One in Ten

Clinician, Researcher, Advocate and Author - Frank W. Putnam, MD

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Old Before Their Time: The Impact of Childhood Trauma

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Frank Putnam, Professor of Psychiatry at UNC School of Medicine, about childhood trauma, focusing on the Female Growth and Development Study, a 35-year longitudinal, cross-sequential study of girls ages 6–15 with CPS-substantiated intrafamilial sexual abuse and a matched comparison group, followed across three generations with repeated psychological, medical, and biological assessments. Putnam describes how his early work on rapid shifts in mental state and dissociation led to studying abused children prospectively.

Time Topic

00:00 Welcome and Setup

01:51 Frank Putnam Intro

02:14 Path Into Trauma Research

05:51 Female Growth Study Overview

09:20 Key Findings and Aging

11:39 How Trauma Speeds Aging

14:41 Real World Impacts for Girls

17:19 Intergenerational Risk Cycles

21:51 What Builds Resilience

23:36 Roadblocks and Funding Fights

26:28 Fixing Child Protection Systems

29:38 NCTSN Origins and Impact

33:16 Policy Priorities and Validation

38:01 Closing Thoughts and Thanks

41:15 Podcast Outro

Resources

Old Before Their Time: A Scientific Life Investigating How Maltreatment Harms Children and the Adults They Become - Kindle edition by Putnam, Frank W.. Health, Fitness & Dieting Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

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Magic and Monsters: Child Sexual Abuse and Institutional Betrayal

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar interviews filmmaker Norah Shapiro and actor and executive producer Anthony Edwards about their award-winning documentary Magic and Monsters, which follows survivors of the Children’s Theatre Company abuse scandal in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They describe charismatic artistic director John Clark Donahue as a serial child abuser who fostered a culture with multiple perpetrators, the 2010s Minnesota statute-of-limitations lookback that enabled 17 civil lawsuits, and survivors’ ongoing sense that accountability and acknowledgment remain lacking. The conversation highlights institutional betrayal, brand protection, and the need for boundaries in youth-serving organizations, alongside the healing power of being believed and connecting with other survivors.

Time Stamps

00:00 Welcome And Premise

00:36 Why This Film Matters

01:30 Host Reaction And Setup

02:51 Case Recap And Timeline

06:05 Anthony Edwards Connection

09:53 Ethics Of Survivor Storytelling

11:45 Trauma Informed Filmmaking

16:22 Healing Through Community

18:07 Institutional Grooming Dynamics

21:59 Prevention Lessons For Parents

23:20 Culture Of Trust And Othering

25:40 Magic And Monsters Duality

26:35 Institutional Betrayal

27:22 Protecting the Brand

31:06 Seeking Acknowledgement

33:19 Trauma and Self Care

35:09 Unresolved Justice

36:50 Recovery Through Connection

41:54 Being Believed Matters

43:32 Film Impact and Next Steps

47:47 Closing Thanks and Resources

Resources

Magic & Monsters

Homeschooling and child maltreatment: A review of the regulatory context and research evidence in the United States - ScienceDirect

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When Homeschooling Hides Abuse

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of 'One in Ten,' Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Emily Putnam-Hornstein (UNC Chapel Hill) about how homeschooling intersects with child abuse and neglect, emphasizing that homeschooling is growing (about 2 million children) while reliable data and regulation vary widely by state and are often minimal. The conversation covers rare but egregious torture cases, potential child-focused oversight for high-risk families, barriers to policy change, and the importance of reporting concerns to hotlines.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Homeschooling And Hidden Abuse

01:21 Why Study Homeschooling

02:08 Data Gaps In California

03:52 How Common Is Homeschooling

05:31 Politics And Polarization

06:59 Mandatory Reporters Explained

09:23 Training Gaps For Families

11:14 State Rules Vary Widely

12:37 Torture Cases And Limits

16:04 Child Focused Policy Ideas

19:47 Notification And Oversight

23:45 Support And Cyber Schooling

28:36 Why Reforms Keep Failing

32:00 Advice For Professionals

34:13 Anonymous Reporting Concerns

36:15 Wrap Up And Thanks

Resources:

Problematic Sexual Behavior Among Children: A Meta-Analysis of Demographic and Clinical Correlates | Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology | Springer Nature Link

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What Drives Problematic Sexual Behavior in Kids

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar welcomes Dr. Brian Allen, professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Penn State, to discuss what motivates problematic sexual behavior (PSB) in children and youth and what the research shows. Allen explains his path into the field and why he conducted a meta-analysis—combining results across studies to create a much larger dataset (about 9,000 children) and examine the strength of associations across age, gender, and different risk factors.

Time Stamps

Time Topic

00:00 What Drives Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) in Kids? (Episode Intro)

01:15 Meet Dr. Brian Allen + How He Got Into PSB Research

02:54 Meta-Analysis 101: What It Is and Why It Matters for PSB

05:26 Beyond the Assumption: Is PSB Always Linked to Sexual Abuse?

07:24 Who’s Affected? Gender & Age Patterns in the Data

08:41 Age Matters: Developmental Motivations, Curiosity & Online Exposure

14:01 Why Parents Struggle to Talk About Sex, Boundaries & Prevention

16:44 What the Meta-Analysis Found: PSB’s Link to Sexual Abuse (and How to Ask)

19:00 Physical Abuse, Dysregulation & Coercion: A Surprising Strong Correlate

25:35 Screening & Mental Health: Externalizing vs Internalizing Problems

29:01 Big Research Gaps: Cross-Cultural Data, Developmental Pathways & Social Media

32:12 What’s Next: New Assessment Tool, Longitudinal Studies & Treatment Trials

33:38 Key Takeaways for Clinicians: Treatable, Low Risk, Don’t Go Punitive

36:22 Reframing These Kids + Resources, Training, and Closing

39:10 Final Thanks & Where to Learn More

Resources

Child, Family and Societal Factors Related to Neglect Recurrence After CPS Investigation - Robin Ortiz, Vincent J. Palusci, 2025

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Breaking the Cycle of Neglect

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Robin Ortiz, an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, about neglect recurrence in child abuse cases. Dr. Ortiz discusses the factors contributing to neglect recurrence, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), environmental influences, and societal factors. They explore the gaps in the literature, the complexities of defining neglect, and the need for tailored interventions. Findings from Dr. Ortiz's recent research indicate that various risk factors exist at the child, family, community, and policy levels, and they emphasize the importance of societal investment in mental health, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence intervention, and financial stability to prevent neglect. The episode highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to support families and break the cycle of neglect.

Time Stamps

Time Topic

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:13 Understanding Neglect Recurrence

01:11 Guest's Background and Research Focus

03:11 Literature Review on Child Maltreatment Recurrence

05:33 Defining Neglect and Its Challenges

10:08 Study Hypotheses and Findings

18:26 Risk Factors for Neglect Recurrence

25:07 Impact of Services on Neglect Recurrence

38:24 Policy Implications and Societal Responsibility

41:03 Conclusion and Takeaways

Resources

Pre-interview hypothesis generation: large language models (LLMs) show promise for child abuse investigations

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Child Abuse, AI, and the Forensic Interview

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar speaks with Liisa Jarvilehto, a psychologist and PhD candidate at Åbo Akademi University, about the positive uses of AI in child abuse investigations and forensic interviews. The conversation addresses the common misuse of AI and explores its potential in assisting professionals by proposing hypotheses, generating question sets, and more. The discussion delves into the application of large language models (LLMs) in generating alternative hypotheses and the nuances of using these tools to avoid confirmation bias in interviews. Huizar and Jarvilehto also touch on the practical implications for current practitioners and future research directions.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

00:22 Exploring AI in Child Abuse Investigations

01:06 Introducing Liisa Jarvilehto and Her Research

01:48 Challenges in Child Abuse Investigations

04:24 The Role of Large Language Models

06:28 Addressing Bias in Investigations

09:13 Hypothesis Testing in Forensic Interviews

12:18 Study Design and Findings

25:54 Implications for Practitioners

33:41 Future Research Directions

36:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources:

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Teen Suicide in an Online World

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of 'One in Ten,' hosted by Teresa Huizar, Dr. Sheryl Chatfield from Kent State University discusses the alarming rise in youth suicides and its correlation with technology use. Delving into data from the National Violent Death Reporting System, Dr. Chatfield highlights the significant impact of technology, including social media and gaming, on youth mental health. They explore the triggers leading to suicidal thoughts, focusing on restrictions on technology use as precipitating factors. Dr. Chatfield also discusses the demographic trends in youth suicide and suggests prevention strategies, emphasizing the importance of diverse leisure activities and open communication between parents and their children. The episode concludes with practical advice for both professionals and parents on how to support youth effectively.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:22 Guest Introduction: Dr. Cheryl Chatfield

01:27 Research Origins: Technology and Youth Suicide

03:42 Trends in Youth Suicide

05:21 The Role of Technology in Suicidal Behavior

07:17 Understanding Suicidal Ideation in Youth

15:56 Age-Related Differences in Suicide Motivations

20:18 Impact of Mental Health Crisis on Youth

25:07 Conflicts and Restrictions Leading to Suicidal Behavior

26:48 Grieving the Loss of a Chatbot

27:35 Addiction and Withdrawal Symptoms

28:36 Social Media and Gaming Stress

29:48 Fear of Missing Out

31:05 Identity and Online Presence

32:13 Technology Use and Mental Health

36:44 Demographics of Youth Suicide

40:43 Prevention Strategies

46:52 Encouraging Diverse Activities

51:14 Concluding Thoughts

Resources:

Exploring the role of technology in youth and adolescent deaths by suicide using data from the 2017-2019 National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) - PubMed

Prevalence of Suspected Medical Child Abuse in the School Setting: A Study of School Nurses - PubMed

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Medical Child Abuse: When Caregivers Deceive

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Jim Hamilton, an associate professor adjunct at Yale School of Medicine, on the topic of medical child abuse. They explore the complexities of why caregivers might fabricate illnesses in their children, the significant discrepancies that pediatricians should look for, and the systemic issues that enable this form of abuse. Dr. Hamilton shares insights from his experience and research, including an innovative study using school nurses to understand the prevalence and detection of medical child abuse. The episode underscores the importance of early intervention, compassionate care, and preventing the escalation of such cases to protect children and support families.

Time Topic

00:00 Introduction to Medical Child Abuse

01:21 Dr. Jim Hamilton's Journey into Medical Deception

04:19 Understanding Medical Child Abuse

06:33 Indicators and Evidence of Medical Child Abuse

09:52 The Role of Healthcare Professionals

12:02 Complexities in Diagnosing Medical Child Abuse

17:22 Systemic Issues and Parental Influence

25:10 Legal Challenges and Case Studies

26:14 The Chilling Reality of Medical Child Abuse

27:16 Prevalence and Study Design Insights

27:52 Understanding Medical Child Abuse: Rare or Not?

31:15 The Role of School Nurses in Identifying Abuse

36:04 Study Findings and Surprising Results

43:00 The Importance of Early Intervention and Compassion

51:40 Final Thoughts and Future Directions

Resources

More Severe Juror Sexual Abuse Strengthens Empathy for Child Sexual Abuse Victims: Meta-Analyses - Tayler M. Jones-Cieminski, Margaret Stevenson, Bette L. Bottoms, 2025

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When Child Sexual Abuse Hits Home for Jurors

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Maggie Stevenson, Associate Professor of Psychology at Kenyon College, about the interplay between jurors' personal histories of child sexual abuse and their attitudes and decisions in similar cases. The conversation delves into Dr. Stevenson's meta-analysis study, which explores whether adult survivors of child sexual abuse exhibit more empathy toward child victims and examines the implications for jury selection. The discussion highlights how severity of past abuse impacts juror empathy, potential biases, and the need for more trauma-informed practices within the court system. The episode raises important questions about practical legal implications and suggests areas for future research to ensure fairness in child sexual abuse trials.

