeless sample was arrested during the 29 month period. Twenty-three percent of the homeless sample was arrested during the 13 month period versus 15% of the food assistance recipients. Statistical tests for differences between percentages, a comparison of total number of victimizations, and a regression of demographic variables were conducted to determine overall victimization prevalence and stand-alone effects of variables. Results from the 29 month analysis of homeless youth indicate that a substantial number have been victims of crimes, with 27% of the sample experiencing victimization. Eighteen percent had been the victim of a personal crime. Thirteen percent had been the victim of a property crime. Those with an arrest during the time period were over three times as likely to be the victim of a personal crime (31%) and over three-and-a-half times as likely to be the victim of any crime (45%). No differences between gender, race, or age were significant in the regressions. Using rough estimations based on crime rates in Minneapolis, a homeless young adult is over seven and a half times more likely to be personally victimized than the average Minneapolis young adult. Results from the 13 month comparison do not show a significant difference in the number of homeless young adults victimized (12%) and the number of young adults utilizing food support victimized (9%). The combined cohort had significantly higher female property victimization (6% vs. 1%). Those arrested in the combined sample had higher rates of victimization overall (16% vs. 9%). The homeless sample had more total victimizations than the control sample (62 vs. 44). The homeless sample also suffered twice as many assaults as the control sample (20 vs. 10). Results from this study bring a broader understanding of victimization as affecting many low-income individuals: housed, homeless, perpetrators, and non-perpetrators. The insignificance of race, gender, and age suggest crime for homeless young adults is a symptom of context and environment. Findings suggest that risk factors do not spontaneously appear amongst a diverse group of homeless young adults, but are rather symptoms of environments that homeless and marginalized youth are forced to choose from. This research can lead to more effective policy prescriptions by helping to improve intervention strategies that minimize the chance of future victimizations and reduce the harm associated with such occurrences. Details: Minneapolis: Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 2013. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed May 23, 2015 at: https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/150436/Legler_Homeless%20Young%20Adults%20and%20Criminal%20Victimization.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/150436/Legler_Homeless%20Young%20Adults%20and%20Criminal%20Victimization.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 129677 Keywords: HomelessnessRunawaysVictimizationYoung Adults |
Author: Great Britain. Department for Children, Schools and Families Title: Statutory Guidance on Children Who Run Away and Go Missing from Home or Care: Supporting Local Authorities to Meet the Requirements of National Indicator 71: Missing from Home and Care Summary: This guidance on children who run away or go missing in the United Kingdom is issued under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970. Contents include: responding to the needs of all children and young people who run away and go missing; push/pull factors; regional arrangements and cross-border issues; Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocols; risk assessment; police Safe and Well Check and Return Interviews; care planning; placement matters; looked-after children trafficked from abroad; support for care staff; the law concerning missing or runaway children. Case studies covering examples of good practice are included. The annex includes National Indicator 71 - Missing from Home and Care criteria. Details: London: 2009 Source: Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 115633 Keywords: JuvenilesRunaways |
Author: Smith, Annie Title: Against the Odds: A Profile of Marginalized and Street-Involved Youth in BC Summary: This report presents a health and well-being survey of marginalized and street-involved youth in six communities across British Columbia. It addresses the following issues: family and home; school and work; health; sport and recreation; sexual behavior; substance use; violence and abuse; and social and community supports. Details: Vancouver, BC: The McCreary Centre Society, 2007. 50p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2007 Country: Canada URL: Shelf Number: 118298 Keywords: Homeless ChildrenRunawaysStreet Youth (Canada) |
Author: Benoit-Bryan, Jennifer Title: National Runaway Switchboard Crisis Caller Trends: An Analysis of Trends in Crisis Calls to the National Runaway Switchboard's 1-800-RUNAWAY Crisis Hotline for the Period 2000-2009 Summary: This analysis found that the number of throwaways calling the National Runaway Switchboard crisis line has increased by 21 percent over the past year, 48 percent over the past three years, and 68 percent between 2000-2009. There are a number of indicators from the trend analysis that point to the economic downturn as negatively affecting runaway and homeless youth. Details: Chicago: National Runaway Switchboard, 2010. 20p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119177 Keywords: HomelessnessRunaways |
Author: Smeaton, Emilie Title: Off the Radar: Children and Young People on the Streets in the UK Summary: ‘Off the Radar’ is a comprehensive qualitative research study and looks in detail at the lives, situations and experiences of more than one hundred of the most detached children and young people in the UK. The report is organised under the following headings: family and home; violence; the role of the streets; experiences of agencies; and behaviors, identities and states of being. Details: Sandbach, Cheshire, UK: Railway Children, 2010. 122p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 119284 Keywords: HomelessnessRunawaysStreet Children |
Author: Pergamit, Michael R. Title: On the Lifetime Prevalence of Running Away from Home Summary: Nearly one in five U.S. youths will run away from home before age 18. Almost 30 percent of these youth will do so three or more times, greatly increasing their risk of violence, crime, drugs, prostitution, STDs, and many other problems. Employing new methodology to yield estimates not available elsewhere, this paper follows a nationally representative sample of 12-year olds through their 18th birthday to discover how many youth run away from home, the number of times they ran away, and the age they first run away. Female and black youth are found to run away the most often. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2010. 16p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 118703 Keywords: HomelessnessRunaways |
Author: Stacey, Lisa Title: Whose Child Now? Fifteen Years of Working to Prevent the Sexual Exploitation of Children in the UK Summary: This report describes some of the key issues for children affected by sexual exploitation in the UK. Fifteen years on, this report explores the continuing hidden nature of the problem and describes what Barnardo’s is doing today, while suggesting what action still remains to be taken to further protect exploited children and young people. Details: Ilford, UK: Barnardo's, 2009. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 23, 2010 at: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/whose_child_now.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/whose_child_now.pdf Shelf Number: 119848 Keywords: 129907Human TraffickingProstitutionRunawaysSexual AbuseSexual Exploitation |
Author: University of Stirling and Ipsos MORI Scotland, University of Stirling: Cheryl Burgess, Margaret Malloch, Fiona Mitchell, Ipsos MORI Scotland: Vanessa Chan, Jane Eunson Title: Grampian Police Return Home Welfare Interview Pilot for Young Runaways: Pilot Evaluation Summary: The overall aim of this evaluation was to explore the most effective means of delivering Return Home Welfare Interviews ( RHWIs) to ensure the best outcomes for the child/young person. It set out to examine the operation of the pilot as implemented in Aberdeen City and Elgin, to reflect the range of models of delivery used and the overall impact of the pilot. One area in Aberdeenshire (Fraserburgh) formed the control area to illustrate original practice in Grampian and current practice outwith the pilot areas. At the point where a missing young person is traced in both pilot areas, a 'safe and well' check will be undertaken by an operational police officer. This is a visual check to ensure the young person is safe and well. At this stage, the young person will be informed that a RHWI will be arranged. The RHWI team will make contact with the young person within five working days and the RHWI will take place as soon as possible after that. The RHWI is an interview conducted by a specially trained individual (members of a dedicated team comprising two civilian employees and a seconded police officer in Aberdeen, and Community Beat Officers ( CBOs) in Elgin). The purpose of the RHWI is to gather relevant information on the young person and missing incident and to speak with the young person in order to identify any factors that prompted them to run or incidents which happened while they were away. This information is then used to ensure that the young person is referred to the appropriate service/s. The principal conclusion of the evaluation is that RHWIs are an appropriate intervention; helping identify young people who require further support and referring them to an appropriate agency. Even without an onward referral, they can improve outcomes by helping young people appreciate the value of talking about their problems rather than running away. RHWIs are of most benefit to young people not already involved with services (just under a third of those who received a RHWI were not already involved with social work services). When young people were already accessing other services, other professionals were less convinced of the benefits of the RHWI. However, as the evaluation highlights, even where other services were in place, the RHWIs could provide benefits by obtaining information from young people which was not already known to services; and by providing the young person with an additional opportunity to engage and to access support by doing so. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2010. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2010 at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/317710/0101168.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/317710/0101168.pdf Shelf Number: 119903 Keywords: Missing ChildrenRunaways |
Author: Dillane, Jennifer Title: A Study of Sexual Exploitation of Looked After and Accommodated Young People: Final Report Summary: This report provides an account of a study of sexual exploitation of looked after and accommodated young people in and around the Glasgow area. The fieldwork for the study was carried out from December 2004 to mid-February 2005. The study consists of a sample of 28 young people, fourteen males and fourteen females. It involved gathering retrospective data from the young people by way of a semi-structured interview questionnaire and a psychometric measure. Details: Ilford, UK: Barnardo's, 2005. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 2, 2011 at: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/se1-3.pdf Year: 2005 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/se1-3.pdf Shelf Number: 122254 Keywords: Juvenile ProstitutionRunawaysSexual Exploitation (U.K.) |
Author: Barnardo's Title: An Assessment of the Potential Savings from Barnardo's Interventions for Young People Who Have Been Sexually Exploited Summary: This report presents the findings from research undertaken by Pro Bono Economics on behalf of Barnardo’s into the potential savings from Barnardo’s interventions for young people who have been sexually exploited. The research sought to determine the effectiveness of Barnardo’s interventions in reducing the risk of sexual exploitation and associated risk factors, and estimated the fiscal rate of return of such interventions – that is, the saving to the taxpayer for every pound spent by Barnardo’s on the intervention. Statistical methods were employed to measure the effect of Barnardo’s interventions on the severity of sexual exploitation and its associated risk factors. The cost of sexual exploitation was estimated for varying degrees of severity using a range of secondary sources. These estimates were then combined to calculate the gross financial benefit of the intervention, and compared to the cost of the intervention to give an overall fiscal rate of return. Two models are presented – one which assumes that the level of risk remains unchanged in the absence of the intervention, and one which provides an estimate of how the level of risk changes in the absence of an intervention. Both highlight that the benefits to the taxpayer of Barnardo's interventions for young people who have been sexually exploited substantially outweigh the costs, with a potential saving of either £6 or £12 for every £1 spent depending on the assumptions made, in addition to a substantial (non-costed) reduction in the risk of sexual exploitation. Details: London: Barnardo's, 2011. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 27, 2011 at: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/an_assessment_of_the_potential_savings_from_barnardo_s_interventions_for_young_people_who_have_been_sexually_exploited_-_full_research_report__final_.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/an_assessment_of_the_potential_savings_from_barnardo_s_interventions_for_young_people_who_have_been_sexually_exploited_-_full_research_report__final_.pdf Shelf Number: 122912 Keywords: Cost-Benefit AnalysisJuvenile ProstitutionRunawaysSexual Exploitation (U.K.) |
Author: Goodlin, Wendi E. Title: Not Your Typical "Pretty Woman": Factors Associated with Prostitution Summary: Criminologists have long been interested in sex work, particularly prostitution. However, the research in this area has been very uneven and has produced conflicting results. The goal of the current research is to move forward in filling the gaps in our knowledge of the lives of women involved in prostitution and to better understand the factors associated with their initial involvement. Three sociological theories guide the analysis: general strain theory, control theory, and social learning theory. The major hypotheses predict that experiencing sexual abuse and exposure to delinquent peers increase the odds of prostitution whereas high levels of parental attachment and supervision decrease the odds of prostitution. These relationships are examined further using mediating and moderating variables, including running away from home, psychological distress, and drug use. The data upon which this research is based come from The Ohio Lifecourse Study (OLS), a multi-wave dataset of household and institutionalized respondents. Variables central to the analysis come from items that ask how often the respondent has been paid to have sex and a variety of other items that measure contentious family environment, sexual abuse experienced as a child, parental supervision and attachment levels, the influence of peers, their self-esteem and depression levels, and the use and abuse of drugs. Importantly, although the OLS is a highly delinquent sample, it is not a prostitute-biased sample. In addition, the OLS contains a variety of respondents, including those not involved in prostitution, prostitutes who were abused as adolescents, those who were also abused as adolescents but did are not prostitutes, and those of different races. Thus, although the sample is highly delinquent, there is much variation among respondents on key variables including abuse, supervision, running away, and drug use/abuse to name a few. Furthermore, because the OLS contains both quantitative data and qualitative life history narratives, the latter serve as an important supplement to the former and provide rich and nuanced detail not obtainable from the quantitative analyses. Binary logistic regression analyses show support for the hypothesis that higher levels of sexual abuse increase the odds of prostitution (strain theory), but this relationship is not mediated by running away as argued in previous research. On the other hand, there is little support for the hypothesis that higher levels of parental attachment decrease the odds of prostitution (social control theory); however, this could be a result of the sample being highly delinquent or the lack of variation among respondents on the parental attachment variables. In contrast, there is evidence that higher levels of supervision decrease the odds of prostitution (social control theory). In addition, there is support for the hypothesis that those with delinquent friends have higher odds of prostitution than those without delinquent friends (social learning theory). Moreover, there is support for racial and job status differences. For example, blacks have consistently and significantly higher odds of prostitution than whites and those who are unemployed or employed part-time have consistently and significantly higher odds of prostitution than those with full time jobs. Finally, with the exception of parental caring and trust, most of the moderating variables are not found to be significant. Details: Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University, 2008. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 29, 2011 at: http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi/Goodlin%20Wendi%20Elizabeth.pdf?bgsu1225748517 Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi/Goodlin%20Wendi%20Elizabeth.pdf?bgsu1225748517 Shelf Number: 122942 Keywords: Drug Addiction and AbuseProstitutesProstitutionRunawaysSex WorkersSexual Abuse |
Author: Beckett, Helen Title: 'Not a World Away': The Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People in Northern Ireland Summary: Although the sexual exploitation of children and young people has previously been identified as an issue of concern within Northern Ireland (NI), little has been known about the scale and nature of the issue, or indeed ‘what works’ in preventing and responding to it. This has inevitably limited the degree to which we can effectively protect children and young people from this form of sexual abuse. Chapters one and two of the report set the context of the research. This chapter presents the aims and objectives of the work, a brief review of the existing body of sexual exploitation literature within the United Kingdom (UK) and an overview of the legislative and policy context within which the research occurred. Chapter two outlines the methodology employed within the research and the sample of participants and cases included within it. Chapters three to five present the quantitative findings of the research and a brief discussion as to the significance of these in relation to the extent of sexual exploitation among different populations of young people within NI. Chapter three presents information on reported cases of concern within a sample of 1,102 young people known to social services. Chapter four presents assessed levels of risk within the same group, calculated on the basis of a sexual exploitation risk assessment model from Wales. Chapter five considers risk within the wider youth population, presenting findings on self-reported experiences of sexual exploitation by the 786 16-year-olds who completed the 2010 ARK Young Life and Times (YLT) Survey. Chapters six to eight present findings from the qualitative aspects of the research, namely interviews with professionals and young people, and case file reviews. Commentary on the significance of these findings is woven throughout the chapters where relevant. Chapter six considers the different types of sexual exploitation known to be occurring within NI. Chapter seven presents information on the types of people perpetrating this abuse and the types of young people affected by it. Chapter eight explores the adequacy of current responses to the issue, highlighting both examples of promising practice and areas in which further progress is required. Chapter nine concludes the report with a brief synopsis of the key findings of the work and a series of recommendations on the way statutory bodies within NI can better respond to this issue in the future. Details: Belfast: Barnardo's, 2011. 106p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 19, 2012 at: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/13932_not_a_world_away_full_report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/13932_not_a_world_away_full_report.pdf Shelf Number: 123675 Keywords: Child ProstitutionChild Sexual Abuse (Northern Ireland)Runaways |
Author: Great Britain. Home Office Title: Missing Children and Adults: A Cross Government Strategy Summary: There are an estimated 360,000 reports of people going missing in the UK each year amounting to approximately 200,000 missing people. Children and young people make up approximately two thirds of the missing reports and although the vast majority of people who go missing return, or are found quickly, many vulnerable children and adults suffer harm and exploitation whilst missing and some never return. Identifying and ensuring the safest return possible for these vulnerable children and adults is a key part of the police service’s child protection and wider safeguarding role. However, tackling this issue requires a multi-agency response and co-ordination across a range of policy areas and operational partners including the police, local authorities and the health sector. This strategy document sets out a small number of strategic objectives which we believe provide the right foundations for any effective local strategy and which provide a framework for local areas to put in place their own arrangements which seek to ensure we do all we can to prevent people going missing in the first place but that we also ensure we reduce the harm to vulnerable children and adults when they do go missing, focusing on those most at risk, and ensuring that families are supported. Details: London: Home Office, 2011, 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 27, 2012 at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/police/missing-persons-strategy?view=Binary Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/police/missing-persons-strategy?view=Binary Shelf Number: 124282 Keywords: Child ProtectionMissing ChildrenMissing Persons (U.K.)Runaways |
Author: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty Title: Alone Without a Home: A State-by-State Review of Laws Affecting Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Summary: Each year, an estimated 1.6 million children and youth (ages 12-17) experience homelessness without a parent or guardian. These youth leave home for a variety of reasons, including severe family conflict, parental abuse or neglect, parental mental health issues, or substance abuse. Whether runaway or throwaway, once on the street, unaccompanied homeless youth face numerous legal barriers that often complicate their attempts to meet the basic necessities of life on their own and prevent them from reaching out for assistance to state agencies and service providers that could otherwise help them. Further complicating matters is that many of these laws vary considerably from state to state, creating misinterpretations by service providers and mistaken avoidance of services on the part of homeless youth who may fear being taken into state custody or assume they will be turned away. This report reviews the state of current law in 12 key issue areas that affect the lives and future prospects of unaccompanied homeless youth in all 50 U.S. states and 6 territories. The report offers an overview of the range of approaches taken by states and their relative prevalence, and reveals significant differences in many cases. The report also provides recommendations for policy change in each of the areas, with a view towards strengthening the supports available to unaccompanied youth. While many issues surrounding unaccompanied youth remain controversial, the aim of this report is to recommend steps that can protect their safety, development, health and dignity, and thus increase their prospects for positive future outcomes. Details: Washington, DC: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2012. 251p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 24, 2012 at: http://www.nlchp.org/content/pubs/Alone%20Without%20a%20Home,%20FINAL1.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.nlchp.org/content/pubs/Alone%20Without%20a%20Home,%20FINAL1.pdf Shelf Number: 126783 Keywords: Homeless Persons (U.S.)HomelessnessPovertyRunaways |
Author: Sharp, Nicola Title: Still Hidden? Going Missing as an Indicator of Child Sexual Exploitation Summary: In 2011-12, 128 of the children and young people who contacted Missing People were identified as either experiencing or being at risk of child sexual exploitation. Analysis of the cases for which details of age and gender were known revealed that all the victims were female and the majority were aged between 13 and 17.3 This reflects what is understood nationally about the profile of sexually exploited children and young people (CEOP, 2011; Jago et al. 2011; Berelowitz et al. 2012). The experiences of exploited young people further reflect recognised methods of coercion, including being coerced by people and/or by circumstances to exchange sexual acts for accommodation, grooming and use of the internet. Exploitation was initiated by strangers, older ‘boyfriends’, relatives and networks of perpetrators. The number of children and young people affected by child sexual exploitation and receiving support from the charity is almost certainly an underestimate. As Jago et al. (2011) note, sexually exploited young people are often described as ‘hidden’. Their experiences can go unrecognised or be misunderstood, particularly in the case of older teenagers. This is because the coercive nature of exploitative relationships may hide or confuse what is really going on for practitioners and young people alike. In addition, the exploitative process may lead young people to display behaviour that masks their vulnerability. As a consequence, a key principle in responding to the exploitation of children and young people is to take a proactive approach (Pearce, 2009; Jago et al. 2011). This includes increasing recognition of the indicators of child sexual exploitation and being able to respond appropriately. The Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England notes this in its interim report on chid sexual exploitation in gangs and groups and urges that immediate action is taken in relation to circulating details of the warning signs to all professionals who come into contact with children and young people (Berelowitz et al. 2012). Of the 11 warning signs identified by the inquiry report, ‘missing from home or care’ is noted as representing ‘particular concern’. Details: London: Missing People, 2012. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 7, 2013 at: https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/missing-people/latest-news/missing-people-launches-report-to-safeguard-vulnerable-children Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/missing-people/latest-news/missing-people-launches-report-to-safeguard-vulnerable-children Shelf Number: 127853 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationMissing Children (U.K.)Runaways |
Author: Great Britain. Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) Title: Missing Children Summary: Children represented approximately two thirds of the estimated 360,000 missing person incidents in 2009–10. Children in care are three times more likely to go missing from their home than children who are not in care. However, due to the unreliability of available data, it is likely that the true scale of the problem is not fully understood. A number of recent high-profile court cases concerning child sexual exploitation and high-profile inquiries have highlighted the vulnerability of children who go missing, and the associated risks of sexual exploitation. The government published proposals to tackle child sexual exploitation in November 2011 and announced urgent action to look at the quality of residential care for looked after children in July 2012. This report explores the effectiveness of arrangements to safeguard children and young people, including those who are looked after by the local authority, who are at risk of going missing or running away from home. Inspectors visited a sample of 10 local authority areas. The report draws on evidence from 105 cases and from the views of children and young people, carers, and professionals from the local authority and from partner agencies. The complex and varied reasons identified on a national basis why children go missing were reflected in the nature of the cases seen by inspectors. Children’s histories included inadequate parenting, past or current abuse, bullying and domestic violence. Some children who were looked after had experienced several placement moves. Children who went missing were subjected to considerable associated risk, most often from sexual exploitation, drug and alcohol abuse, and becoming the victim or perpetrator of crime. Inspectors saw evidence of some tenacious partnership working across relevant agencies to safeguard children at risk of going missing. Information was generally shared effectively when children were reported missing and there were some persistent efforts by professionals to engage children. However, some inconsistency and gaps in practice meant that professionals were not always fully attuned to the needs of children who went missing. For example, it was not often clear whether checks, usually undertaken by police officers, to ensure that children were safe and well after returning home had been undertaken. When they had been, the outcomes of the checks were often not routinely shared with carers and professionals. Similarly, more in-depth return interviews with children by an independent person to explore the reasons why they had run away and to identify any support needs were rarely evident. Updated risk management plans that identified specific actions to be taken to prevent children from running away and to keep them safe were rarely evident in the cases seen by inspectors. The lack of routine attention to learning from the experiences of children also contributed to a generally weak understanding at a senior level of the reasons why children go missing. Strategic planning of services to reduce the number of children who go missing was underdeveloped in most local authorities and was hindered further by some poor record management and unreliable data systems. There was, however, an increasing awareness of several related issues, particularly sexual exploitation, which was supported by relevant training. Nearly all of the cases tracked by inspectors displayed a sensitive and child-centred approach to protecting children who went missing. However, some evidence heard by inspectors about some professionals’ attitudes suggests there is no room for complacency. Details: Manchester, UK; Ofsted, 2013. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2013 at: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/missing-children Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/missing-children Shelf Number: 128261 Keywords: At-risk YouthChild ProtectionChild Sexual ExploitationMissing Children (U.K.)Runaways |