Time Stamps:

TimeTopic

00:00 Introduction to Today's Topic

01:28 Meet Dr. Maggie Stevenson

02:06 Research Background and Study Design

04:53 Key Findings and Implications

10:17 Challenges in Defining Severity

21:01 Practical Implications for the Court System

26:04 Future Research Directions

31:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources:

Changing Profiles of Youth Referred for Commercial Sexual Exploitation before and since the Onset of COVID-19 in the United States - Matthew Kafafian, Ieke de Vries, Amy Farrell, Christen Asiedu, Elizabeth Bouchard, 2025

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What the Pandemic Revealed About Exploited Youth

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar talks with Dr. Matt Kafafian from George Washington University about his research on how the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the nature of the characteristics of exploited youth served by a Children’s Advocacy Center. Dr. Kafafian discusses significant findings from studies examining post-pandemic changes in the identification and referral of commercially sexually exploited children and youth. They explore how shifts to online environments and evolving police and social service practices have impacted the demographics and types of exploitation cases being reported. Key points include the new challenges facing child abuse professionals, changes in risk factors, and the implications for screening tools designed to identify vulnerable youth. Dr. Kafafian also discusses emerging trends related to gender differences and mental health issues among exploited youth, highlighting the need for updated tools and approaches in the field.

Time Stamps

Time Topic

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:17 Guest Introduction: Dr. Matt Kavian

00:48 Impact of the Pandemic on Youth Exploitation

04:29 Pre-Pandemic Vulnerabilities and Risk Factors

06:53 Changes in Youth Exploitation During the Pandemic

08:39 Study Findings and Hypotheses

24:20 Implications for Child Abuse Professionals

26:35 Future Research Directions

29:17 Acknowledgments and Conclusion

Resources

Identifying novel forms of reluctance in commercially sexually exploited adolescents - PubMed

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Why They Don't Tell: Understanding Reluctance in Trafficked Youth

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of 'One in Ten', host Teresa Huizar speaks with researcher Scarlet Cho, a doctoral student at the University of California Irvine, about the reluctance of trafficked youth to disclose their experiences to authorities. They explore the unique challenges these youth face, including complex relationships with their exploiters, mistrust of police and legal systems, and the adversarial nature of initial police interactions. Scarlet shares insights from her research on forensic interviews and court testimonies, highlighting the need for better rapport-building strategies and trauma-informed approaches to improve the disclosure process and support for these vulnerable adolescents.

Time Stamps:

Time Topic

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

00:59 Understanding Reluctance in Trafficked Youth

01:46 Scarlet Chip's Research Journey

03:33 Developing a Coding Scheme for Reluctance

04:44 Unique Challenges of Interviewing Trafficked Adolescents

09:04 Study Hypotheses and Methodology

12:09 Key Findings and Surprising Insights

19:53 Implications for Practitioners

30:12 Future Directions and Final Thoughts

Resources:

“I Feel Closer to Her Now That I Know What She Went Through”: Findings from a Survey on Siblings’ Relationships Following Childhood Sexual Abuse - Rosaleen McElvaney, Simon Dunne, Laura Cahill, Rachael McDonnell Murray, 2025

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How Child Sexual Abuse Silences Non-Abused Siblings

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400

In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Rosaleen McElvaney, a clinical psychologist and lecturer in psychology at Dublin City University. They delve into the often-overlooked impact of child sexual abuse on non-abused siblings. The discussion covers topics such as the changes in sibling relationships post-disclosure, the psychological and emotional toll on non-abused siblings, and the challenges in providing adequate support. Dr. McElvaney shares insights from her research, which includes both a small qualitative study and a larger survey, emphasizing the need for more attention and resources dedicated to understanding and supporting the entire family affected by abuse.

Time Stamps:

Time. Topic

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:24 The Importance of Sibling Relationships in Abuse Cases

02:01 Research Origins and Initial Findings

11:56 Challenges and Surprises in Research

16:54 Exploring Closeness and Emotional Support

26:02 The Power of Belief in Family Relationships

26:38 Survey Insights on Sibling Belief

27:23 Ambivalence and Misunderstandings

29:16 The Complexity of Disclosure

31:04 Delayed Disclosure and Its Impact

33:34 The Burden of Keeping Secrets

34:33 Intra-Familial Abuse and Its Consequences

39:06 Advice for Professionals

43:23 Encouragement for Future Research

Resources

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Best of the Best: Which Child Abuse Reports Matter?

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0400

This episode originally aired November 7, 2024.

In this episode of One in Ten, Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Melanie Nadon from the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, about the intricacies of mandatory reporting in child abuse cases. The discussion delves into the disparities in report substantiations by educators compared to other professionals, the influence of socio-political shifts on welfare referrals, and the challenges of over-reporting. The conversation highlights findings from Dr. Nadon's recent study, shedding light on the complex interplay between poverty, race, and the child welfare system. The episode emphasizes the need for refined mandatory reporting training and better public policy solutions to support families effectively.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:18 Guest Introduction: Dr. Melanie Nadon

00:48 The Disparity in Child Abuse Reporting

01:38 Motivations Behind the Study

01:56 Impact of the Pandemic on Welfare Referrals

03:27 Understanding Mandatory Reporting

05:48 Educators and Mandatory Reporting

10:14 Hypotheses and Surprising Findings

13:56 Role of Medical and Legal Professionals

16:16 Implications of Prior Maltreatment

22:26 Poverty and Child Welfare

37:53 State vs. County Administered Systems

44:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Lean On Me: The Role of Organizational and Supervisory Support in Understanding Work Outcomes in Victim Advocates. | Semantic Scholar

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Tackling Victim Advocate Burnout

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Maddison North, an assistant professor at Middle Tennessee State University, about burnout and turnover among victim advocates. The conversation explores the causes and consequences of burnout, highlighting the chronic exposure to secondary trauma, high workload, and insufficient resources. Dr. North discusses the Job Demands Resource Model, organizational and supervisory support's role, and findings from her recent study on retention and burnout in victim advocacy. They delve into how work culture, team support, purpose, and organizational strategies can mitigate burnout and enhance employee well-being.

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction to Victim Advocate Burnout

01:28 Meet Dr. Maddison North

03:26 Understanding Burnout

04:51 Job Demands and Resources

06:59 Burnout in Helping Professions

08:11 Organizational and Supervisory Support

13:39 Retention Themes

22:49 Burnout Themes

25:46 Strategies to Combat Burnout

37:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources

Image-based sexual abuse profiles: Integrating mental health, adversities, and victimization to explore social contexts in a diverse group of young adults - ScienceDirect

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Image-Based Sexual Abuse: The Pain That Never Goes Away

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Show Notes

In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Kimberly Mitchell from the University of New Hampshire's Crimes Against Children Research Center. The discussion centers on image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) and its unique, amplifying effects on victims. They delve into the disturbing prevalence of various forms of IBSA, including coercion and threatening behavior among youth. The conversation also explores the severe psychological impacts such as increased risk of suicide and non-suicidal self-injury among victims.

Additionally, Dr. Mitchell discusses the challenges and complexities of researching this rapidly evolving field amidst advances in digital and AI technology. Potential future research directions, including the role of social support and community engagement, are also highlighted.

Time Topic

00:00 Introduction to Image-Based Sexual Abuse

01:15 Defining Image-Based Sexual Abuse

02:53 Research Background and Technological Impact

05:07 Unique Harms of Image-Based Sexual Abuse

08:47 Study Design and Participant Demographics

11:05 Key Findings and Hypotheses

14:35 Diverse Experiences and Future Research

17:57 Prevalence and Prevention Challenges

23:35 Navigating Healthy Spaces and Influencer Strategies

24:37 Creative Approaches in Child Abuse Prevention

25:58 Global Perspectives on Youth Involvement

28:44 Vulnerabilities of Sexual Minority Youth Online

30:09 Social Support and Online Vulnerabilities

33:18 Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Image-Based Sexual Abuse

38:24 Future Research Directions and Resiliency

39:52 Bystander Intervention and Positive Variance

41:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources

Sometimes, Only Some Siblings Go to Foster Care: Exploring Split Sibling Groups in a Nationwide Sample - PubMed

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Siblings Divided at Home and Foster Care

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Show Notes

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Dylan Jones, a postdoctoral fellow at Penn State University, about the nuanced circumstances surrounding partial sibling placements in foster care. They explore the frequency, reasons, and impacts of cases where some siblings are placed in foster care while others remain at home. Key topics include the legal gaps in sibling visitation rights, the common scenarios leading to partial placements, and the implications for children's safety and well-being. Dr. Jones shares insights from his research utilizing Incans data and outlines future directions in understanding and improving outcomes for these children.

Time Topic

00:00 Introduction to Sibling Separation in Foster Care

02:36 Exploring the Reasons for Sibling Separation

05:06 Frequency and Implications of Split Sibling Groups

05:48 Legal Gaps and Study Overview

08:52 Key Findings on Split Home Groups

12:23 Re-Reports and Long-Term Outcomes

19:40 Practical Implications for Caseworkers

21:26 Future Research Directions

27:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources

The Impact of Mandatory Reporting Policies on
Adolescent Sexual Assault Case Progression in the
Criminal Legal System

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Healing Beyond Justice for Teen Sexual Assault Survivors

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of "One in Ten," host Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Jessica Shaw, an associate professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago, about the criminal justice system's response to adolescent sexual assault. They discuss mandatory reporting laws, prosecution rates, and the broader implications for survivors. Dr. Shaw, a community psychologist, shares her extensive research findings, highlighting systemic challenges and the critical importance of procedural justice in healing. They also explore the role of multidisciplinary responses, the impact of environment on victim experience, and the influence of community and systems in supporting survivors. The episode underscores the need for a victim-centered approach and the necessity of procedural improvements in the handling of these sensitive cases.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:19 Guest Introduction: Dr. Jessica Shaw

01:57 Understanding Community Psychology

04:09 The Role of Mandatory Reporting

05:18 Research on Adolescent Sexual Assault

10:27 Challenges in the Criminal Justice System

15:43 Study Findings and Implications

27:47 Procedural Justice and Survivor Experience

40:37 Future Research and Closing Remarks

Resources:

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Child Sex Trafficking Starts at Home

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of One in Ten, Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Vanessa Bouché, research fellow at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, about child sex trafficking and the 25-year impact of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). The conversation delves into the origins and patterns of child sex trafficking, the federal and state legislative responses, and the importance of empirical data in shaping effective policies. Dr. Bouché shares insights from her studies, highlighting the intersection with other forms of child abuse and the need for increased prevention efforts. The episode also explores the role of technology and corporate accountability in combating trafficking, and the importance of addressing the root causes and behaviors leading to both victimization and perpetration.

Time Topic

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:24 The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA)

01:25 Dr. Bouché 's Journey into Human Trafficking Research

03:15 Challenges in Data Collection and Prosecution

04:12 Federal vs. State Prosecutions

06:39 Trends and Challenges in Human Trafficking Cases

14:48 The Role of Technology and Online Exploitation

18:28 Prevention and Legislative Gaps

24:06 Corporate Accountability and Public Responsibility

31:48 Intersectionality and Vulnerable Populations

37:28 Future Research and Concluding Thoughts

Resources:

Federal Human Trafficking Prosecution Data: Identifying Trends, Gaps, and Disparities to Advance Evidence-Based Reforms

Spirituality, self-blame, and trauma symptoms among adolescents waiting for treatment after disclosing sexual abuse

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Is God Punishing Me?

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400

In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Ernie Jouriles, professor and director of clinical training at Southern Methodist University, to explore the profound influence of spirituality and divine struggles on children and teens who have experienced sexual abuse. They discuss why some young individuals perceive their abuse as divine punishment, the role of self-blame, and the minimal attention the intersection of spirituality and mental health has received in child maltreatment literature. Dr. Jouriles shares findings from his studies, revealing significant predictors of trauma symptoms over time and highlighting the need for a holistic approach to care that includes discussing faith-related concerns. Practical implications for child advocacy professionals and the potential role of faith leaders in supporting affected children are also explored.