Author: Starks, Louise Title: Reach: A New Model of Intervention for Children Before, During and After They Run Away Summary: For the past 15 years, Railway Children have worked to support children around the world who live on the streets, or are at risk through running away from home or care. In the UK, they support local projects in England and Scotland and work to raise awareness and improve support among services in the community. They also play an important role in shaping policy and practice in the support of young runaways. The Reach model has been developed by Railway Children to provide services for young people before, during and after episodes of running away. The concept of the Reach model was developed from previous research funded by Railway Children that evidenced a lack of support for young people who run away from home or care. The Reach model includes awareness raising and preventative support, as well as more tailored, one-to-one support with young people and their families or carers. The Reach model has seven distinct elements that encompass both prevention and support: ô€€€ Preventative education: working in partnership with schools, youth clubs, social care residential homes and community centres to raise awareness of the risks of running away among young people. ô€€€ Detached street work: taking the service to the streets with dedicated detached street workers, delivering sessions to introduce their service to potentially vulnerable young people. ô€€€ Local helpline: providing information and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week through telephone, web access and text services. ô€€€ Refuge7/safe place: emergency, safe accommodation for young people unable to be accommodated elsewhere for a maximum of 14 consecutive nights. ô€€€ Missing person return interviews (MisPer): conducted by an independent agency with the young person who has run away to help identify the reasons why they ran away and prevent it happening again. ô€€€ One-to-one casework: support for the young person from a dedicated key worker who helps them identify the reasons why they run away and reduce the likelihood of repeat running. ô€€€ Family support: for the parents/carers of the young person who is running away to help address the issues and concerns within families that may be causing the young person to run away. Details: Sandbach, UK: Railway Children, 2012. 106p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2013 at: https://www.railwaychildren.org.uk/media/90291/reach_-_full_report.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.railwaychildren.org.uk/media/90291/reach_-_full_report.pdf Shelf Number: 128263 Keywords: RunawaysStreet Children |
Author: Feeny, Thomas Title: In Best or Vested Interests? An Exploration of the Concept and Practice of Family Reunification for Street Children Summary: As the movement advocating children’s participation in their own life decisions gathered pace in the late 1990s and early 21st century, governments were left with increasingly few options given their continued antipathy to the presence of these children on the streets. NGOs had begun to take the initiative by offering non-formal education opportunities and vocational training to try and give children the skills to get themselves off the streets, but these efforts continued to struggle in the wider context of a society still very much averse to the mere existence of these children. The response taken by many was therefore to move towards preventive or ‘early’ intervention, spurred on by better understandings of the multiple factors both pushing and pulling children onto the streets. It was into this arena that family reunification programmes emerged – the main characteristics being (a) recognition of the family as the most sustainable partner with regard to the children’s welfare; (b) an acknowledgement that the original causes of family separation need addressing and resolving; and (b) a belief that this can be achieved through procedural and participatory counseling of the child and/or the family members concerned. To suggest that these ideas were completely new would be wrong – as noted earlier, the importance of the family environment had already been emphasised in both religious ideals and the legal provisions of the CRC. Rather, it was that the context proved more fertile to such programmes, with the touted high-profile success of reunification strategies targeting children affected by war, such as Rwanda in the late 1990s. Family-partnered interventions were also in tune with contemporary donor demands for sustainability and participation, while also allowing NGOs to claim such programmes as morally and ethically ‘correct’ and in the ‘best interests’ of the child. Unfortunately, the most important question of methodology – how this reunification process should best be performed – remains unclear. Whatever the motivation behind them, family reunification programmes are now rapidly taking off in many countries around the world, in spite of the inherent methodological uncertainty. Already, organisations have begun to proudly proclaim 80-90% success rates for their reunification programmes, and more and more of their fellow agencies are showing signs of interest. This study sets out to go ‘behind the scenes’ of family reunification programmes from a number of perspectives. In Part One, it will look at the conceptual theory that underpins this intervention, and examine how constructions of the ‘family’ and the ‘child’ have influenced policy making in this field. It will then reconsider these in light of contemporary research material on the social realities of street children’s lives. Part Two will then explore the practical issues relating to the entire process of reunification itself, from the early stages of identifying children on the streets to monitoring their welfare in the weeks and months after reunification with their family. A final Conclusion will then discuss the findings of the study and its implications for organisations operating or considering starting family reunification programmes with street children. Areas for future research are also highlighted. Details: London: Consortium for Street Children, 2005. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 3, 2013 at: http://www.streetchildren.org.uk/_uploads/Publications/In_Best_or_Vested_Interests.pdf Year: 2005 Country: International URL: http://www.streetchildren.org.uk/_uploads/Publications/In_Best_or_Vested_Interests.pdf Shelf Number: 128612 Keywords: Child ProtectionFamily Reunification ProgramsHomeless PersonsHomeless YouthRunawaysStreet Children |
Author: Coren, Esther Title: Interventions for Promoting Reintegration and Reducing Harmful Behaviour and Lifestyles in Street-connected Children and Young People: A Systematic Review Summary: BACKGROUND Numbers of street-connected children and young people run into many millions worldwide and include children and young people who live or work in street environments. Whether or not they remain connected to their families of origin, and despite many strengths and resiliencies, they are vulnerable to a range of risks and are excluded from mainstream social structures and opportunities. OBJECTIVES To summarise the effectiveness of interventions for street-connected children and young people that promote inclusion and reintegration and reduce harms. To explore the processes of successful intervention and models of change in this area, and to understand how intervention effectiveness may vary in different contexts. RESULTS We included 11 studies evaluating 12 interventions from high income countries. We did not find any sufficiently robust evaluations conducted in low and middle income countries (LMICs) despite the existence of many relevant programmes. Study quality overall was low to moderate and there was great variation in the measurement used by studies, making comparison difficult. Participants were drop-in and shelter based. We found no consistent results on a range of relevant outcomes within domains of psychosocial health, substance misuse and sexual risky behaviours despite the many measurements collected in the studies. The interventions being evaluated consisted of time limited therapeutically based programmes which did not prove more effective than standard shelter or drop-in services for most outcomes and in most studies. There were favourable changes from baseline in outcomes for most participants in therapy interventions and also in standard services. There was considerable heterogeneity between studies and equity data were inconsistently reported. No study measured the primary outcome of reintegration or reported on adverse effects. The review discussion section included consideration of the relevance of the findings for LMIC settings. Details: Oslo: Campbell Collaboration, 2013. Source: Internet Resource: Campbell Systematic Review 2013:6: Accessed May 13, 2013 at: www.campbellcollaboration.org Year: 2013 Country: International URL: Interventions for Promoting Reintegration and Reducing Harmful Behaviour and Lifestyles in Street-connected Children and Young People: A Systematic Review Shelf Number: 128720 Keywords: At-risk YouthRunawaysStreet Chidlren (International)Street YouthVulnerable Youth |
Author: Quinton, Paul Title: Risk, Bureaucracy and Missing Persons: An evaluation of a new approach to the initial police response Summary: Three forces piloted a new approach to missing persons for a three month period. While officers were previously required to attend all incidents as the default initial response, the pilot introduced a new risk assessment process and ‘absence’ category. During the pilot, this category of incidents (involving a person who was not where they were expected to be but not thought to be at risk of harm) were to be monitored by police call handlers without officers being deployed immediately. The evaluation found promising qualitative evidence of the pilot having achieved its primary aim – to make the initial police response to missing persons reports more proportionate to risk. It was thought – as a side benefit – that a more proportionate approach might also help free up police capacity. The evaluation found consistent evidence of the pilot having achieved this secondary aim. Did the pilot result in a more proportionate and risk-based response? • The qualitative research found a widespread perception among officers that the pilot had helped to better identify those at risk, and ensured that higher risk incidents received the attention they required. • This result was not reflected in some of the survey findings. Based on officer descriptions, a high proportion of incidents in the pilot sites were assessed to be low risk. Did a more proportionate response help free up police capacity? • Despite an increase in the number of recorded incidents in the pilot sites, around a third were classified as absences and, thus, did not require officers to attend. • By being more proportionate, the pilot forces were able to target resources better and free up capacity. A saving of 200 shifts over the three month period was estimated as a result of officers not attending absences. The amount of time spent on the initial response to missing persons was also reduced in the pilot sites (-23%) relative to the comparison sites (-3%). In theory, these resources could be redirected towards higher risk incidents. Did the pilot improve officer attitudes and job satisfaction? • Most response officers and supervisors who were interviewed welcomed the pilot, and said their attitudes about attending missing persons incidents had improved. • A survey of officers, however, did not reveal a consistent pattern of attitude change. How did partners view the pilot? • There was widespread view among partners that the police should move away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach to missing persons. • About two-thirds of respondents were positive or neutral about the pilot. A third were more critical, mainly raising concerns about the application of the new category. • The quality of the engagement partners reportedly received from the police before implementation seemed to affect their level of support for the pilot. • The reduction in missing person coordinators in the pilot forces – an organisational change that was unconnected to the pilot – was potentially regarded as a greater problem. How was the pilot perceived to have affected police safeguarding work? • There was no evidence to suggest the pilot had undermined forces’ ability to carry out proactive safeguarding work (though it was a perceived concern for some partners). • The reduction in missing person coordinators in the pilot forces reportedly would have placed pressure on monitoring and partnership work after the pilot (though it continued). Details: Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, UK: College of Policing, 2013. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2013 at: http://www.college.police.uk/en/docs/130320_Missing_persons_PUBLICATION_PQ.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.college.police.uk/en/docs/130320_Missing_persons_PUBLICATION_PQ.pdf Shelf Number: 128750 Keywords: Missing ChildrenMissing Persons (U.K.)Police InvestigationsRunaways |
Author: Corcoran, Su Title: Evaluating Outcomes: Retrak’s use of Child Status Index to measure wellbeing of street-connected children Summary: Retrak’s vision is a world where no child is forced to live on the street. The child is always at the centre of our work and therefore measurements of organisational impact must place the progress of the child at the centre of assessment. In establishing a system of measurement to effectively and consistently monitor the changes in the lives of children as a result of Retrak’s work, the Child Status Index (CSI) has been adapted to apply to the context of children connected to the street. This paper is the initial review of the findings of the CSI in the pilot period, 2011 and 2012, as a measurement of child wellbeing and a tool for tracking children’s progress along their Retrak journey to establish the impact of Retrak’s programmes in both Ethiopia and Uganda. The CSI, developed by Measure Evaluation1, allows Retrak to trace the progress of the child along the Retrak journey, as they transition from the street to family homes, and comprises of a system of indicators to assess the multidimensional wellbeing of the individual child. The CSI assessments were conducted with cohorts of children on streets who access Retrak’s drop-in centres (baseline); at the point of reintegration with their families (placement); and again at intervals of approximately six months during follow-up with the child and their family (follow-up within six months of placement, between six months and one year of placement, and more than one year since placement). Each indicator of wellbeing on the CSI is given a score between one and four. Children scoring one or two, a deprivation score, for any indicator are considered to be at risk in that domain of wellbeing. Retrak’s aim is to ensure that children’s wellbeing improves after their placement at home, and continues to progress, and that they become deprivation free. Summary of findings This pilot study has demonstrated that Retrak’s reintegration programmes contribute to improvements in children’s wellbeing. Through analysing children’s wellbeing on their journey with Retrak in both Ethiopia and Uganda it is possible to show that: • The wellbeing of the children improved across all areas of wellbeing during their time in Retrak’s reintegration programmes. Family reintegration programmes with street children are successful. We have shown that such programmes are able to overcome children’s prevalent deprivations in shelter, care, abuse and exploitation and legal protection experienced when they are living alone on the street at an increased level of vulnerability. • Performance and access to education were areas of wellbeing which were slow to improve at the placement and follow up level. This could be partially a result of the national education systems and its ability to support the successful reintegration of vulnerable children into the classroom. • In Ethiopia, wellbeing in the areas of emotional health and social behaviour were also slow to improve at placement and follow-up. Much of this is to do with the survival traits developed by the children to help to combat stigmatisation while on the streets. • In Uganda it was shown that wellbeing in the areas of food security, shelter and legal protection were of concern at all stages of a child’s journey with Retrak. Analysing the data collected for each child reflecting their life on the street, highlights the following trends: • Street-connected children and youth in Ethiopia, over 14 years old, have more deprivations than those under 14; and all new arrivals to the street in Ethiopia have fewer deprivations than those who have spent a number of months there. The longer a child spends in the street the more deprivations they experience. • In Uganda children aged 14 or 15 years have fewer deprivations than those aged 13 years and younger. Unlike the Ethiopia data, those aged 14 years and younger when they migrated to the street have fewer deprivations than those children aged over 14 years. • There is a relationship between the level of schooling achieved by the children in Ethiopia and the number of deprivations they experience: the longer the child spends in school before migrating to the street the lower the number of deprivations on average. • There appears to be little distinction between region of origin and level of deprivation for both countries. In Uganda the data showed that children on the streets of Kampala and originating from Kampala and the surrounding district are just as disadvantaged as their peers from further afield, showing that their proximity to their family is of little benefit. Recommendations This pilot study has demonstrated that reintegration programmes contribute to improvements in children’s wellbeing and that the Child Status Index is an extremely useful tool to monitor reintegration programmes through tracking children’s wellbeing. In addition, this study has shown that the risks children face on the streets vary according to age, education and other variables. Details: Retrak, UK: Retrak; 2013. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 18, 2013 at: http://www.retrak.org/uploaded/Retrak%20Research%20Evaluating%20Outcomes%20May%2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Africa URL: http://www.retrak.org/uploaded/Retrak%20Research%20Evaluating%20Outcomes%20May%2013.pdf Shelf Number: 129016 Keywords: Child ProtectionChild WelfareFamily ReintegrationRunawaysStreet Children (Uganda, Ethiopia) |
Author: Healy, Claire Title: Report for the Study on Typology and Policy Responses to Child Begging in the EU Summary: Child begging is a common sight in cities such as Budapest, Sofia, Paris or Warsaw. It is not so common, and in fact has all but disappeared, in Stockholm, Copenhagen or Vienna. One of the purposes of this report is to examine the reasons behind these differences, in relation to legislation, policy and responses, as well as the characteristics and causes of child begging across Europe. Begging children occupy a place at the lowest echelons of society, come from poor backgrounds, are often badly dressed and badly cared for, and mostly treated as a nuisance by the authorities, rather than as a child protection concern. Their visibility on the streets of European cities casts doubt upon the viability of child protection frameworks and reminds passers-by of the intolerable levels of poverty, inequality, exclusion and child abuse that exist in Europe today. During the last few years, there has been increasing attention in many EU Member States and other European countries on the phenomenon of child begging. Whilst a consensus exists among Member States that child begging needs to be addressed, there has been little evidence thus far on what is the best policy approach. In order to provide a comprehensive understanding and rigorous empirical research on child begging, it is necessary both to conduct research at a national level, and to bring the research down to a local level, to examine the reality of the phenomenon as it affects the children themselves and as it plays out in European localities. Therefore research was conducted first at a national level in 15 European countries – 13 EU Member States and 2 non-EU countries, as well as, in a second phase, in a total of thirty European cities, on the phenomenon of child begging. The Country Sections included in this Report present a complex phenomenon that is by no means homogenous in nature, and involves children of various backgrounds and in different situations. Nevertheless, there are some key features common to a number of cities, setting out the main scenarios that child begging represents. Details: Brussels: European Commission, 2012. 337p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 6, 2013 at: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/e-library/documents/policies/organized-crime-and-human-trafficking/cybercrime/docs/child_begging_final_11jan2013_en.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Europe URL: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/e-library/documents/policies/organized-crime-and-human-trafficking/cybercrime/docs/child_begging_final_11jan2013_en.pdf Shelf Number: 129259 Keywords: Child Begging (Europe)Child ExploitationChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionRunawaysStreet Children |
Author: Schweitzer, Don Title: Asking for Directions: Partnering with Youth to Build the Evidence Base for Runaway and Homeless Youth Services Summary: Each year it is estimated that almost 2 million American youth run away from home, are thrown out of their homes, or otherwise end up homeless. As concerning as those numbers are, the risks runaway and homeless youth are exposed to when they find themselves on the street are even more so. Running away from home dramatically increases the risk of victimization, both physically and sexually. Moreover, youth living on the streets exhibit much higher health risks including higher rates of substance abuse, suicide attempts, sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy and death. Because runaway and homeless youth find themselves lacking skills and resources necessary to fully engage in employment, they are left with few legally permissible options for survival. The research literature has addressed many aspects of the lives of runaway and homeless youth (RHY): the history, policy, practice and research but has neglected youth perspectives on their needs. The complexities associated with the RHY population such as age, pathways to running away and/or homelessness, mental health, abuse, neglect, etc. make this a challenging field to work in. Yet understanding these complexities and evaluating the interventions used by community social service programs designed to help youth return home, or enter other safe, stable housing, is critical to helping this field develop and improve interventions, programs, and prevention strategies that will be used by this uniquely vulnerable population. In 1974, Congress first passed the Runaway Youth Act (RYA) providing funding for community shelter programs called Basic Centers. In subsequent years Transitional Living Programs (1988) and Street Outreach services (1994) were added to the act. Unfortunately, researchers, youth advocates, and many service providers report that the vast majority of runaway and homeless youth reject the services and programs designed to meet their needs and keep them safe. This dynamic exacerbates an already perilous situation for youth who find themselves on the streets. Much of the research to date has focused on the pathology of youth and/or their families. This project suggests that if to understand the complexities of these youth and move toward a system with improved utilization rates, we should begin by asking - what are programs doing that work for RHY? Which services or practices do the youth feel are most helpful? Is there a way to synthesize these practices, codify them, and begin to build the evidence base for working effectively with RHY? This study began this process by conducting 14 focus groups with 52 youth ages 14 - 21, who were receiving services from a Basic Center (3), a drop-in center (3), a street outreach program (2), or a Transitional Living Program (6), and asking them what is it about this program that works for you? Then the researcher hired RHY to analyze those responses. Findings hold the potential to begin filling the chasm that exists in the literature around effective practice with RHY. Details: Forest Grove, OR: Pacific University (Faculty Scholarship), 2013. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 31, 2014 at: http://commons.pacificu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1053&context=casfac Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://commons.pacificu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1053&context=casfac Shelf Number: 131834 Keywords: Homeless PersonsHomelessnessRunaways |
Author: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Title: Children on the Run: Unaccompanied Children Leaving Central America and Mexico and the Need for International Protection Summary: Since 2009, UNHCR has registered an increased number of asylum-seekers - both children and adults - from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala lodging claims in the Americas region. The United States recorded the largest number of new asylum applications out of all countries of asylum, having received 85% of the total of new applications brought by individuals from these three countries in 2012. The number of requests for asylum has likewise increased in countries other than the U.S. Combined, Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Belize, documented a 432% increase in the number of asylum applications lodged by individuals from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. In the United States, the number of adults claiming fear of return to their countries of origin to government officials upon arriving to a port of entry or apprehension at the southern border increased sharply from 5,369 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 to 36,174 in FY 2013.25 Individuals from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala and Mexico account for 70% of this increase. Beginning in October 2011, the U.S. Government recorded a dramatic rise - commonly referred to in the United States as "the surge" - in the number of unaccompanied and separated children arriving to the United States from these same three countries - El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The total number of apprehensions of unaccompanied and separated children from these countries by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) jumped from 4,059 in FY 2011 to 10,443 in FY 2012 and then more than doubled again, to 21,537, in FY 2013. At the same time, a tremendous number of children from Mexico have been arriving to the U.S. over a longer period of time, and although the gap is narrowing as of FY 2013, the number of children from Mexico has far outpaced the number of children from any one of the three Central American countries. For example, in FY 2011, the number of Mexican children apprehended was 13,000, rising to 15,709 in FY 2012 and reaching 18,754 in FY 2013. Unlike the unaccompanied and separated children arriving to the U.S. from other countries, including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, most of these children were promptly returned to Mexico after no more than a day or two in the custody of the U.S. authorities, making it even more difficult to obtain a full picture of who these children were and why they were coming to the U.S. While recognizing a significant contextual difference between the situation in Mexico and in the Northern Triangle of Central America, the common denominator is that all four countries are producing high numbers of unaccompanied and separated children seeking protection at the southern border of the United States. UNHCR's research was to ascertain the connection between the children's stated reasons, the findings of recent studies on the increasing violence and insecurity in the region, and international protection needs. UNHCR Washington conducted individual interviews with 404 unaccompanied or separated children - approximately 100 from each country - who arrived to the U.S. during or after October 2011 and, in the context of the current regional and national environments and the tremendous number of displaced children arriving to the U.S. from these four countries, analyzed the children's responses in order to answer two questions: Why are these children leaving their countries of origin? Are any of these children in need of international protection? Details: Washington, DC: UNHCR, 2014. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 13, 2014 at: http://www.unhcrwashington.org/sites/default/files/UAC_UNHCR_Children%20on%20the%20Run_Full%20Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Central America URL: http://www.unhcrwashington.org/sites/default/files/UAC_UNHCR_Children%20on%20the%20Run_Full%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 131896 Keywords: Asylum SeekersChild ProtectionRunawaysUnaccompanied Children |