Time Stamps

Time Topic

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:19 Guest Introduction: Dr. Ernie Jouriles

01:24 Exploring the Relationship Between Spirituality and Child Sexual Abuse

03:49 Study Findings on Spiritual Struggles and Mental Health

06:06 Understanding Spiritual Support and Struggles

10:13 Implications of Self-Blame and Divine Struggles

15:46 Future Research Directions and Practical Applications

29:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

39:31 Closing Remarks and Podcast Information

Resources:

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Honoring their Stories: Intentional Engagement in Advocacy, Education, and Prevention

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0400

This episode features a live conference panel discussion led by NCA CEO, Teresa Huizar, at the 2025 NCA Leadership Conference. Highlighting their theme of 'Everyday Champions,' the discussion features three inspiring survivor advocates: Jenna Quinn, Jimmy Widdifield, and Dr. Danielle Moore. Each panelist shares their experiences, challenges, and motivations for becoming public voices for change. They delve into critical topics such as survivor involvement, the importance of trauma-informed approaches, and the ethics of utilizing survivor stories. Practical advice and personal anecdotes emphasize the importance of support, authenticity, and the avoidance of exploitation or tokenism. The segment concludes with each panelist offering insights into best practices for inviting and amplifying survivor voices in a respectful and ethical manner.

Time Topic

00:00 Introduction

01:25 Panel Introduction and Survivorship

02:27 Jenna Quinn's Story and Advocacy

03:36 Jimmy Widdifield's Experience and Work

04:32 Dr. Danielle Moore's Mission and Advocacy

05:37 The Importance of Survivor Inclusion

07:30 Deciding to Go Public: Personal Stories

15:45 Handling Media and Public Speaking

30:29 Ethics of Sharing Trauma Narratives

33:17 Ethical Considerations in Survivor Storytelling

36:03 Avoiding Tokenism and Ensuring Authentic Input

40:53 Creating a Supportive Environment for Survivors

45:14 Positive Experiences and Lessons Learned

50:53 Cautionary Tales and Advice

54:37 Key Takeaways for Working with Survivors

57:48 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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Understaffed and Undersupported Detectives in Crisis

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode of “One in Ten,” host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Lisa Nichols, an assistant professor at the University of Northern Colorado, to discuss the challenges faced by child abuse detectives. The episode delves into the complexities and emotional toll of child sexual abuse investigations, highlighting findings from Dr. Nichols' study. Key themes include understaffing, high turnover, funding issues, the emotional impact on detectives, and communication challenges with Child Protective Services (CPS). Dr. Nichols emphasizes the need for better support and resources, including culturally competent mental health services, to improve the wellbeing and effectiveness of these law enforcement professionals.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction: Detectives in Crisis

02:10 Interview with Dr. Lisa Nichols

04:00 Study Design and Methodology

06:09 Key Findings: Funding and Emotional Toll

15:13 Challenges of High Turnover

31:42 Communication Issues with CPS

39:08 Implications for Policy and Practice

42:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources:

“It’s Like We Never See the Light at the End of the
Tunnel”: Law Enforcement Perceptions on Stakeholder
Collaboration and Resources at CACs in a Southern
State; Journal of Child Sexual Abuse; February 2025

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Teachers Using Tech to Cross the Line

Thu, 22 May 2025 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar talks with researcher Kotomi Yokokura about the critical issue of educator sexual misconduct and the role of electronic communication in these offenses. Yokokura shares her personal motivation and findings from her study, which reveals the alarming prevalence of misconduct, including frequent use of social media and messaging apps for grooming. They discuss the need for clearer policies, better informed consent from parents, and the implications of increased technology use in education post-pandemic. They also highlight the challenges and potential solutions in protecting students both online and offline.

Time Stamps:

00:00  Introduction and Episode Overview

01:33  Meet Kotomi Yokokura: Personal Journey and Research

02:58  Understanding Educator Sexual Misconduct

05:07  The Role of Electronic Communication in Misconduct

05:42  Data and Findings from Disciplinary Records

08:54  Characteristics of Offending Educators

14:05  Impact on Students and Parental Awareness

21:31  Policy Recommendations and Future Research

34:50  Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources:

Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Description of Electronic Communication Use; Journal of Child Sexual Abuse; January 2025

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When the Help You Seek is for Yourself

Thu, 01 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Melissa Bright, founder and executive director of the Center for Violence Prevention Research. They discuss the What's OK Helpline, a groundbreaking initiative designed to help youth with problematic sexual behaviors seek intervention and support. Dr. Bright shares insights from her research and experiences with the helpline, highlighting the surprising number of young people proactively seeking help for their behaviors and the importance of early intervention. The episode sheds light on how this service is changing narratives around youth and sexual harm, offering hope and practical solutions for prevention and support.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to Today's Episode

01:28 Meet Dr. Melissa Bright

01:40 The What's Okay Helpline: Origins and Purpose

03:19 How the Helpline Operates

06:22 Advertising and Demographics

11:22 Youth Concerns and Helpline Impact

21:32 Challenges and Misconceptions

25:08 The Role of Social Media

26:19 Research Insights and Future Directions

36:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources:

Dr. Melissa Bright is the Executive Director of the Center for Violence Prevention Research.

Groundbreaking research on sexual harm caused by youth will strengthen prevention strategies; Center for Violence Prevention Research; March 19, 2023

What's OK Helpline

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Remembering Their Names

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Emily Putnam-Hornstein and Dr. Sarah Font, co-principal investigators of Lives Cut Short, about the persistent issue of child abuse fatalities and why progress in reducing these deaths has stalled. The episode delves into the emotional impact of child abuse cases, the challenges of accurate data collection, the reluctance to discuss child safety, and the need for systemic changes. They also highlight the importance of transparency and evidence-based interventions, and recommend practical steps that policymakers can take to better protect vulnerable children.

Editor's note: Dr. Font's connection during the interview was inconsistent due to a storm in her area, leading to some glitches in her audio that we worked to troubleshoot. We apologize for the lower quality. Please see transcript for clarity in Dr. Font's answers.

Time and Topic

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:30 Personal Story: The Case That Stuck

02:35 Interview with Dr. Emily Putnam-Hornstein and Dr. Sarah Font

04:14 Challenges in Child Abuse Fatality Data

08:10 State-Level Data and Reporting Issues

25:10 Policy Recommendations and Future Directions

47:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources:

Drs. Emily Putnam-Hornstein and Sarah Font are co-principal investigators of Lives Cut Short, a join project of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the American Enterprise Institute.

Maryland recorded an alarming rise in child deaths from abuse and neglect. No one noticed; Jessica Calefati, The Baltimore Banner; February 3, 2025

One in Ten; Prediction as Prevention, with Dr. Emily Putnam-Hornstein; Season 1, Episode 7, August 5, 2019

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Twice the Harm: Children, Domestic Violence, and Abuse

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar talks with Dr. Rebecca Rebbe, an assistant professor at UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work, to delve into the complex intersection of child abuse and domestic violence. The discussion covers the co-occurrence of these issues, especially affecting very young children, and addresses concerns about overexposure to foster care. They examine the challenges of identifying and managing cases involving domestic violence, neglect, substance abuse, and mental illness. Dr. Rebbe elaborates on her research using data from California's child welfare system to shed light on safety assessments, substantiation rates, and the implications for out-of-home placements. The episode highlights the importance of tailored interventions, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the need for improved data to better understand and address these multifaceted cases.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:18 Guest Introduction: Dr. Rebecca Rebbe

01:45 Research Background and Initial Findings

04:16 Understanding Domestic Violence Exposure

05:21 Research Questions and Methodology

07:11 Failure to Protect: A Controversial Paradigm

11:52 Prevalence and Impact of Domestic Violence in CPS Cases

20:34 Co-occurring Issues and Case Complexity

22:47 Reporting and Substantiation Challenges

32:45 Policy Implications and Future Research

38:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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When Kids Witness the Unimaginable

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 11:00:00 -0400

In this episode of One in Ten, Teresa Huizar speaks with Katie Connell, a forensic interviewing expert and retired FBI unit chief, about the impact of mass violence on children. They discuss the prevalence of mass violence incidents, the importance of trauma-informed care for child witnesses, and the evolving roles of Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) in these tragic events. The conversation explores challenges and strategies in interviewing child witnesses, the need for strong community partnerships, and long-term impacts on affected communities. Insights are also shared on supporting the resilience of first responders and the critical role of CACs in providing ongoing support to traumatized children.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

00:26 Understanding Mass Violence

01:07 Impact on Children and Trauma-Informed Care

01:47 Interview with Katie Connell

02:18 Defining Mass Violence Incidents

03:50 Role of CACs in Mass Violence

06:10 Case Study: Columbine and Its Long-Term Effects

09:48 Challenges and Considerations for Forensic Interviewers

12:09 Federal and Local Law Enforcement Collaboration

21:56 Community Partnerships and Long-Term Support

27:00 Supporting Responders and Secondary Trauma

35:17 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Links:

FBI-NCA MOU (memorandum of understanding) began in 2015 and was updated in 2022; it ensures our law enforcement partners have access to CAC services needed to investigate and prosecute federal child abuse cases

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Enforcing the Institutional Boundaries that Keep Kids Safe

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0500

In this episode of One in Ten, Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Luciana Assini-Meytin from the MOORE Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. They discuss the effectiveness of policies and procedures implemented by various institutions to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse over the past two decades. The conversation explores boundary-violating behaviors, the role of codes of conduct, and the impact of these measures on child safety. The episode highlights research findings showing a decline in abuse within some organizations, while also identifying areas needing further improvement. Dr. Assini-Meytin shares valuable insights for parents and child abuse professionals on maintaining and observing professional boundaries to protect children.

Time Stamps:

00:00 - Introduction and Episode Overview

01:24 - Guest Introduction: Dr. Luciana Assini-Meytin

01:33 - Research Background and Methodology

04:10 - Understanding Boundary Violating Behaviors

11:27 - Key Findings and Implications

17:20 - Challenges and Future Directions

33:15 - Practical Advice for Parents and Professionals

37:50 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Links:
Luciana C. Assini Meytin, Ph.D., MS is an Associate Scientist at the MOORE Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Assini-Meytin, L. C., McPhail, I., Sun, Y., Mathews, B., Kaufman, K. L., & Letourneau, E. J. (2024). Child Sexual Abuse and Boundary Violating Behaviors in Youth Serving Organizations: Child Maltreatment.

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Looking Back to Look Forward in Child Welfare

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 13:00:00 -0500

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Meg Sullivan, former Acting Assistant Secretary for the Administration of Children and Families, about the efforts and policies of the Biden administration in child welfare. The discussion explores challenges like preventing child abuse, the effectiveness of foster care placements, and strategies for addressing family neglect without primarily associating it with poverty. Dr. Sullivan highlights significant achievements, ongoing challenges, and promising practices like the Family First Prevention Act, which emphasizes preventative measures to keep families together. The conversation also touches on innovative programs that provide direct financial assistance to families and youth at risk of homelessness. Additionally, there is a focus on the work being done to address human trafficking, emphasizing the need for continuous investment and collaboration to tackle these critical issues.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to Today's Episode

01:21 Meet Dr. Meg Sullivan

01:25 Dr. Sullivan's Career Journey

03:38 Challenges in Child Welfare

05:49 Policy Changes and Their Impact

06:46 Family First Prevention Act

08:31 Addressing Neglect and Poverty

12:52 Promising Practices and Innovations

22:59 Human Trafficking Prevention

27:45 Unfinished Business and Future Hopes

35:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Links:

Dr. Meg Sullivan, MD, MPH, is a former Acting Assistant Secretary for the Administration of Children and Families

Family First Prevention Services Act

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Work Requirements

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Sibling Sexual Abuse and Preschool-Age Children

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0500

In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Jane Silovsky, Director of the Center of Child Abuse and Neglect at the University of Oklahoma, Health Sciences Center. They discuss the often-overlooked issue of sibling sexual abuse and preschool-aged children, examining risk factors, prevalence, and the challenges in addressing this sensitive topic. Key points include the difference in behaviors between preschoolers and older children, the role of maltreatment, and the impact of exposure to sexual content online. Dr. Silovsky emphasizes hope through effective treatment and offers practical advice for child abuse professionals on handling these cases with empathy and understanding.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

01:29 Welcoming Dr. Jane Silovsky

01:59 Research on Preschoolers with Problematic Sexual Behavior

04:00 Defining Problematic Sexual Behavior in Young Children

05:50 Understanding Sibling Sexual Abuse

09:30 Impact of Family Dynamics and Exposure

11:54 Influence of Online Content and Technology

14:16 Details of the Study and Key Findings

21:31 Implications for Child Abuse Professionals

28:14 Prevention and Policy Recommendations

35:31 Concluding Thoughts and Acknowledgements

Links

Jane Silovsky, Ph.D., is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She serves as the CMRI/Jean Gumerson Endowed Chair, director of the Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, and director of the National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth.