Author: Frydman, Lisa Title: A Treacherous Journey: Child Migrants Navigating the U.S. Immigration System Summary: A Treacherous Journey: Child Migrants Navigating the U.S. Immigration System addresses the issues raised by the recent historic and unabated increase in the number of children coming unaccompanied - without a parent or legal guardian - to the United States. From 6,000-8,000 unaccompanied children entering U.S. custody, the numbers surged to 13,625 in Fiscal Year 2012 and 24,668 in Fiscal Year 2013. The government has predicted that as many as 60,000 or more unaccompanied children could enter the United States in Fiscal Year 2014. These children come from all over the world, but the majority arrive from Mexico and Central America, in particular the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Children come unaccompanied to the United States for a range of reasons. Numerous reports and the children themselves say that increasing violence in their home communities and a lack of protection against this violence spurred them to flee. Children also travel alone to escape severe intrafamilial abuse, abandonment, exploitation, deep deprivation, forced marriage, or female genital cutting. Others are trafficked to the United States for sexual or labor exploitation. Upon arrival, some children reunite with family members they have not seen in many years, but their migration is often motivated by violence and other factors, in addition to family separation. Their journeys may be as harrowing as the experiences they are fleeing, with children often facing sexual violence or other abuses as they travel. The children's challenges continue when U.S. immigration authorities apprehend them, take them into the custody of the federal government, and place them in deportation proceedings. There, they are treated as "adults in miniature" and have no right to appointed counsel and no one to protect their best interests as children in the legal system. In addition, existing forms of immigration relief do not provide sufficient safeguards to protect against deportation when it is contrary to their best interests. Details: San Francisco: Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, University of California Hastings College of the Law; Washington, DC: Kids in Need of Defense, 2014. 104p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2014 at: http://www.uchastings.edu/centers/cgrs-docs/treacherous_journey_cgrs_kind_report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.uchastings.edu/centers/cgrs-docs/treacherous_journey_cgrs_kind_report.pdf Shelf Number: 132011 Keywords: Child ProtectionIllegal ImmigrationsImmigrant ChildrenImmigration EnforcementRunawaysUnaccompanied ChildrenUndocumented Immigrants |
Author: Christie, Christine Title: The Child Sexual Exploitation Service and Missing children service for young people in Stoke-on-Trent: A Review Summary: This report presents the findings from a high level independent review of two separate service areas which currently operate across Stoke-on-Trent. The service areas are: - Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE); and - Missing Children The report is organised as follows. It opens with a description of the policy background and methodology for the review. It presents key issues from published material providing a framework for a good practice response to CSE and missing children; and examines Stoke-on-Trent documentation in order to form a baseline in terms of the current local strategy, systems, policy and practice. The report then considers current services for sexually exploited and missing children and young people in Stoke-on-Trent. It does this in the light of the requirements for good CSE and missing children responses as described in the national CSE guidance - Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation, Supplementary guidance to Working Together to Safeguard Children (the DCSF, 2009 CSE guidance); and the Statutory guidance on Children who Run away or Go missing from Home or Care (the DfE, 2014 Missing children guidance). It looks at current training for Stoke-on-Trent staff. The report draws conclusions from the review as a whole, and finally, makes a series recommendations for action over the short and longer term. Details: Bedfordshire, UK: University of Bedfordshire, 2014. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 16, 2015 at: http://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/449948/CSE-Missing-Service-Review-Stoke-on-Trent.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/449948/CSE-Missing-Service-Review-Stoke-on-Trent.pdf Shelf Number: 134633 Keywords: child ProstitutionChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual Exploitation (U.K.)Missing ChildrenMissing PersonsRunaways |
Author: Massachusetts Interagency Human Trafficking Policy Task Force Title: Findings and Recommendations Summary: It is estimated that across the United States nearly 300,000 children are trafficked for sex every year. The U.S. Justice Department has identified the average age of entry into prostitution is 13.7 These cases involve tremendous violence, are complex and expensive to prosecute. Victims are brutalized in the worst ways imaginable. In Massachusetts, there is currently no systematic way to quantify the problem much less identify and meet the needs of victims. Trafficking victims are individuals lured into this country and Massachusetts with false promises of legitimate work, only often to be forced into the sex or labor industry upon arrival. They are also domestic and Massachusetts born runaways being taken in by traffickers and forced to trade sex for a place to sleep, or girls being baited into "the life" by a presumed boyfriend who later reveals himself as a pimp. Much like a victim of domestic violence, human trafficking victims are trapped by fear, isolation, and brutality at the hands of their traffickers. The Task Force recognizes that frequently one victim is subjected to both sex and labor trafficking. However, because these two types of trafficking are often addressed differently, a separate and in-depth discussion of each is provided below to best understand their specific aspects. Sex Trafficking Sex trafficking of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals occurs across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For example, in 2011, The E.V.A. Center, a Boston-based program that works with adult women involved in the sex trade, reported that the program served 225 adult women since the program began in 2006.8 Of these women, 20 were identified as foreign nationals and 145 were between the ages of 17 and 25. The E.V.A. Center reports that over half of the women were court involved with an over half of the women were court involved with an over representation of young women aging out of government systems, such as the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families ("DCF") and the Department of Youth Services ("DYS"). The majority of women were referred at a point of crisis, largely from law enforcement ("LE"), community clinics, hospitals, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, the Probation Department, and SafeLink, the Massachusetts domestic violence hotline. Similarly, the commercial sexual exploitation of youth occurs across the Commonwealth. Although state-wide statistics are not available, in a 2012 report the Children's Advocacy Center ("CAC") of Suffolk County noted that, "[i]n recent years, hundreds of girls in the Boston area have been drawn into 'the life' of commercial sexual exploitation; countless others remain at risk." The report documented more than 480 child victims of sexual exploitation received services in Suffolk County between 2005 and 2012. Of these children, 98% were girls, and 65% of the girls were girls of color. Moreover, the majority were runaways and/or victims of child abuse. The CAC report also acknowledges that "[b]oys and transgendered youth are also involved in commercial sexual exploitation of children ("CSEC"), but less visible." There is a lack of understanding of the nature and extent of trafficking of men and boys. Furthermore, there is a dearth of information regarding children being trafficked in other regions of the Commonwealth, and the identification of child victims outside of Boston remains a challenge. There is also a connection between homelessness and trafficking in Massachusetts, irrespective of age. According to a 2005 report from the Massachusetts Department of Education ("DOE"), approximately 12,000 Massachusetts high school students are homeless with 5,000 unaccompanied or without a guardian. Of these youth, 47% experienced mental illness, 21% of homeless youth have substance abuse issues (compared to 2% of housed youth), and 20% of youth are involved in the criminal justice system. According to Steven Procopio, staff member at Boston GLASS Surviving Our Struggle and subcommittee member, homeless men and boys are more vulnerable to become commercially exploited. Procopio reports that sexually exploited youth are often former runaways due to family violence, sexual abuse, and sexual identity issues. Many turn to the sex industry as a survival mechanism to obtain food or shelter. Survivors report high rates of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, and they are often exploited sexually by men and/or women with economic means. Labor Trafficking Labor trafficking takes a variety of forms in Massachusetts, including forced labor, domestic servitude, or debt bondage in workplaces such as restaurants, bars, nail salons, and factories. Throughout Massachusetts, many individuals work in industries where they are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation, and this is compounded by fact that many of these industries function in the underground economy. In 2011, Governor Deval Patrick recognized the hazards of these jobs, noting that the underground economy "exploits vulnerable workers and deprives them of legal benefits and protections." While trafficking involves both U.S. citizen and foreign nationals, undocumented workers are often particularly vulnerable to abuse due to their lack of immigration status and fear of deportation. According to a 2012 study by The Immigrant Learning Center, large industries in Massachusetts thrive off of immigrant workers, including accommodations and food services (10.5%), health care and social assistance (15.6%), manufacturing (13.6%), and retail (9.6%).17 Furthermore, the report states, "immigrants are much more highly concentrated in occupations that require little education such as building and grounds cleaning and maintenance (3.13%), production (2.24%), health care support (1.74%), food preparation and serving (1.67%) and farming, fishing, and forestry (1.43%)" - industries where workers are more prone to abuse and exploitation. While labor statistics are not available, Lutheran Social Services of New England, an organization that provides case management and legal services to labor trafficking survivors, confirmed recent cases of labor trafficking in Massachusetts. Cases included: - Workers living in restaurants and subject to poor working conditions and nonpayment of wages; - Domestic workers from Brazil, Bolivia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, employed to provide housekeeping or child care services; - Dancers in strip clubs throughout Massachusetts; - Employees of diplomats brought to the United States to work; - Women working in massage parlors or apartments providing sexual and massage services (mixed sex/labor cases); - Factories employing workers using threats of deportation and poor working conditions; - Agricultural and seasonal workers; - H-2B workers employed by companies providing substandard working conditions and housing to workers; - Women lured by promises to marry or of romance who are then coerced to work; and - Children coerced to beg for money on the street. Workers in certain sectors were more prone to abuse. For example, temporary workers in Massachusetts have been particularly vulnerable to exploitation. According to a 2011 report by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, more than 941 temporary agencies employed 65,720 workers each day, working in industries such as construction, manufacturing, warehousing, and landscaping. Mirna Montano, Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health ("MassCOSH") Worker Center organizer, reports "We had so many frustrated and upset workers coming to us for help with unpaid wages, injuries, illegal fees," and "bad employers [knew] that they could get away with leaving workers in the dark regarding almost everything: pay rate, who was covering workers' compensation insurance, [and] how much transportation would cost." In July 2012, the Massachusetts legislature passed a statute aimed at extending greater protection to temporary workers. However, little is yet known about the legislation's impact on exploitation and trafficking. Details: Boston: The Task Force, 2013. 98p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 31, 2015 at: http://www.mass.gov/ago/docs/ihttf/ihttf-findings.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.mass.gov/ago/docs/ihttf/ihttf-findings.pdf Shelf Number: 136647 Keywords: Child Sex TraffickingChild Sexual ExploitationDebt BondageForced LaborHuman TraffickingProstitutionRunawaysSex TraffickingSexual Exploitation |