Nicole Barton, Cierra Henson, Kimberly Lopez, Emma Lambert, Jordan Simmons, Erin Taylor, Jane Silovsky,
Characteristics of preschool-age children who engage in problematic sexual behaviors with siblings,
Child Abuse & Neglect, 2024

“Sexual Behavior in Youth: What’s Normal? What’s Not? And What Can We Do About It?” (Season 3, Episode 15, November 5, 2021)

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What Adult Survivors Tell Us About Grooming

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 13:00:00 -0500

In this episode, titled 'What Adult Survivors Tell Us About Grooming,' Teresa Huizar interviews Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic, a leading researcher on grooming behaviors. They discuss Dr. Jeglic's recent study involving adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and the prevalence of grooming behaviors. Dr. Jeglic elaborates on the stages of grooming and details specific red flag behaviors that indicate potential grooming. The conversation emphasizes the importance of educating children, parents, and teachers to recognize and prevent grooming. They also touch on policy implications and the need for evidence-based prevention programs. This episode serves as a deep dive into the mechanisms of grooming and offers practical advice for safeguarding children.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to Grooming Behaviors

01:34 Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic's Journey into Grooming Research

03:10 Defining and Identifying Grooming

05:03 Red Flag Behaviors in Grooming

06:28 Prevalence and Impact of Grooming

10:01 Survivor Stories and Insights

19:20 Prevention Education and Public Policy

27:52 Future Research and Concluding Thoughts

Links:

Elizabeth L. Jeglic, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York

"How Good Are Parents at Recognizing Grooming?" (Season 6, Episode 7, May 30, 2024)

“The Real Red Flags of Grooming” (Season 5, Episode 4, March 24, 2023)

Winters GM, Jeglic EL, Johnson BN, Chou C. The prevalence of sexual grooming behaviors among survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Child Abuse Negl. 2024 Aug

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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Why Kids Run: The Foster Care to Trafficking Pipeline

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0500

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Arturo Garcia, a doctoral researcher at the University of South Florida, about child sex trafficking and its intersection with foster care. They delve into the factors contributing to child sex trafficking, the vulnerabilities tied to foster care, and the reasons why children run away from safe environments. Garcia discusses his research on behavioral analysis and its application in understanding and mitigating these issues. The conversation highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approaches and interventions, as well as the need for systemic changes and better connectivity among support services.

Topics in this episode

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

01:21 Meet Arturo Garcia

01:38 Arturo's Journey into Child Welfare

03:13 Understanding Scoping Reviews

04:42 Prevention vs. Intervention in Child Trafficking

06:42 Behavior Analysis in Child Welfare

15:11 Multidisciplinary Approaches

18:17 Challenges in Foster Care

22:54 Behavioral Insights on Running Away

31:42 Arturo's Wishes for Child Welfare

36:51 Conclusion and Future Work

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Which Child Abuse Reports Matter? with Melanie Nadon, Ph.D., MPA

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0500

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:18 Guest Introduction: Dr. Melanie Nadon

00:48 The Disparity in Child Abuse Reporting

01:38 Motivations Behind the Study

01:56 Impact of the Pandemic on Welfare Referrals

03:27 Understanding Mandatory Reporting

05:48 Educators and Mandatory Reporting

10:14 Hypotheses and Surprising Findings

13:56 Role of Medical and Legal Professionals

16:16 Implications of Prior Maltreatment

22:26 Poverty and Child Welfare

37:53 State vs. County Administered Systems

44:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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How Trauma Fuels The Sex Trade with Klejdis Bilali

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar converses with Klejdis Bilali, a doctoral researcher at the University of South Florida's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Lab, about the intricate connections between childhood abuse, substance abuse, and the commercial sex industry. The dialogue explores the intergenerational pathways leading to involvement in the sex trade, particularly focusing on the specific vulnerabilities faced by mothers. The discussion delves into the emotional and psychological impacts of child custody relinquishment among trafficked women, the ethical dilemmas they face, and the socioeconomic stigmas surrounding substance-using mothers. It also addresses the systemic gaps in support systems, advocating for more compassionate, nuanced, and long-term care for affected families. The episode highlights findings from various studies and emphasizes the importance of sustained research and compassionate intervention to holistically support trafficking victims.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

01:34 Guest Introduction: Klejdis Bilali

01:38 Klejdis Bilali's Journey into Research

02:42 Defining Commercial Sex Work

03:59 Links Between Child Abuse and Sex Trafficking

05:38 Vulnerabilities of Mothers in the Sex Trade

07:35 Substance Abuse and Control Tactics

09:41 Challenges in Child Custody for Trafficked Mothers

11:27 Intergenerational Trauma and Victimization

13:25 Study Hypotheses and Findings

18:04 Foster Care and Trafficking

19:30 Attachment Issues in Foster Care

19:50 Challenges in Child Welfare System

21:37 Substance Abuse and Familial Influence

23:01 Ethical Dilemmas in Custody Decisions

26:11 Support Systems and Family Dynamics

31:51 Research Gaps and Future Directions

35:15 Advice for Professionals and Policymakers

38:05 Encouragement for Students and Final Thoughts

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Breaking Taboo: Addressing Sibling Sexual Abuse with Amy Adams

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 13:00:00 -0400

In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar interviews Amy Adams, a Ph.D. doctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham, about the complex and often overlooked issue of sibling sexual abuse. They discuss the challenges surrounding the disclosure and identification of such cases, the family dynamics involved, and the societal stigmas associated. Amy shares her extensive research findings from the National Sibling Sexual Abuse Project, including the prevalence, family stressors, and the need for whole-family, trauma-informed approaches to intervention. The conversation highlights the importance of public awareness and comprehensive support systems to help families navigate the repercussions of sibling sexual abuse.

Time Stamps:

00:00: Introduction to One in Ten

01:36: Meet Amy Adams: Researcher on Sibling Sexual Abuse

01:50: The National Sibling Sexual Abuse Project

05:17: Exploring the Prevalence of Sibling Sexual Abuse

08:27: Public Perception and Family Dynamics

28:35: Disclosure and Family Reactions

35:36: Implications for Practice and Future Research

40:03: Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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The Ripple Effects of Firearm Injuries in Children with Dr. Zirui Song

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of "One in Ten," host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Zirui Song, an Associate Professor of Healthcare Policy and Medicine at Harvard Medical School, about the extensive impact of firearm injuries on children and their families. They discuss the often overshadowed effects of these injuries, such as the long-term trauma and significant healthcare costs. Dr. Song shares findings from his research, which reveals that not only do surviving children face increased physical pain, psychiatric disorders, and substance use, but their families also suffer substantial mental health impacts and financial strains. They delve into the demographics of injured children, highlighting that older children in their teenage years are often more affected than younger ones. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of gun safety measures, such as gun locks, and the role of healthcare professionals in prevention. Dr. Song's research calls attention to the broader societal and economic implications of firearm injuries, urging public health and policy interventions. The episode underscores the necessity for comprehensive support and preventive strategies to mitigate the devastating consequences of firearm injuries on children and their families.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to Firearm Injuries in Children

01:44 Interview with Dr. Zirui Song

03:09 The Impact of Firearm Injuries on Families

06:15 Prevalence and Demographics of Firearm Injuries

19:00 Psychological and Physical Effects on Survivors

29:31 Economic Burden of Firearm Injuries

33:28 Employer and Public Policy Implications

39:07 Future Research and Final Thoughts

47:18 Conclusion and Call to Action

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Why Belonging Matters

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode of One in Ten, Teresa Huizar speaks with Gaelin Elmore, Youth Advocate, Speaker, and Belonging Champion. They discuss the significant impact of belonging on children who have faced adversities, and how child abuse professionals can incorporate belonging into their work to foster better outcomes. Gaelin shares his personal journey of resilience and the profound importance of belonging in his life, highlighting practical steps for professionals to create environments that foster belonging for the youth they serve.

Learn more about Gaelin at his website

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

02:02 Meet Gaelin Elmore

02:50 Gaelin's Journey to Belonging

13:09 The Role of Safety and Connection

17:17 Belonging in Child Advocacy

38:28 Public Policy and Belonging

42:55 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

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Why Don't More Teachers Report Abuse?

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0400

Why Don't More Teachers Report Abuse? Understanding the Challenges and Solutions

In this episode of 'One in Ten,' host Teresa Huizar speaks with Amanda Glouchkow, a Research Assistant at the University of Ottawa, about the complexities teachers face in identifying and reporting child abuse. They discuss the accuracy of teachers identifying various forms of abuse, the inconsistency in reporting, and the international differences in training and cultural norms. The conversation explores underlying factors such as teacher training, beliefs, and systemic support, highlighting the need for better preparation and support for teachers as mandatory reporters. Amanda also shares surprising findings from her research and emphasizes the importance of improving training and support for educators.

Glouchkow's study:

Glouchkow, A., Weegar, K. & Romano, E. Teachers’ Responses to Child Maltreatment. Journ Child Adol Trauma 16, 95–108 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-022-00473-2

Topics in this episode

Time Topic

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:18 Meet Amanda Glouchkow: From Design to Child Abuse Research

02:52 Global Variations in Child Abuse Reporting

05:58 Barriers to Child Abuse Detection and Reporting

11:03 Surprising Findings on Abuse Identification

15:48 Study Design and Methodology

28:02 Implications for Training and Support

35:28 Future Research and Final Thoughts

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Creating Change Through Storytelling

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 21:00:00 -0400

How do we persuade people more effectively and more authentically? And how does telling our own leadership story help those we’re trying to persuade to trust us and what we’re trying to do? Storytelling, and using it to make human connections, is a key part of the answer. We spoke with Sally Zimney, the author of Speaking Story, to learn more.

Topics in this episode:

02:41 – Origin story

06:22 – Storytelling is having a moment

11:27 – Female leaders, storytelling, and leadership

15:14 – What is a story?

16:58 – Misconceptions about storytelling

19:33 – Find your own story

29:52 – What the audience needs from you

33:06 – How do you want people to feel?

35:13 – Editing

37:49 – Terrible advice

39:39 – Preparing (great advice)

44:46 – Perfection kills connection

51:01 – For more information

Links:

Sally Zimney is the author of Speaking Story; visit her website at bemoved.com

Sally was the closing speaker at the 2024 NCA Leadership Conference

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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Which Kids Do We Believe?

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 03:00:00 -0400

Black children and other children of color are less likely to be believed when reporting sexual violence and are considered less credible by jurors. But in multidisciplinary team settings, we pride ourselves on openly discussing all aspects of a case and coming into a case neutrally and allowing the disclosure and any corroborating evidence to determine the future direction of a case. But are we overconfident in these factors being enough to avoid disparate substantiation rates in child sexual abuse cases? Dr. Maggie Stevenson joins us to talk about how race affects whether children who disclose sexual abuse are seen as credible.

Topics in this episode:

1:43 – Origin story
5:06 – Previous research
7:31 – Study design
10:35 – Examining a difficult topic
14:57 – Hypotheses
20:06 – Findings
23:26 – Advice for child abuse professionals
28:43 – Policy implications
31:27 – A small test of change
33:05 – Next research
37:08 – For more information

Links:

Margaret (Maggie) C. Stevenson, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, Kenyon College

“When Disclosure Fails to Substantiate Abuse: Child and Perpetrator Race Predict Child Sexual Abuse Substantiation,” by Margaret C. Stevenson and Molly A. Rivers, Child Maltreatment 2023, Vol. 28, Issue 4. DOI: 10.1177/10775595231157729

Bette L. Bottoms, Ph.D.