Author: Children's Society Title: Make Runaways Safe: The local picture Summary: Every year 100,000 children and young people go missing from home or care. Going missing is a key indicator that a child might be in great danger. When children go missing, they are at very serious risk of physical abuse, sexual exploitation and are sometimes desperate enough to rob or steal to survive. Recent cases in Rochdale and Derby have exposed how the lack of concerted efforts to protect children and identify predatory individuals early on allows abuse to continue for a long time. Children involved in these horrific cases had repeated incidents of missing for a number of hours or overnight. Many children who run away do not seek help, either because they are not aware of the help available or because they do not trust professionals and are worried about the consequences of disclosing information about what is happening in their lives. Therefore, it falls to local police and children's services to ensure the safety of children who have run away and to help ensure that they do not run away in the future. Following the launch of our Make Runaway Safe campaign, we wanted to establish how children who go missing are supported in their local areas and also identify any improvements needed to ensure they are provided with an adequate safety net. As no standardised reporting or monitoring of responses to children who run away from home or care currently takes place in the local area, we undertook a series of Freedom of Information requests (FOI) to police constabularies, local authorities and Local Safeguarding Children's Boards (LSCBs) to establish the national picture of local responses. In this report, we set out the responses we received to our requests about the services and protocols in place to keep these children safe. These responses revealed that the support available to children who go missing or run away varies greatly between local areas. Details: London: The Children's Society, 2012. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2015 at: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/make_runaways_safe_-_the_local_picture.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/make_runaways_safe_-_the_local_picture.pdf Shelf Number: 136798 Keywords: Missing ChildrenRunawaysStatus Offenders |
Author: Williams, Natalie Title: Lessons to learn: Exploring the links between running away and absence from school Summary: Every year, 100,000 children run away from home or care in the UK. They often run from serious problems at home such as family breakdown, abuse, neglect or problems at school such as bullying or unmet special educational needs. When children run away they are at risk of physical abuse, sexual exploitation or being forced to resort to highly dangerous survival strategies such as stealing or begging to survive. Our research shows that children who run away are three times more likely to be absent from school. Children spend more time at school than anywhere else. It is crucial that school and education professionals are able to recognise running away as a cry for help. This report explores the link between problems at school, including absences and exclusions, and running away. It makes a series of recommendations about how young people at risk should be supported and how professionals can better meet their needs. Key messages - Children who are absent from school are more than three times as likely to have run away. - Young people usually run away because of problems at home or school. Others may run away because they are being sexually exploited or become involved in crime. - Schools professionals need to have a better understanding of the risks faced by children when they run away and the warning signs that they may be running away. - Schools and local authorities must ensure that absences are correctly recorded and analyse data for patterns of running away. - Schools should ensure they initiate an assessment of need when a young person is running away or is persistently absent from school. - Schools need to have access to multi-agency teams that can intervene early and provide holistic support to young people who run away and their parents. Details: London: The Children's Society, 2012. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 18, 2015 at: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/lessons-to-learn_final.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/lessons-to-learn_final.pdf Shelf Number: 136810 Keywords: RunawaysSchool AttendanceStatus OffendersTruancy |
Author: Roe-Sepowitz, Dominique Title: YES Project. Youth Experiences Survey: Exploring the Sex Trafficking Experiences of Arizona's Homeless and Runaway Young Adults Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of sex trafficking experiences among homeless young adults ages 18-25 years old who received services from homeless programs in Arizona during July 2014. The purpose of this study was to explore the unique experiences and challenges facing sex trafficked homeless young adults compared to non-sex trafficked homeless young adults. Surveys were completed by 246 homeless youth receiving services from young adult serving organizations in Arizona including: Tumbleweed Youth Services (Phoenix), One-n-Ten (Phoenix), and Our Family (Tucson). Findings revealed 25.6% of the participants reported a history of sex trafficking, 21.8% of the male participants and 24.5% of the female participants. LGBTQ young adults were significantly more likely to report sex trafficking experiences (33, 38.4%) than heterosexual young adults (23, 19.7%). The sex trafficked young adults were found to significantly differ from the non-sex trafficked participants with higher rates of self harm, history of suicide attempt, addictions to drugs and alcohol, history of dating violence, childhood sexual abuse, and medical and mental health problems. Implications from these findings indicate that as many as one in four homeless young adults in Arizona has experienced sexual exploitation through a commercial sex trafficking situation, with 65.1% reporting having a sex trafficker. These findings also demonstrate that sex trafficking is experienced by both male and female homeless young adults and is significantly more likely to be reported by youth who identify as LGBTQ. Details: Tempe: Arizona State University, School of Social Work, Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research, 2014. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 10, 2016 at: http://trustaz.org/downloads/rr-stir-youth-experiences-survey-report-nov-2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://trustaz.org/downloads/rr-stir-youth-experiences-survey-report-nov-2014.pdf Shelf Number: 137832 Keywords: Homeless PersonsHuman TraffickingJuvenile ProstitutionRunawaysSex TraffickingYoung Adults |
Author: All-Party Parliamentary Group for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults Title: Inquiry into the safeguarding of 'absent' children. 'It is good when someone cares.' Final Report Summary: In recent years missing children have been moving up the local and national policy agenda. Increased awareness of the link between going missing and child sexual exploitation, prompted by horrific cases across the country, as well as by reports from this APPG and the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) have led to more concerted efforts across all agencies to disrupt exploitation and lessen the risks to children who go missing. The changes that the government introduced to improve the safeguarding response to children in residential care and the publication of the revised statutory guidance in 2014 on missing children also created opportunities to review and strengthen local responses to missing children. The greater awareness of the risks missing children face has not necessarily resulted in improved responses to missing children across the country however. Cuts to children's social care and police funding, on-going reforms and an increase in the numbers of children who require help from children's social care services has meant that often only cases identified as high risk are getting prioritised for response. It has been acknowledged in written submissions and through the roundtables for this inquiry that there are many positive examples of agencies working well together to protect missing children, particularly those identified to be at risk of harm. There is a lot more clarity around what a good response looks like when the child is recognised to be at high risk of harm and categorised as 'missing', even though a lack of consistency in the implementation of good practice prevails. It has been acknowledged in a recent HMIC report that 'in most straightforward cases the police's response is timely, proportionate and appropriate'. At the same time the inquiry heard that absent children, for whom the police establish there to be 'no apparent risk', often end up not being on the radar of other services, like children's social care, until things in their lives get much more serious. As one roundtable participant said, 'It is perverse, because children need to go up tariff, and things must become more serious before they can get a service and yet we know that early support reduces the risk of repeated missing incidents'. At one of the roundtables the National Policing Lead, Chief Constable Mike Veale voiced concerns that 'risk assessments are not completed consistently throughout the service' and that for some police forces the 'absent' category may be 'not doing very much more than recording an event'. 14 These are important concerns to address, particularly given that those in social care appear to rely excessively on the police getting the risk assessment right on every occasion and therefore believe their lack of response to absent children is evidenced When children's social care do not to properly participate in the risk assessment, such a position is not justifiable and children can be left at terrible risk which could have been prevented. Further evidence submitted to the inquiry by organisations providing return interviews questioned decision making around the use of the 'absent' category. 'In areas where we work where the absent category is used we are worried that children 'fall through the net' as they are not being properly identified and supported. Where absent episodes are not correctly referred to agencies, families and children are prevented from accessing preventative and early intervention support'. 'Whatever happens to the category of 'absent' there is going to have to be changes to what call handlers base their decisions on because we all have got examples where young people are classified wrongly'. The inquiry identified a number of issues that contribute to making the absent category unsafe. Details: London: Children's Society, 2016. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 24, 2016 at: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/appg-absent-inquiry-final-report-may-2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/appg-absent-inquiry-final-report-may-2016.pdf Shelf Number: 140445 Keywords: Child ProtectionChild Sexual ExploitationMissing ChildrenMissing PersonsRunaways |
Author: Pona, Iryna Title: Safeguarding children and young people who go missing in London Summary: Each year around 100,000 children and young people in the UK run away from home or care - Around 60% of all missing persons cases reported to the police involve children and young people with majority of them being adolescents aged 12 to 17. From our research and work with children and young people we know that running away is a signal that all is not well in a child's life. When things go wrong young people do not always know how, or feel able, to ask for help. Instead, many of them run away from home or care and become exposed to great risks in order to survive - staying with strangers or begging and stealing to survive. In some cases going missing signals that a child is under the influence of a predatory adult or even peers trying to exploit them, enticing them away from home with promises of fun and excitement. In recent years there has been a growing awareness of the risks of running away, particularly in relation to child sexual exploitation and, increasingly, involvement in criminal activity. Changes to national and local policies have been made aimed at improving responses to this vulnerable group of children and young people and ensuring that agencies are working together to keep young people safe. Despite the progress made, many young runaways still do not have an offer of help when they need it and continue slipping through the net of services until their cases are deemed 'high risk' or only get a tokenistic support that is not sufficient to help them resolve the issues they face. The Children's Society has over 30 years' experience of research , campaigning and direct work with children and young people who run away from home or care. In July 2015, The Children's Society launched a network of services across London to tackle the risks facing the city's vulnerable young people, specifically looking at providing responses to young people who run away or go missing in London. This report explores the scale of children running away or going missing in the capital and looks at how recent national policy changes have impacted on local responses to children who are reported as missing from home or care. The report is based on responses to our Freedom of Information requests to 33 London boroughs and the Metropolitan Police Service - Throughout the report we have also used anonymised cases studies and quotes from our direct work with young people who run away or go missing. Details: London: The Children's Society, 2016. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 24, 2016 at: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/safeguarding-children-and-young-people-who-go-missing-in-london_reduced.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/safeguarding-children-and-young-people-who-go-missing-in-london_reduced.pdf Shelf Number: 146107 Keywords: Child ProtectionMissing ChildrenMissing PersonsRunaways |
Author: Burwick, Andrew Title: Identifying and Serving LGBTQ Youth: Case Studies of Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Grantees Summary: Mathematica and our partners at the Williams Institute recently conducted a series of case studies of four local agencies receiving grants from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Runaway and Homeless Youth Program, focusing on services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Researchers learned about agencies' experiences collecting and using data on sexual orientation and gender identity, strategies for understanding and addressing the needs of LGBTQ youth, and potential areas for future research. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation in ACF, sponsored the case studies. Details: Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research, 2014. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 26, 2016 at: http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/safe-schools-and-youth/identifying-and-serving-lgbtq-youth-case-studies-of-runaway-and-homeless-youth-grantees/ Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/safe-schools-and-youth/identifying-and-serving-lgbtq-youth-case-studies-of-runaway-and-homeless-youth-grantees/ Shelf Number: 132001 Keywords: Homeless PersonsHomeless YouthLGBTQ YouthRunaways |
Author: Fernandes-Alcantara, Adrienne L. Title: Runaway and Homeless Youth: Demographics and Programs Summary: This report discusses runaway and homeless youth, and the federal response to support this population. There is no single definition of the terms "runaway youth" or "homeless youth." However, both groups of youth share the risk of not having adequate shelter and other provisions, and may engage in harmful behaviors while away from a permanent home. These two groups also include "thrownaway" youth who are asked to leave their homes, and may include other vulnerable youth populations, such as current and former foster youth and youth with mental health or other issues. The term "unaccompanied youth" encompasses both runaways and homeless youth, and is used in national data counts of the population. Youth most often cite family conflict as the major reason for their homelessness or episodes of running away. A youth's sexual orientation, sexual activity, pregnancy, school problems, and alcohol and drug use are strong predictors of family discord. The precise number of homeless and runaway youth is unknown due to their residential mobility and overlap among the populations. Determining the number of these youth is further complicated by the lack of a standardized methodology for counting the population and inconsistent definitions of what it means to be homeless or a runaway. Estimates of the homeless youth exceed 1 million. Estimates of runaway youth - including "thrownaway" youth (youth asked or forced to leave their homes)—are between 1 million and 1.7 million in a given year. From the early 20th century through the 1960s, the needs of runaway and homeless youth were handled locally through the child welfare agency, juvenile justice courts, or both. The 1970s marked a shift toward federal oversight of programs that help youth who had run afoul of the law, including those who committed status offenses (i.e., running away). Congress passed the Runaway Youth Act of 1974 as Title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (P.L. 93-415) to assist runaways through services specifically for this population. The federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Program (RHYP) has since been expanded through reauthorization laws enacted approximately every five years since the 1970s, most recently by the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act (P.L. 110-378) in 2008. Funding authorization expired in FY2013, and Congress has continued to appropriate funding for the act: $119.1 million was appropriated for FY2016. The Runaway and Homeless Youth program is made up of three components: the Basic Center Program (BCP), Transitional Living Program (TLP), and Street Outreach Program (SOP). The Basic Center Program provides temporary shelter, counseling, and after care services to runaway and homeless youth under age 18 and their families. The BCP has served approximately 31,000 to 36,000 annually in recent years. The Transitional Living Program is targeted to older youth ages 16 through 22 (and sometimes an older age), and has served approximately 3,000 to 3,500 youth annually in recent years. Youth who use the TLP receive longer-term housing with supportive services. The SOP provides education, treatment, counseling, and referrals for runaway, homeless, and street youth who have been subjected to or are at risk of being subjected to sexual abuse, sex exploitation, and trafficking. Each year, the SOP makes hundreds of thousands of contacts with street youth (some of whom have multiple contacts). Related services authorized by the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act include a national communication system to facilitate communication between service providers, runaway youth, and their families; training and technical support for grantees; and evaluations of the programs, among other activities. The 2008 reauthorizing legislation expanded the program, requiring HHS to conduct an incidence and prevalence study of runaway and homeless youth. To date, this study has not been conducted; however, efforts are underway among multiple federal agencies to collect better information on these youth as part of a larger strategy to end youth homelessness by 2020. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Services, 2016. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: CRS Report RL33785: Accessed September 26, 2016 at: https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33785.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33785.pdf Shelf Number: 146141 Keywords: Homeless PersonsHomeless YouthHomelessnessRunawaysStatus Offenders |
Author: Moodie, Kristina Title: Evaluation of Barnardo's Safer Choices Missing Service Summary: Research shows that children and young people who go missing from home are at a considerably higher risk of being harmed. In April 2013, in recognition of such vulnerabilities, a tri-partnership initiative between Police Scotland, Renfrewshire Council and Barnardo’s was established with the purpose of better identifying, protecting and directly supporting children who had gone missing from their home. This tri-partnership commissioned independent researchers from CYCJ in 2015 to help document the knowledge and information gathered by the service since its inception, as well as to examine the effectiveness of the service in relation to short-term outcomes for young people. This research covers the first two years of the service, from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2015. Details: Glasgow: Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice, 2016. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 2, 2016 at: http://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Safer-Choices-Evaluation.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Safer-Choices-Evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 140989 Keywords: Missing Children Missing Persons Runaways |
Author: Shalev Greene, Karen Title: Repeat reports to the police of missing people: locations and characteristics Summary: Hundreds of thousands of people are reported missing to the police each year. Out of the 313,000 reports to British police in 2011-2012 (SOCA, 2013) 64% involved children. Most research on missing persons tends to focus on the causes for going missing or the vulnerability of the people who go missing (for example, CEOP, 2011; NPIA, 2011; Rees, 2011). However, relatively little research attention has been given to the locations from which people go missing (Bartholomew, Duffy & Figgins, 2009; Parr & Stevenson, 2013; Stevenson, Parr, Woolnough & Fyfe, 2013). The current study focuses on the locations from which people are reported missing repeatedly in a one year period. Some of these locations are individual households but the majority are organisational facilities. Thus, our aim is to highlight issues surrounding the 'duty of care' and 'safeguarding' responsibilities of agencies in relation to people who go missing from organisational addresses (such as mental health establishments and children's care homes); specifically in relation to preventing them from going missing in the first place and the responsibility of the organisations helping to locate them. The data in this study was gathered from ONE Police force which uses the COMPACT database. This database holds the reports for all missing person reports where the person has been missing for over 2 hours. In 2011, 2,745 missing person cases opened and closed in this police force (or 40% of over 6,000 missing person cases overall). Given that the focus of this study is the location from which people went missing, only cases where the same address was linked to three cases or more in one year were included. Thus, the analysis in this report is based on 1,321 cases and 149 addresses. In the current study young people make up the great majority of those reported missing three times or more in a year. Missing people, in our sample, do not travel very far, usually travelling under 5 miles. In terms of missing persons vulnerability, only a minority of young people, in this sample, are categorised as 'high risk' and only a small minority report injury or harm while missing or are known to be involved in criminal activity. Proportionally, the highest risk group are older people, over the age of 50 years. However, the findings in this study raise some concerns about the risk assessment process and the extent to which the type of location from which a person is reported missing is used (or can be used) as an indicator of potential risk. The results show that people went missing from a variety of locations but that private care homes (57.1%) were the most common place. Almost all (99.5%) of those who went missing from private care homes were young people aged 18 years and under. Going missing from a home address (16.0%) was the next most common location; followed by mental health units (9.9%) and hospitals (7.7%). In 2011, 149 different addresses in the police force we examined reported people missing three times or more. The study highlights the impact that a few organisations have on police workload, with one private care home making 93 missing person reports in the year 2011. The cost to the police of responding to reports from the top 10 locations is estimated to be £482,250 to £879,060 (Shalev Greene & Pakes, 2013a). These repeat reports should raise the issue of the duty of care and responsibilities of health and social care organisations towards the vulnerable people for whom they are caring. The authors recognise that repeated incidents of going missing is often a reflection of the life situations of the people within these individual settings as they will often have personal difficulties, find it difficult being away from 'home' far from their family and friends, etc. However, the study raises the question of why organisations that report people missing so frequently do not always share with the police the responsibility of locating those who go missing. Details: Portsmouth, UK: University of Portsmouth, Centre for the Study of Missing Persons, 2014. 21 p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 8, 2016 at: http://www.port.ac.uk/media/contacts-and-departments/icjs/csmp/Repeat-reports-to-the-police-of-missing-people.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.port.ac.uk/media/contacts-and-departments/icjs/csmp/Repeat-reports-to-the-police-of-missing-people.pdf Shelf Number: 145318 Keywords: Child ProtectionMissing ChildrenMissing PersonsRunaways |
Author: Bricknell, Samantha Title: Missing persons in Australia, 2008-2015 Summary: Between 2008 and 2015 over 305,000 people were reported missing in Australia, an average of 38,159 reports each year. Youths aged 13-17 years were most likely to go missing; half of all people reported missing between 2008 and 2015 were in this age group and less than 10 percent were children. More than sixty percent of those who go missing return or are found within 48 hours. Ninety-eight percent are ultimately located, most alive. Collecting data on the circumstances of those who go missing will assist in developing a national picture of vulnerable population groups and predicting outcomes for these groups. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2016. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Statistical Bulletin 01: Accessed February 13, 2017 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/sb/001/sb001.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/sb/001/sb001.pdf Shelf Number: 145018 Keywords: Missing PersonsRunaways |
Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Title: Missing children: who cares? The police response to missing and absent children Summary: Each year thousands of children go missing from their homes. The majority of them will return, or be found soon after they have been reported missing. There are many reasons why children go missing. On very rare occasions they may be abducted. All children who go missing are potentially at risk of harm, and a significant number, because of their circumstances, will face the risk of sexual, criminal or economic exploitation. Although not every child who goes missing is at risk of sexual exploitation and not every child who is at risk of sexual exploitation goes missing, the two are inter-linked. It is often the most vulnerable children who are sexually exploited, and who are targeted by those who intend to commit crimes against them. These children may have been abused or neglected, lack affection or have already experienced trauma in their lives. A number will be in the care of the local authority because of serious concerns about their well-being or the risks they face. Responding to missing incidents places a high demand on police time. Managing this demand is a major challenge for police forces but the consequences of not investigating cases can be extremely serious, leaving some children at risk of exploitation and/or significant harm. Effective outcomes in police responses to children at risk of abuse require specific skills and knowledge and excellent partnership working, in particular with children's social services. But more than this, effective outcomes rely on recognition, by all in the police service, that children are inherently vulnerable by virtue of their age, and that those who come into contact with police for any reason are often the most vulnerable. As the Chief Inspector of Constabulary observed in his recent State of Policing report, the work of the police in child protection is probably the most onerous and demanding of all police work, and it is the most important simply because children have the most to lose. Recent revelations about the scale of child sexual abuse, whether online or involving high-profile individuals, institutions or local communities, have presented the police with a complex challenge. Many crimes go unreported and those who are vulnerable often have greater difficulty in bringing their concerns to the attention of those who are able to help them. In its protective and preventative role, the police service has the responsibility to root out crime and the circumstances in which it may be committed, particularly where the victim is vulnerable, afraid or actively prevented from seeking help. Our inspections in relation to missing and absent children have found some good approaches with prompt action to find missing children and joint work to protect them. However, our principal finding was of inconsistencies in properly assessing risks, managing investigations, and providing support and help to the child. Consequently, our conclusion must be that this is leaving some children at unacceptable risk of harm. This report focuses on the experiences and outcomes of police contact for children who go missing. For the first time, we publish findings from HMIC-commissioned research on children's experiences of police contact. While we found clear evidence of positive experiences and outcomes for some children, we found a weighting towards negative experiences in the majority of cases. In particular, we found evidence of some police officers' negative attitudes towards missing children, which determines their responses, and in turn undermines children's confidence in the police service as a source of protection and help. These findings signal an imperative for cultural change in the police service if children and young people who run away from home or care are to have trust that the police will help them, and if the police are to be better able to afford them that protection. Details: London: HMIC, 2016. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2017 at: http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/wp-content/uploads/missing-children-who-cares.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/wp-content/uploads/missing-children-who-cares.pdf Shelf Number: 145394 Keywords: Child ProtectionMissing ChildrenMissing PersonsPolice InvestigationPolice ResponseRunaways |