The Legacy of Racism for Children: Psychology, Law, and Public Policy, edited by Margaret C. Stevenson, Bette L. Bottoms, and Kelly C. Burke (Oxford University Press, 2020)

Criminal Juries in the 21st Century: Psychological Science and the Law, (Oxford University Press, 2018)

“Effects of victim and defendant race on jurors’ decisions in child sexual abuse cases,” Bette L. Bottoms, Suzanne L. Davis, Michelle A. Epstein, Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Vol. 34, Issue 1. DOI: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2004.tb02535.x

1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child

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How Good Are We at Keeping Kids Safe?

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 10:00:00 -0400

When it comes to child sexual abuse and exploitation, a new look at the U.S. shows we’re not doing very well. Economist Impact's Out of the Shadows Index report, supported by World Childhood Foundation USA, sets key indicators for performance on child sexual abuse and exploitation prevention and intervention. And it benchmarks against those indicators in 28 different states—and counting; there will eventually be another report.

Sadly, but perhaps unsurprisingly, all states measured so far have struggled. And if this were a report card, the best performing state would only have a D. What this means for kids is that, as a nation, our safeguarding is wholly inadequate and our response system woefully underfunded.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. We invited Laura Avery and Katherine Stewart, the authors of the report, to talk to us about the report and how by being able to pinpoint weaknesses and challenges, we can develop state-specific roadmaps for improvement in child protection. If you haven’t already read the report, please make sure you do. You can find a link to it in our show notes. And for a compass to better outcomes for kids, please take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

1:31 – Origin story

4:49 – Tighten up the metrics

7:36 – How states fared

9:16 – What the index covers

11:28 – Biggest weaknesses

19:27 – Bright spots

22:03 – State wealth; statutes of limitations

29:32 – Expanding the study

31:54 – Policy maker response

35:00 – Magic wand

42:36 – For more information

Links:

Laura Avery, senior analyst, Policy & Insights, Economist Impact

Katherine Stewart, principal, New Globalisation, and lead, Benchmarking, Policy & Insights, Economist Impact

Full 2024 U.S. report and state reports and the 2022 pilot

Global report (2022)

“America’s Inconsistent Response to Child Sexual Abuse,” with Araceli Irurzun Pérez (Season 4, Episode 20; November 17, 2022)

Childhood USA

NCMEC

Marci Hamilton, “Radically Vulnerable: Achieving Justice for Survivors” (Season 1, Episode 10; September 30, 2019)

Brave Movement

Previous episodes on prevention

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What Is Weathering? With Dr. Arline Geronimus

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 19:00:00 -0400

Dr. Arline T. Geronimus coined the term “weathering” to describe the effects of systemic oppression—including racism and classism—on the body. In 2023, she published Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society to shine a light on the topic and offer a roadmap for hope. This summer, she joined us at the 2024 NCA Leadership Conference to share her research with child abuse professionals who have dedicated themselves to helping children go on to live happy, healthy lives. This is the conversation Dr. Geronimus had with Teresa Huizar, the CEO of National Children’s Alliance and host of One in Ten podcast, in a plenary session at the conference.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story – 03:15

What is weathering? – 10:10

Physiological stress (not just three minutes of terror on the savannah) – 17:12

When weathering starts – 28:33

Our expectations of caregivers – 33:16

Cost of resiliency – 40:20

Solutions – 54:16

Links:

Arline T. Geronimus, ScD, professor, health behavior and health education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan

Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society, by Arline Geronimus (Little, Brown Spark; March 2023)

Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D.

The video version of this conversation will also be available on NCA's YouTube channel.

Georgia M. Winters, Ph.D.

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How Good Are Parents at Recognizing Grooming?

Thu, 30 May 2024 23:00:00 -0400

Would you recognize grooming if you saw it? We all think we know what it means, but that doesn’t mean we’re any good at spotting it—even if we’re parents determined to protect our kids from abuse. In fact, if anything, we’re overconfident about our ability to recognize grooming behaviors. Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic returns to One in Ten to discuss recent research on the topic.

Topics in this episode:

00:09 – Origin story
03:16 – What is grooming?
05:52 – Study design and findings
14:04 – Escalating behaviors
15:38 – Overconfidence
20:58 – Prevention education
29:04 – Intervention
32:04 – Public policy implications
35:15 – Future research
38:17 – Abusive women
41:01 – For more information

Links:

Elizabeth L. Jeglic, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York

“The Real Red Flags of Grooming” (Season 5, Episode 4, March 24, 2023)

“Examining Parental Abilities to Recognize Sexual Grooming Behaviors of Child Sexual Abusers,” Lillian A. Steedman, Elizabeth L. Jeglic, Georgia M. Winters, Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 2023. DOI:10.1007/s40653-023-00599-x

Lillian A. Steedman

David Finklehor, Ph.D.

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Climate Change and Violence Against Children

Thu, 16 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

All of us have had to give more thought to climate change and its effects in recent years. But to what degree have we yet reckoned with the way in which climate change may increase violence against children? Which children are most likely to be affected? What preventative measures can we take now to help mitigate that risk? And how should this knowledge shape our services to children and families, both now and in the future? We speak with Dr. Jorge Cuartas, assistant professor of applied psychology at New York University and senior consultant on violence against children at the World Bank.

Topics in this episode:

00:09 – Origin story

03:13 – The strain on families and communities

05:57 – Displaced families, family separation

08:07 – Effect on marginalized communities

12:02 – Slow violence and mental health

18:45 – Anxiety, resilience, and climate change

23:24 – Advice for policy makers

27:10 – Advice for child abuse professionals

34:11 – Future research

39:10 – For more information

Links:

Jorge Cuartas, Ph.D., assistant professor of applied psychology at New York University; senior consultant on violence against children at the World Bank; co-director of the NGO Apapacho

“Climate change is a threat multiplier for violence against children,” Jorge Cuartas, Amiya Bhatia, Daniel Carter, Lucie Cluver, Carolina Coll, Elizabeth Donger, Catherine E. Draper, Frances Gardner, Bess Herbert, Orla Kelly, Jamie Lachman, Najat Maalla M'jid, Frederique Seidel, Child Abuse & Neglect, 2023, 106430, DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106430.

Jill Levenson, Ph.D., LCSW

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Treating Adolescents With Problematic Sexual Behaviors

Thu, 02 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Cases involving problematic sexual behavior are between a quarter and a third of all cases of child sexual abuse that come through Children’s Advocacy Centers. How do we understand this behavior in teens? What are risk factors and key opportunities to interrupt and disrupt this behavior? What do we know about evidence-supported treatment for these teens? And how may existing evidence-based treatments and approaches be shaped and applied? We speak with Dr. Melissa Grady at the School of Social Service at Catholic University and Dr. Jamie Yoder, assistant professor of social work at Colorado State University.

Topics:

01:50 – Origin story

08:37 – Trauma and childhood adversity

17:17 – Attachment

23:47 – Why TF-CBT?

32:09 – Findings

41:32 – What’s next?

48:32 – For more information

Links:

Melissa Grady, Ph.D., professor, National Catholic School of Social Service at Catholic University

Jamie Yoder, Ph.D., assistant professor of social work, Colorado State University.

“Developing a trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy application for adolescents with problematic sexual behaviors: A conceptual framework,” M. D. Grady, J. Yoder, E. Deblinger, A. P. Mannarino, Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 140, 2023, 106139, doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106139

Kevin Creeden, LMHC

Elizabeth J. Letourneau, Ph.D.

Tony Ward, Ph.D.

William L. Marshall, Ph.D.

Michael Miner, Ph.D.

“Sexual Behavior in Youth: What’s Normal? What’s Not? And What Can We Do About It?” with Jane Silovsky, Ph.D. (Season 3, episode 15)

“Understanding Kids With Problematic Sexual Behaviors,” with Geoff Sidoli, MSW, LCSW (Season 5, episode 21)

“Tony and Esther and Judy”

“TF-CBT: Helping Kids Get Better,” with Anthony Mannarino, Ph.D. (Season 5, episode 16)

Joan A. Reid, Ph.D., LMHC

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Boys: The Invisible Victims of Child Sex Trafficking

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 21:00:00 -0400

Child sex trafficking is not a new phenomenon. And thankfully, the general public and child abuse professionals have greater awareness than ever of it. But has the full story yet been told? To what extent has the experience of boys been a part of our understanding of sex trafficking of children and youth? What places boys at special risk for trafficking? What vulnerabilities do they have and how might that affect their recruitment? And how can we tailor programs to meet the unique needs and concerns of boys? Join us as we speak with Amanda Connella, graduate research assistant at the TIP Lab, and Dr. Sandra Stone, assistant dean for graduate studies at the University of South Florida, about how we can ensure that boys are no longer invisible victims.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (01:14)
Kids at risk of trafficking (05:17)
Not enough service providers for boys (14:25)
Not enough research (18:50)
Misperceptions about boys (20:46)
Prevention disconnected from data (26:02)
Advice for parents (31:15)
Advice for child abuse professionals (38:07)
Public policy (47:40)
For more information (50:27)

Links:

Amanda L. Connella, M.A., is a graduate research assistant at the TIP (Trafficking in Persons Risk to Resilience) Lab at the University of South Florida

“The Invisible Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Boys and Their Barriers to Access to Services,” graduate thesis, Amanda L. Connella

Sandra Stone, Ph.D., professor and assistant dean for graduate studies, University of South Florida

Selah Freedom

Colby Valentine, Ph.D.

“Why Do People Believe Conspiracy Theories About Human Trafficking?”, with Maureen Kenny, Ph.D.

NIJ, National Institute of Justice

Bob’s House of Hope

“The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in New York City, Volume One: The CSEC Population in New York City: Size, Characteristics, and Needs,” by R. Curtis, K. Terry, M. Dank, K. Dombrowski, and B. Khan (September 2008); Center for Court Innovation and John Jay College of Criminal Justice

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast site at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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Making Prevention Education Accessible for All

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 22:00:00 -0400

Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more than three times more likely to experience abuse and neglect than children without these disabilities. We should see a prevention landscape filled with programs tailored to these children. Yet, as Dr. Melissa Bright from the Center for Violence Prevention Research tells us, few such programs exist, and even fewer have been researched for their effectiveness. Why does so little research exist on this uniquely vulnerable population? For child abuse professionals, how might we create or adapt prevention programs for these children? And how do we approach parents and caregivers who may have questions or concerns about prevention programming for their child? Take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (01:35)
Unique vulnerabilities (04:35)
Why so few prevention programs? (07:41)
Focus groups (11:05)
State-required prevention education (20:56)
Advice for child abuse professionals (25:42)
You’re not innovating if it doesn’t work (29:10)
Public policy implications (37:37)
For more information (40:06)

Links:

Melissa Bright, Ph.D., founder and executive director of the Center for Violence Prevention Research

“Parents’ and professionals perspectives on school-based maltreatment prevention education for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Csenge B. Bődi, Diana P. Ortega, LouAnne B. Hawkins, Tyler G. James, Melissa A. Bright, Child Abuse & Neglect, Vol. 145, 2023, 106428, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106428

Erin’s Law

Jenna’s Law

Project Safe Childhood Act

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A Sea of Red Dots: The Explosion in Online Child Sexual Abuse

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0500

While the presence of child sexual abuse images in child sexual abuse cases is not new, the sheer scale and scope and ubiquity of it all is. The exponential growth in the trading of these images has created a sophisticated marketplace designed around exploiting children. Three guests join us today to discuss child sexual abuse materials online (CSAM): Elizabeth and Ted Cross and Stefan Turkheimer.

What Liz and Ted set out to learn was the degree to which incest played into the production of this material, what types of sex acts those trading in CSAM were most interested in, and what ages were most common among the child victims. It’s terribly disturbing but also important for us to understand in order to properly combat it.

We speak with Stefan about important policy implications. What can policy makers do to hold tech companies more responsible for preventing the proliferation of these materials? And how do we leverage the resources needed to serve victims? Please take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

The scope of the problem (2:06)
A sea of red dots (4:16)
Research design (12:35)
Findings (20:41)
Severity of abuse (24:03)
The link with incest (28:45)
Public policy (30:25)
Implications for practice (38:29)
For more information (41:25)

Links:

Elizabeth Cross, Ph.D., Cross Associates Research & Evaluation Services, LLC, and adjunct professor of social work and child advocacy at Montclair State University

Theodore Cross, Ph.D., senior research specialist – research professor, Children and Family Research Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Stefan Turkheimer, vice president for public policy, RAINN

NCMEC CyberTipline

Child Rescue Coalition

Map and severity of abuse list from a presentation by Cross, Cross, Cooper, Turkheimer, and Bailey to the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Congress

Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC)

Camille Cooper

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act

EARN IT Act

Child Rescue Act

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Why Do People Believe Conspiracy Theories About Human Trafficking?

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0500

The rise in myths and conspiracy theories about human trafficking have been one of the most frustrating parts of being a child abuse professional over the past few years. It has been a deadly game of whack a mole, because as soon as one myth or conspiracy theory is debunked, yet another arises.

Dr. Maureen Kenny, a professor of psychology at Florida International University, set out to explore why and how these conspiracy theories were endorsed by a diverse college population in hopes that this would give us insight into better education strategies for the wider public. If you have ever moaned and groaned your way through a media report with whackadoodle ideas about trafficking or rolled your eyes at a movie that depicted it all wrong, this episode is for you. Please take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:55)
What is human trafficking? (3:01)
Why the uptick in myths and conspiracy theories? (5:06)
Why we want to believe (13:13)
Language choices (16:42)
What kids need to know (18:49)
Surprising findings (22:41)
The scale of misinformation (24:41)
Influencing the influencers (26:15)
Future research (31:27)
Advice for child abuse professionals (37:40)
One bright note (38:50)
For more information (40:10)

Links:

Maureen C. Kenny, Ph.D., professor, associate chair Academic Personnel and Diversity, Florida International University

“Conspiracy Theories of Human Trafficking: Knowledge and Perceptions Among a Diverse College Population,” Maureen C. Kenny, Claire Helpingstine, and Tracy Borelus (2023), Journal of Human Trafficking, DOI: 10.1080/23322705.2023.2225367

The study Teresa mentions: “‘Influencing the Influencers:’ A Field Experimental Approach to Promoting Effective Mental Health Communication on TikTok,” Matt Motta, Yuning Liu, and Amanda Yarnell (2023); there are multiple news stories about the study, including a recent NPR article by Andrea Muraskin (January 5, 2024)

Dr. Kenny suggests these websites to learn more about myths and facts of human trafficking:

Polaris Project
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Trafficking In Persons, OUT OF THE SHADOWS: Exposing the Myths of Human Trafficking (hhs.gov)
National Human Trafficking Hotline: Myths & Facts

Problematic sexual behaviors

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Understanding Kids With Problematic Sexual Behaviors

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0500

Geoff Sidoli joins us from NCA’s Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes to talk about kids with sexual behavior problems. Myths abound about why these kids act out, how treatable they are, and what treatment settings and methods may be most helpful. But research shows that these kids are treatable. So how do we set these kids on a better life trajectory and improve safety at home and in the community?

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:43)
Risk factors (4:15)
A range of behaviors (9:09)
Myths and blind spots (12:18)
Effective treatments (22:31)
Research gaps (30:13)
For more information (40:20)

Links:

Geoff Sidoli, MSW, LCSW, coordinator of mental health programs, NCA Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes

Patrick Lussier, Ph.D.

James R. Worling, Ph.D., C.Psych.

“20-year prospective follow-up study of specialized treatment for adolescents who offended sexually”

“An Empirically-Based Approach for Prosecuting Juvenile Sex Crimes,” Paul Stern, JD

“Impressions of child advocacy center leaders: How problematic sexual behavior in children and adolescents is perceived by community professionals”

Jane Silovsky, Ph.D., appeared in Season 3, “Sexual Behavior in Youth: What’s Normal? What’s Not? And What Can We Do About It?”

“Quantifying the Decline in Juvenile Sexual Recidivism Rates,” Michael F. Caldwell, PsyD

Brian Allen, PsyD; the phase-based treatment model

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Melissa D. Grady

Ashley Fiore, MSW, LCSW

Kevin M. Powell, Ph.D.; resiliency and protective factors model

Daniel J. Siegel, MD

Visit us at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

Homeschooling’s Invisible Children database

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Keeping Kids Safe in the Homeschool Boom

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 02:00:00 -0500

Homeschooling is the fastest-growing form of education in the U.S., a surge in popularity that crosses every demographic, political, and geographic line. Most parents who homeschool do so with their children’s very best interests in mind. But what about that small but very critical percentage of parents who homeschool in order to hide their child from public view and abuse them? How do we create a policy environment that enhances safety for all children? And how can we factor a homeschool population into child abuse prevention and intervention efforts? Join us as we speak with Angela Grimberg from the Coalition for Responsible Home Education.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (02:19)
About homeschooling (04:38)
Research (08:10)
Public policy recommendations (11:04)
Advice for child abuse professionals (14:47)
Parents’ reactions (20:31)
Share and subscribe (22:42)

Links:

Angela Grimberg, executive director, the Coalition for Responsible Home Education

Homeschooling: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (October 8, 2023) featured the Coalition

11 states with no homeschooling notification requirements: Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Texas

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Glimpsing the Iceberg: Corporal Punishment and Physical Abuse

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0500

To truly address child physical abuse, we have to understand the scope of the problem and how the use of corporal punishment can escalate to the point in which children are harmed. What Dr. Amy Slep and her team did was to set up their research in such a way that it was truly anonymous, and parents could feel very safe to be completely honest about their use of corporal punishment and even their own self-identified physical abuse of their own children. As you will hear, parents admit—and to a shocking degree—physically disciplining infants, an unsafe practice that warrants help and support immediately. They admit a range of behaviors far beyond the spanking with an open hand that some of us might remember from childhood. And a heartbreaking number admit to physically disciplining—to the point of physical abuse—their own children, whether because of corporal punishment taken too far or out of frustration or anger.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (02:49)
What are corporal punishment and physical abuse? (05:31)
How the study encouraged honesty (11:28)
Studying military families (15:51)
Family size and physical abuse (21:39)
Physically disciplining infants (24:18)
Public policy implications (31:57)
What’s next in research? (35:34)
For more information (39:53)

Links:

Amy M. Smith Slep, Ph.D., professor, Family Translational Research Group, New York University

DSM – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

ICD – International Classification of Diseases

“Glimpsing the Iceberg: Parent-Child Physical Aggression and Abuse,” Amy M. Smith Slep, Kimberly A. Rhoades, Michael F. Lorber, Richard E. Heyman (2022). Child Maltreatment, 0(0). DOI: 10.1177/10775595221112921

Child Maltreatment report series from the Administration for Children and Families has the most recent official statistics

National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence, Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire

Family Advocacy Program

“Know the Signs: Physical Abuse,” Alaska Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children’s Services

TF-CBT implementation manuals

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TF-CBT: Helping Kids Get Better

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 02:00:00 -0400

In the mid-90s, little was known about how to effectively treat trauma, especially that trauma that can arise from child sexual abuse. Victims often languished in treatment for years with symptoms that might—or might not—ever improve. Then more research emerged on evidence-based treatments. These effective treatments—with Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) at the fore—were brief, reducing symptoms for many clients swiftly, and therefore swiftly getting kids back to their job of being kids. This has meant reduced suffering and improved healing for kids.

The most exciting part of TF-CBT has been its ongoing evolution as applications have been developed for many different populations. What’s next for TF-CBT? Take a listen to our conversation with Dr. Tony Mannarino, renowned expert in child trauma and one of the co-developers of TF-CBT.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:41)
The impact of TF-CBT (4:51)
Evolving different applications of TF-CBT (9:38)
The most used applications (12:16)
Up next: Parental substance abuse (20:06)
The development process (25:32)
Kids fill in the blanks (31:43)
See kids as resilient, not broken (36:47)
Ukrainian therapists (42:25)
For more information (45:04)

Links:

Anthony P. Mannarino, Ph.D., professor and chair; director, Center for Traumatic Stress In Children and Adolescents, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Institute, Allegheny Health Network, Drexel University College of Medicine

TF-CBT.org

Esther Deblinger, Ph.D.

Judith A. Cohen, MD

Center for Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents

Isha W. Metzger, Ph.D., has previously been a guest on One in Ten (“The Meaning of Healing for Black Kids and Families”) and will join us on our next episode to discuss the new TF-CBT adaptation

Ashley Dandridge, PsyD.

TF-CBT and Racial Socialization Implementation Manual

Post-abuse maintenance chart

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Best of the Best: The Real Red Flags of Grooming

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

One of the most compelling problems in child sexual abuse prevention has been how to describe to parents, caregivers, and the general public exactly what signs to look for to identify concerns. Frankly, much of the discussion has been so general because, what might, with hindsight, have been a sign of abuse, might well in another setting be of no concern at all. Describing what grooming behaviors are has up until now been fraught and difficult.

Now enter researcher Elizabeth Jeglic from John Jay College, whose research looks at which behaviors are most clearly linked to child sexual abuse. And even more importantly, it identifies red flag behaviors that any mandatory reporter, parent, or professional can recognize to sound the alarm. This research has the potential to revolutionize both mandatory reporter training and the prevention education we conduct with kids in schools. And wait until you hear the implications for investigators and prosecutors as well. This is a seminal piece of research, and one we are all going to be citing and referring back to for years to come. Please take a listen.

This interview was originally published on March 24, 2023.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:48)
What is grooming? (4:12)
The hindsight bias (7:20)
High-risk grooming behaviors (8:56)
The kids abusers target (12:05)
Favoritism and trust development (17:34)
Post-abuse maintenance (24:33)
Implications for prevention (27:35)
Implications for investigation (32:24)
For more information (38:21)

Links:

Elizabeth Jeglic, Ph.D., is a researcher and professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is the co-director of the Sex Offender Research Lab at college. The co-author of two books, Sexual Violence: Evidence Based Policy and Prevention and Protecting Your Child from Sexual Abuse, she also blogs for Psychology Today

Georgia Winters, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the School of Psychology and Counseling at Fairleigh Dickinson University

The research paper we’re discussing today is “Identification of red flag child sexual grooming behaviors,” by Elizabeth L. Jeglic, Georgia M. Winters, and Benjamin N. Johnson. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105998 This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC_ND license.

Sexual Grooming Model

Level of Concern Guide

Megan’s Law

Jenna’s Law

Elizabeth Gershoff, Ph.D.

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Best of the Best: Let's Talk About Spanking

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 21:00:00 -0400

Research shows that about 75% of physical abuse starts as physical discipline gone terribly awry. We have years of data showing spanking is ineffective—and, in fact, harmful to kids. But often the topic is treated as a third rail by many child abuse professionals: avoided and ignored.

We spoke to Stacie LeBlanc, CEO of The UP Institute and a champion of No Hit Zones. Why is it so difficult for child abuse professionals to discuss spanking with parents? How do we get past the culture wars on this topic? And how can we open a respectful conversation that moves beyond “Well, I turned out fine”? How can No Hit Zones help?

This episode was originally published on May 7, 2020.