Author: Coren, Esther Title: Services for street-connected children and young people in low-and middle-income countries: A thematic synthesis Summary: The review did not find any studies that reported evaluations of programmes in low and middle income countries, even though many relevant programmes exist. The studies that were found from high income countries were of low to moderate quality and it was difficult to compare the studies as while many of them measured similar things (eg drug and alcohol use), they measured the outcomes in different ways that were not comparable. Each study compared a new therapeutic intervention with existing services offered in drop in or shelter service centres, so all the participants were using services. None of the studies compared young people who were using services with young people who were not using them. The interventions being evaluated consisted of time limited therapeutically based programmes which did not prove to overall be more effective than standard shelter or drop-in services for most outcomes and in most studies. Results were not consistent across the studies but the "new " programmes being evaluated did not prove to be better at helping the street connected children and young people than the usual services. There were favourable changes from baseline in outcomes for most particpants in therapy interventions and also in standard services. This may partly be because those young people using the services are already involved with the support on offer and want to change their lives. An important issue to understand therefore is how services promote themselves to young people and what factors make young people want to take up services that are available. The authors included 11 studies evaluating 12 interventions from high income countries. They did not find any sufficiently robust evaluations conducted in low and middle income countries (LMICs) despite the existence of many relevant programmes. Study quality overall was low to moderate and there was great variation in the measurement used by studies, making comparison difficult. Participants were drop-in and shelter based. There was considerable heterogeneity between studies and equity data were inconsistently reported. No study measured the primary outcome of reintegration or reported on adverse effects. The review discussion section included consideration of the relevance of the findings for LMIC settings. Details: London: London: International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Systematic Review 12: http://www.3ieimpact.org/media/filer_public/2016/07/12/sr12-street-children-review.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.3ieimpact.org/media/filer_public/2016/07/12/sr12-street-children-review.pdf Shelf Number: 146476 Keywords: RunawaysStreet Children |
Author: Bricknell, Samantha Title: Missing Persons: Who is at risk? Summary: In 2008 the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) released a comprehensive study on missing persons in Australia, which presented national data on at-risk groups and identified best practice related to prevention, early intervention, referral processes and support services (James, Anderson & Putt 2008). This report followed an earlier AIC study that examined the incidence and impact of missing person events (Henderson & Henderson 1998). The current study, commissioned by the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC) of the Australian Federal Police, updates missing person statistics (first published in Bricknell and Renshaw 2016) and describes the extent to which known risk factors correlate with categories of missing persons. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2017. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Research report 08: Accessed November 20, 2017 at: https://aic.gov.au/publications/rr/rr8 Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://aic.gov.au/publications/rr/rr8 Shelf Number: 148281 Keywords: Missing PersonsRunaways |
Author: Texas Appleseed Title: Young, Alone, and Homeless in the Lone Star State: Policy Solutions to End Youth Homelessness in Texas Summary: Texas Appleseed became interested in systemic problems that fuel youth homelessness as a result of its work on other child- and youth-focused projects. We frequently saw children and young people whose juvenile justice involvement or problems at school were the result of homelessness or housing instability. We met former foster youth who reported that they were inadequately prepared for adulthood when they aged out and, consequently, ended up on the streets for some period of time. And our fair housing work has revealed to us the difficulties that communities and families across the state struggle with caused by the lack of affordable and safe housing. Our interest led to a partnership with the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS), an organization that also has a long history of advocating for young people in Texas. Their membership of service providers and partnership with the state on Youth Count Texas!, a statewide look at youth homelessness mandated by the 84th Texas Legislature, make them experts in the issue. In the summer of 2016, Texas Appleseed and TNOYS began our research for this report, assisted by pro bono partners Vinson & Elkins LLP. Our research included: - Over 100 interviews with young people who had experienced or were experiencing homelessness in Texas. - More than 50 interviews conducted by Vinson & Elkins' team of pro bono volunteers with school homeless liaisons, juvenile justice stakeholders, members of law enforcement, foster care stakeholders, and service providers. - Data requests to Texas agencies that serve youth or touch on issues related to youth homelessness. - Research around existing programs and best practices. What we discovered over the course of this research is that the issue of youth homelessness is one that is called by different names depending on the system the youth touches. If a Texas youth is on the street, is picked up by law enforcement, and is under the age of 17, she is a "runaway," a status offender who is referred to the juvenile justice system for rehabilitation. If the youth instead appears in a shelter and the shelter contacts the child welfare system, she may be deemed a victim of abuse or neglect and placed in the foster care system for protection. Thus the same youth, depending on which system she encounters first, is either a victim or an offender. If a young person is not living on the street but is "doubled up" and living with friends or relatives, whether or not she is deemed homeless depends on which system of services she tries to access. Her school would count her as homeless, entitling her to educational services and protections, but the community organization her school might refer her to for services may not, making her ineligible for their help. The same youth is in one setting "homeless" and in another is not. This is perhaps one of the clearest findings from the hours of interviews, data analysis, and exhaustive research flowing from this report: A disjointed policy and funding approach to youth who are without a home results in disjointed services. Reducing or resolving the issue of youth homelessness and improving outcomes for young people is going to require a cohesive approach that brings all child-serving systems together to provide a full continuum of services. Finding solutions is critical. Research shows that young people who encounter homelessness are at high risk of poor outcomes, including: - Educational failure. Youth experiencing homelessness are more likely to be retained a grade or drop out altogether. - Juvenile or criminal justice contact. Criminalization of homelessness and survival behavior may lead to justice system contact, which heightens the risk for ongoing homelessness. - Victimization. Youth experiencing homelessness are at high risk for becoming victims of crime, including human trafficking. - Health and mental health problems. The goal of this report is to identify multi-system policy solutions that could prevent youth homelessness or provide better interventions to ensure youth who encounter homelessness get back on their feet quickly. We hope to shed light on what C.F. asked us to consider: how policymakers and stakeholders, understanding the reality that homelessness could happen to any one of us, can better open ourselves to compassionate, caring responses that are not only better for young people but better for our communities as a whole. Details: Austin, TX: Texas Appleseed and Texas Network of Youth Services, 2017. 186p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 17, 2017 at: https://www.texasappleseed.org/sites/default/files/YoungAloneHomeless_FullReport_fin.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.texasappleseed.org/sites/default/files/YoungAloneHomeless_FullReport_fin.pdf Shelf Number: 148501 Keywords: At-Risk YouthHomeless PersonsHomelessnessRunawaysStatus Offenders |
Author: Dank, Meredith Title: Pretesting a Human Trafficking Screening Tool in the Child Welfare and Runaway and Homeless Youth Systems Summary: Despite the fact that youth involved in the child welfare (CW) and runaway and homeless youth (RHY) systems are particularly vulnerable to being trafficked, there is no consensus screening tool to identify trafficking experiences among such youth. In order to better serve youth trafficking victims, this study developed a Human Trafficking Screening Tool (HTST) and pretested it with 617 RHY- and CW-involved youth. This research established that the screening tool is accessible to youth and easy to administer, and that both the full-length tool and a shorter version were effective in identifying youth who are trafficking victims in RHY and CW systems, though additional research with more youth is needed. Methodology The tool was pretested with 617 youth, ages 12 to 24, across 14 RHY and CW settings in New York, Texas, and Wisconsin from March to November 2016. The survey captured their trafficking experiences as well as demographic characteristics and other life experiences related to trafficking (e.g., running away, drug abuse). The 19-item HTST was embedded in a longer Life Experiences Survey, along with a 6- item short-form version called the HTST-SF. The full HTST took approximately two minutes to complete, while the HTST-SF took less than a minute. Most youth completed the survey in an anonymous self-administered electronic form. A random 25 percent were administered the survey by a practitioner, who also recorded their own perspective on the youth's trafficking status. Key Findings Overall, the HTST (which measures both lifetime and past-year experiences) and the HTST-SF performed equally well at capturing trafficking experiences for most youth. Sampled youth were mostly 18 to 24 years old and in RHY-system settings. - HTST covered the key dimensions of youth's trafficking experiences, according to Urban Institute researchers, members of the HHS study team, and RHY and CW youth helping on the study's youth advisory council. - HTST could be implemented and understood in RHY and CW settings. Practitioners assessed the tool as easy to administer and youth's responses as truthful and understanding HTST questions. Further, youth's inclination to respond was not affected by whether the tool was self- or practitioner administered. - Responses to the HTST were correlated to known trafficking risk factors and outcomes, including running away from home, being kicked out of one's home, abusing prescription or over-the-counter drugs, trading sex for something of value on their own (i.e., without the presence of a third-party exploiter), being arrested, and seeking help. - The HTST correctly predicted trafficking victimization. For approximately 6 in 10 youth, the HTST correctly predicted youth to be trafficking victims according to administrating practitioners' beliefs and observations. Additionally, the HTST correctly predicted 8 in 10 times which youth were not trafficking victims, according to practitioners' beliefs and observations. - The short form of HTST performed equally well as the full version, with regard to all measures of validity. Since the HTST-SF took less than a minute to administer, it would appear preferable when time is an issue, unless practitioners are interested in capturing more specific dimensions of youth's trafficking experiences. Table 3 on page 21 shows the long form of the tool, and Figure 2 on page 30 lists the questions from the short form. Conclusion Responses to the 19-item HTST and 6-item HTST-SF were correlated with several known risk factors and outcomes associated with trafficking victimization, including running away from home, being kicked out by parents/guardians, exchanging sex on their own for something of value, abusing over-thecounter drugs, and seeking help. Further, both tools correctly identified trafficking victims 6 in 10 times and nonvictims 8 in 10 times, based on practitioners' assessments of youth's trafficking experiences. Given that practitioners also provided positive feedback on the tools, which took two minutes or less to administer, this study concludes that both the HTST and HTST-SF are accessible, effective tools for screening youth for human trafficking in CW and RHY settings. Given limited samples of certain subpopulations, we recommend additional testing of youth under age 18 and youth in CW settings, in addition to further validation work with a nationally representative sample of youth. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2017. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 20, 2018 at: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/93596/pretesting_tool_1.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/93596/pretesting_tool_1.pdf Shelf Number: 148890 Keywords: Child WelfareHomeless YouthHuman TraffickingRunaways |
Author: Quinet, Kenna Title: Missing Persons Summary: This guide begins by describing the problem of missing persons and reviewing factors that increase its risks. It then identifies a series of questions to help you analyze your local missing-persons problem. Finally, it reviews responses to the problem and what is known about these from evaluative research and police practice. Police efforts to locate and return missing persons is but one aspect of the larger set of problems related to the reasons people go missing. This guide is limited to addressing the particular issues associated with missing persons. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Center for Problem-Oriented Policing, 2012. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Problem-Specific Guides Series Problem-Oriented Guides for Police, no. 66: Accessed January 30, 2018 at: http://www.popcenter.org/problems/pdfs/missing_persons.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.popcenter.org/problems/pdfs/missing_persons.pdf Shelf Number: 130307 Keywords: Missing Persons Runaways |