Topics in this episode:
Concerns for kids during the pandemic (1:17)
Connection between spanking and physical abuse (2:53)
The research (4:15)
Poly-victimization and adverse childhood experiences (6:03)
A common problem that’s hard to talk about (8:05)
Handling parents’ objections (13:17)
A respectful approach (21:00)
Banning spanking, changing social norms (23:48)
How to start a no-hit zone (26:23)
For more information (34:06)

Links:

Stacie Schrieffer LeBlanc, MEd, JD, CEO of The UP Institute

No Hit Zone Toolkit

The No Hit Zone concept was created in 2005 by Dr. Lolita McDavid at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio

Painless Parenting

National No Hit Zone Committee

Stop Spanking

U.S. Alliance to End the Hitting of Children has a list of organizations with policy statements on this topic

American Academy of Pediatrics put out a policy statement in November 2018

Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children has a map of global progress on the issue

JHACO (“Jayco”) refers to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

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How Inequality Fuels Child Abuse

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0400

We struggle to understand and talk about the link between poverty and child abuse. On the one hand, we know that not every poor family abuses and neglects their children, and we don’t want to stigmatize families for their poverty. On the other hand, there is a growing body of literature on the cascading effects of poverty in the lives of families. Paul Bywaters, professor of social work at the University of Huddersfield, joins us today to discuss the relationship between poverty, inequality, and child abuse.

How do we come alongside and stand with families in poverty who are struggling with child abuse and neglect? How do we examine our own policies and procedures to ensure that we’re being genuinely helpful and not just adding to families’ burdens? And how do we move beyond just talking about individual poverty to the growing disparity in means that is reinforcing structural inequality with implications for generations to come? Please take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (00:09)
The relationship between poverty and abuse and neglect (4:08)
Poverty affects every aspect of your life (8:34)
Impact on adult poverty (11:48)
The effect of disparity (14:19)
Standing alongside families (19:16)
Policy solutions (25:08)
What’s next in research (36:55)
For more information (40:20)

Links:

Paul Bywaters, Ph.D., professor of social work, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield

The Relationship Between Poverty and Child Abuse and Neglect: New Evidence, by Paul Bywaters and Guy Skinner with Aimee Cooper, Eilis Kennedy, and Afra Malik, University of Huddersfield, March 2022

Michal Krumer-Nevo, Ph.D., YouTube video: FAQ on Poverty and Poverty Aware Practice

L. Anthony Loman, Ph.D.

Gary Siegel, Ph.D.

Sunflower Centers in South Korea

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Are We Remembering the Boys?

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 14:00:00 -0400

In most countries around the world, girls are disproportionately at risk of, and harmed by, both sexual abuse and exploitation. But we also know that all genders experience sexual violence. And every trauma victim and survivor deserves tailored treatment and care. So what do we know about how boys experience sexual exploitation? What are the unique stigmas and burdens that they bear? How do we tailor interventions to address their specific needs? And how do we ensure that every victim of every gender gets the help that they need to heal?

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:25)
Not much research about boys (3:10)
The survey (8:55)
Positive examples (16:18)
Three specific findings (23:58)
Policy implications (31:15)
What’s next in research (36:04)
For more information (38:51)

Links:

Mark Kavenagh, Ph.D., founder and director of Evident Consulting (LinkedIn)

“Sexual exploitation of children: Barriers for boys in accessing social supports for victimization,” Mark Kavenagh, Nicholas Hua, Christine Wekerle, part of a special issue of Child Abuse & Neglect: Global Insights on the Sexual Exploitation of Boys, Vol. 142, Part 2, August 2023

ECPAT International

Global Boys Initiative

“A global systematic scoping review of literature on the sexual exploitation of boys,” Corrine Moss, Savanah Jordan Smith, Katherine Kim, Nicholas Hua, Noella Noronha, Mark Kavenagh, Christine Wekerle

“Frontline support services for boys who have experienced child sexual exploitation: A thematic review of survey data from seven countries,” Marie Nodzenski, Jarrett Davis

Jordan Greenbaum, MD, previously appeared on One in Ten: “The Trauma They Carried,” Season 3, Episode 10 (July 15, 2021)

Thorn study, Self-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material: Youth Attitudes and Experiences in 2021

“Growing Up Online: Addressing Child Sextortion,” with Katie Connell, MSW, (FBI); Season 5, Episode 5, of One in Ten (April 7, 2023)

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Fighting Back: What Jurors Don’t Get About Abuse

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Child sexual abuse is never a child’s fault. Absolutely never. And it’s unrealistic to expect children to somehow fend off the predations of adult offenders. But do jurors believe that? Dr. Jonathan Golding, professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky, asked: What do potential jurors believe about children and resisting abuse? How do these beliefs shape their understanding of who is responsible for that abuse? And how does this influence the outcome at trial? The results of his study are concerning and have implications not only for juror education but also education of the general public at large.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:31)
CSI effect and other extralegal factors (3:18)
Hypotheses (9:44)
Research results (12:02)
Not their fault (15:48)
College students and community members (18:09)
A lack of progress on this issue (21:41)
Implications for juror education (32:36)
What’s next in research (42:53)
For more information (46:54)

Links:

Jonathan Golding, Ph.D., is a professor of developmental, social, and health psychology at the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences

“Impacts of Victim Resistance and Type of Assault on Legal Decision-Making in Child Sexual Assault,” Kyle P. Rawn, Mary M. Levi, Andrea M. Pals, Holly Huber, Jonathan M. Golding, Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2023.2180468

Gail S. Goodman, Ph.D., director of the Center for Public Policy Research at the University of California, Davis, previously appeared on One in Ten to discuss “How Accurate Is Memory After 20 Years?”

Elizabeth Loftus, Ph.D.

Kyle P. Rawn

Steven Ceci, Ph.D.

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Why Do Kids Blame Themselves After Abuse?

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 20:00:00 -0400

For professionals, one of the saddest aspects of child sexual abuse is the way in which many victims struggle with blaming themselves for the terrible actions of others. This self-blame and feelings of guilt can cause suffering throughout a lifespan if it’s left untreated. Many evidence-based interventions specifically target these negative feelings and erroneous thoughts. But how do children come to believe this in the first place? What makes children mistakenly believe that they’re somehow responsible for the actions of adults?

Dr. Jouriles’ research set out to examine the relationship between whether and in what way caregivers’ and peers’ blame of victims influenced victims’ self-blame. And, while the results may not be surprising, the implications certainly are for child abuse professionals. How do we talk to parents and caregivers at the very earliest points of disclosure about the importance of supporting their child? How do we provide caregivers support in a way that ensures that they themselves have the emotional resources and resiliency needed to provide support to their children? And most importantly, how do we ensure that children know and believe that abuse is never, ever their fault?

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:58)
What are non-supportive responses? (3:42)
Findings: the effect of non-supportive responses (10:46)
Do the poor responses outweigh the good? (16:47)
Advice for child abuse professionals (20:08)
Future research needed (27:50)
Engaging families in treatment (31:17)
Rewarding work (38:46)
For more information (40:47)

Links:

Ernest Jouriles, Ph.D., professor and co-director of the Family Research Center at SMU

“Non-supportive responses to adolescents who have experienced sexual abuse: Relations with self-blame and trauma symptoms,” Ernest N. Jouriles, Melissa J. Sitton, Adrianna Adams, Mindy Jackson, Renee McDonald. Child Abuse & Neglect, 2022, Vol. 134. doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105885

Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Dallas, Texas

We discussed the Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI) with Dr. Carrie Epstein in “PTSD Interrupted?” (Season 5, Episode 2; February 17, 2023)

Skills for Psychological Recovery

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Addressing the Needs of Children and Families After Mass Violence

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In this panel discussion recorded at the 2023 NCA Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., on June 6, 2023, Dr. Melissa Brymer, Dr. Angela Moreland, and licensed mental health counselor Melissa Sommerville who speak from their personal experience in responding to incidents of mass violence in Sandy Hook; Charleston, South Carolina; Buffalo, New York; and more. How can organizations that support children and families support healthy coping and identify evidence-based trauma and grief treatments when additional assistance is needed? How can we address the additional pain when these incidents target one’s identity—race, ethnicity, gender identity, or religion? And how can we care for our own well-being and that of our staff, and create our own coping plan to help us get through these challenging times?

Topics in this episode:

Our objectives (0:10)
Personal experiences (15:00)
First steps (19:54)
Basic needs (35:11)
Social media (41:34)
Resources (44:42)
Pause, Reset, and Nourish (48:19)
Q&A (51:56)

Links:

Melissa Brymer, Ph.D., Psy.D., director of the Terrorism and Disaster Program at UCLA/Duke University’s National Center for Child Traumatic Stress

Angela Moreland, Ph.D., associate professor of the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at MUSC and associate director of the National Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center

Vision 21

Melissa Sommerville, LMHC, project director of the Mobile Child and Family Trauma Treatment Team at Best Self Behavioral Health

National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD)

Psychological First Aid

Child Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI)

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Trauma and Grief Component Therapy

Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP) grant

Transcend NMVC app

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Small Brave Moves for a Life-Changing Field

Fri, 19 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In our culture, when we think of examples of leadership bravery, we often think of huge risk and very heroic images. Hollywood reinforces this with movies like Sully, about a pilot that landed his plane on the Hudson River, or war movies—really, too many to even name. And business TED Talks and articles likewise focus on turnaround artists or grandiose start-ups.

Once we set aside the fictionalized accounts of gutsy leadership, how do we know what bravery in leadership really looks like? Our guest today, leadership coach and author Nicole Bianchi, argues for something more real and within the reach of every single leader: the next small brave move.

What could that look like for us as child abuse professionals? For our organizations? And for our multidisciplinary teams? And how might we change ourselves and our agencies and the system for kids by making successive small brave moves?

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:34)
Bravery is an acquired behavior (3:19)
The top three fears (5:22)
Examples of small brave moves (9:15)
The process (15:16)
When a small brave move doesn't go well (25:30)
The table read (prepare!) (27:16)
Working with teams (37:13)
What's next for Nicole (40:28)
Nicole at NCA's Leadership Conference (43:32)

Links:

Nicole Bianchi is a founding partner at Bravium HD, where she is a professional speaker, facilitator, and master coach designing and facilitating transformational workshops in leadership, team alignment, and culture-building

Nicole’s book is Small Brave Moves: Learn Why Little Acts of Bravery Are the Key to Life-Changing Leadership; her second book, about leaders learning to have tough conversations, will be released in August 2023

She will give the closing keynote speech at the 2023 NCA Leadership Conference, June 5-7, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Best of the Best: Gender Bias and the Myth of Parental Alienation

Fri, 05 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Everyone’s heard of the vengeful ex-wife who accuses her ex-husband of child abuse just to get back at him during a divorce. There’s even a scientific-sounding term for it: parental alienation. But is parental alienation real? And are judges taking allegations of abuse seriously enough? In this rebroadcast of one of our earliest shows, we speak to Prof. Joan Meier from George Washington University Law School who has some frankly startling data on the subject. How does alleging abuse affect custody decisions? Is there scientific proof that alienation exists? And what can we do to persuade the courts to do a better job of investigating abuse?

Topics in this episode:

Realizing children aren’t being protected (1:30)
Junk science: parental alienation syndrome (2:47)
The myth of the vengeful ex-wife (7:57)
Women are not considered as credible as men (13:15)
Effects on custody decisions (20:54)
What should the courts be doing? (23:54)
Reaction by judges (29:52)
Advice for child abuse professionals (32:54)
For more information (36:20)

Links:

This episode originally aired on January 5, 2020

Joan S. Meier, professor of clinical law and director of the National Family Violence Law Center at the George Washington University Law School

The study referred to in this episode, “Child Custody Outcomes in Cases Involving Parental Alienation and Abuse Allegations,” and other research by Professor Meier are available on the law school’s website

“‘A gendered trap’: When mothers allege child abuse by fathers, the others often lose custody, study shows,” is a Washington Post article about the study.

Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project (DV LEAP) provides pro bono appellate representation in compelling domestic violence cases and trains attorneys and courts around the country

DV LEAP’s Legal Resource Library include briefs and court opinions, training materials, publications, links to domestic violence organizations, case digests, and custody resources

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at One in Ten podcast. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Best of the Best: Beyond ACEs

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 17:00:00 -0400

In 1998, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study showed that traumatic events in childhood were common and could have lasting effects—on everything from SAT scores while we’re in school to long-term physical health issues as adults. But are all ACEs created equal? In this rebroadcast of an intriguing interview from our first season, we invite Dr. Lisa Amaya-Jackson from the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress to discuss the benefits—and the limitations—of keeping score. Have we oversimplified the way in which we talk about ACEs? What’s the role of the community in developing resilience? (And why does she think “resilience” is both a beautiful word and a burden?) What do we need to know to help survivors heal?

Topics in this episode:

Defining trauma (1:34)
All ACEs were not created equal (5:29)
The problem with oversimplification (8:58)
How an ACEs assessment fits into the CAC rubric (20:23)
Advice for child abuse professionals (26:20)
Resilience and helping kids recover (29:43)
What’s coming up at NCTSN (40:53)

Links:

The original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study

National Center for Child Traumatic Stress

Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope (2016 documentary)

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, at TEDMED 2014, “How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime”

Core Curriculum on Childhood Trauma, including The 12 Core Concepts: Concepts for Understanding Traumatic Stress Responses in Children and Families

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at One in Ten podcast. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Growing Up Online: Addressing Child Sextortion

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Online exploitation of children is sadly not a new phenomenon or topic. But what is new is the dramatic growth of sextortion cases. In “Growing Up Online: Addressing Child Sextortion,” we speak with Katie Connell. Katie is unit chief of the Child Victim Services Unit at the FBI.

These cases—whether fueled by financial, sexual, or revenge motives—trade on children and youth’s fear that nude or sexual images of them will be shared if they don’t meet offenders’ demands for money or more images. Tragically, the fear, shame, and stigma that victims feel has resulted in isolation, further exploitation, and even suicide.

How do we prevent sextortion from happening in the first place? And if it does happen, what can we do to respond effectively and with compassion?

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:21)
Types of cases FBI sees (3:40)
What is sextortion? (5:15)
What is fueling the growth in cases? (9:43)
Who are the offenders? (13:00)
How are children targeted? (15:54)
Preventing and responding to cases (19:19)
Public policy implications (30:47)
Advice for child abuse professionals (34:58)
For more information (38:53)

Links and mentions:

Katie Connell, MSW (Catherine S. Connell), unit chief, Child Victim Services Unit, FBI; child/adolescent forensic interview specialist in the FBI’s Macomb County, Michigan Resident Agency

Debra Poole, Ph.D., experimental faculty, Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University

APSAC, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children

Kimberly Poyer, section chief, FBI

Martha J. Finnegan, MSW, child/adolescent forensic interview specialist, FBI

TFO, task force officer

Innocent Images

CAFI, child and adolescent forensic interviewer

NCMEC, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Thorn

Post-abuse maintenance chart

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The Real Red Flags of Grooming

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0400

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:48)
What is grooming? (4:12)
The hindsight bias (7:20)
High-risk grooming behaviors (8:56)
The kids abusers target (12:05)
Favoritism and trust development (17:34)
Post-abuse maintenance (24:33)
Implications for prevention (27:35)
Implications for investigation (32:24)
For more information (38:21)

Links:

Sexual Grooming Model

Level of Concern Guide

Megan’s Law

Jenna’s Law

Outcome Measurement System

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Practical Magic: Understanding Lived Experience Through Data

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 23:00:00 -0400

One of the most vexing questions in child abuse intervention is: How do we know that the work we do makes a difference? We can count the number of kids we serve and the services we provide, but how do we know this actually makes a meaningful difference in the quality of the multidisciplinary team response and to the children and families we serve every single day?

We speak with Seth Boughton, director of data and innovative techniques at the Ohio Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, about how we measure the impact of our work. Our Outcome Measurement System, started a decade ago by the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas includes caregiver feedback surveys, multidisciplinary team surveys, and youth feedback surveys. In the wake of our recent report, Healing, Justice, and Trust, we take stock of what we know about children’s and families’ outcomes, and further areas to explore.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (2:02)
Practical uses for data (3:45)
Outcome Measurement System (6:39)
Turning our assumptions on their heads (10:54)
Benchmarks and their uses (15:29)
ChildSafe (18:05)
Using data with partner agencies (25:38)
Future research needed (30:02)
For more information (45:31)

Links:

Seth Boughton, MSW, is director of data and innovative techniques at the Ohio Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers. He previously served as a research intern at National Children’s Alliance and still consults with NCA from time to time, including on the 2022 edition of our Healing, Justice, and Trust report.

Healing, Justice, and Trust 2022, a public version of the 2022 report. is available on our website; NCA members can access the member version with detailed data on NCA Engage; an Engage account is required.

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas

CAC Census; some materials are for members and partners only

E3 program, Enhance Early Engagement

TF-CBT, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

EMDR, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

CACs and MDTs, Children’s Advocacy Centers and multidisciplinary teams

ChildSafe San Antonio story from NCA’s 2021 Annual Report

MSW programs, master of social work

NIJ, National Institute of Justice

NCMEC, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Eyes Up Appalachia

SACWIS, Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System

Youth mental health: Current priorities of the U.S. Surgeon General

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

PTSD Interrupted?

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0500

We’ve learned so much about the trauma experienced by children who’ve been abused. We know about their clinical symptoms. We know how these affect their functioning at home and at school. And we know about the lifelong impacts of leaving these trauma symptoms untreated. We’re grateful that not only child abuse professionals but your average citizen is now aware that victims of child abuse can develop PTSD at rates and severity to those of soldiers who’ve been to war.

But is that cycle of abuse, trauma symptoms, and PTSD development inevitable? Is it possible to interrupt that cycle in such a way that symptoms reduce and PTSD never develops in the first place? CFTSI—the Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention—is an evidence-based intervention that can do just that for some kids. We speak with Carrie Epstein, co-director of the Yale Center for Traumatic Stress and Recovery and co-developer of CFTSI about how this brief, early intervention can help reduce symptoms in children and caregivers.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:30)
The development of CFTSI (5:42)
What is CFTSI? (12:25)
Different perceptions of symptoms: child and caregiver (19:18)
The benefit to caregivers (21:40)
Really? A short-term treatment? (29:15)
Recent study of how CFTSI helps different groups (40:31)
What’s up next in research (47:30)
For more information (53:33)

Links:

Carrie Epstein, LCSW-R, is the co-director of the Yale Center for Traumatic Stress and Recovery, an assistant professor at the Yale Child Study Center, and co-developer of the Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI)

Safe Horizon (NY)

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

Steven Marans, MSW, Ph.D., is the co-developer of CFTSI with Epstein

“Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI) reduces parental posttraumatic stress symptoms: A multi-site meta-analysis; Hilary Hahn, Karen Putnam, Carrie Epstein, Steven Marans, and Frank Putnam; Child Abuse & Neglect, June 2019; doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.03.010

“The Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention: Factors associated with symptom reduction for children receiving treatment”; Carla Smith Stover, Hilary Hahn, Kaitlin R. Maciejewski, Carrie Epstein, Steven Marans; Child Abuse & Neglect, December 2022; doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105886

U.S. Army Family Advocacy Program

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When Abuse Strikes Twice

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 07:00:00 -0500

What causes revictimization? How can we prevent it? There are common factors that contribute to child abuse and neglect that may affect any family: job stress, food insecurity, and intimate partner violence, to name just a few. But military families face additional stressors. Miranda Kaye, Ph.D., associate research professor at Penn State’s Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness, and her colleagues set out to examine what, at the individual, family, and community levels, contributed to revictimization. And the findings about community were perhaps some of the most surprising.

Topics in this episode:

Stressors on military families (2:13)
Individual risk factors (7:13)
Intimate partner violence and child maltreatment (11:28)
Community risk factors (12:33)
Families with high levels of support (19:56)
Advice for child abuse professionals (24:04)
Public policy (26:37)
More research needed (28:04)
Social isolation; making friends (31:11)
More resources (35:11)

Links:

Miranda P. Kaye, Ph.D., is the director of the Survey Research Center and an associate research professor at the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at The Pennsylvania State University

“Factors Predicting Family Violence Revictimization Among Army Families With Child Maltreatment,” Miranda P. Kaye, Keith R. Aronson, and Daniel F. Perkins, Child Maltreatment, 2022, Vol. 27(3) 423-433. DOI: 10.1177/10775595211008997

Family Advocacy Program

The Thrive Initiative at Penn State, and Take Root Home Visitation

Parents as Teachers program Heroes at Home program

A previous One in Ten episode about community risk factors: “Is Abuse Contagious?” with Dr. Dyann Daley (October 8, 2020)

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Giving Kids Their Futures Back During the Holidays and All the Rest of the Year

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 04:00:00 -0500

When we think of the holidays, we often think of the sheer joy of it: Spending time with loved ones, eating favorite treats, and reflecting on bygone holidays full of those we love and traditions we love. But for many children and youth, the holidays are fraught, painful reminders of those missing from the holiday table, unexpected trauma triggers, and memories—not of sugarplums and nutcrackers, but of betrayal of trust and sexual violence.

As child abuse professionals, how do we help survivors cope with both the highs and lows that the season can bring? How do we help kids heal from trauma and find renewal and peace not only in the holiday season, but all the rest of the year, too? And most of all, how do we help kids get back to being kids? We spoke with Michelle Miller, director of mental health programs here at National Children’s Alliance, to learn how we can give kids their futures back during the holidays—and all the rest of the year.

This is our last episode this year. Join us again in January for season 5 of One in Ten.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:21)
Why the holidays can be difficult for kids (2:40)
Watch for these red flag behaviors (5:13)
Be proactive to help caregivers and kids (8:45)
How to handle your own concerns 13:38)
Mental health crisis and a clinician shortage (17:04)
Evidence-based treatments (25:06)
Graduating from treatment (30:56)
See you again in January! (35:36)

Links:

Michelle Miller, Ph.D., LCSW, is director of mental health programs at National Children’s Alliance

Learn more about evidence-based treatments and trauma-informed care at Children’s Advocacy Centers

U.S. Surgeon General information and resources on youth mental health

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CTFSI)

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

What Really Matters in Team Effectiveness?

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 21:00:00 -0500

Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs), have been growing in the U.S. and around the world as the gold standard response in child abuse intervention for the last 40 years. Central to a CAC is its multidisciplinary team, made up of different professional disciplines, work for different partner agencies, have differing laws that regulate their work, different mandates, and different professional cultures. Those differences can be a source of strength in applying the professional expertise of the group in a holistic way to kids and to the cases that come in. But they can also be a source of tension and conflict. So the key question becomes: What really contributes to team effectiveness? Is it getting along with one’s peers, hanging out and having happy hours? Is it having trust and mutual respect? Is it one’s own perception of team performance? While all those things help, it may surprise you to find that it’s something else entirely. Join us in our conversation with Elizabeth McGuier, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:50)
Team functioning (5:43)
Perceptions of caregivers vs. team performance (10:03)
The key to team effectiveness (12:33)
What are appropriate outcomes to assess? (21:01)
Implications of the study (23:02)
Youth Feedback Survey (28:40)
A team-focused approach (31:03)
Burnout and vicarious trauma
For more information

Links:

Elizabeth A. McGuier, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and pediatrics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh

“Team Functioning and Performance in Child Advocacy Center Multidisciplinary Teams,” McGuier, E. A.; Rothenberger, S. D.; Campbell, K. A.; Keeshin, B.; Weingart, L. R.; & Kolko, D. J. (2022). Child Maltreatment, 0(0). DOI 10.1177/10775595221118933

NCA members receive research-to-practice briefs every Monday morning as a benefit of membership. “Team Functioning and Performance in Child Advocacy Center Multidisciplinary Teams” was the subject of the message on September 12, 2022.

Care Process Model for Pediatric Traumatic Stress, developed through a collaboration of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah and the Center for Safe and Healthy Families at Intermountain Healthcare’s Primary Children’s Hospital

Outcome Measurement System (OMS) currently has four surveys that CACs can administer: Youth Feedback Survey, Caregiver Initial Visit Survey, Caregiver Follow-Up Survey, Multidisciplinary Team

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

America’s Inconsistent Response to Child Sexual Abuse

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:00:00 -0500

If you haven’t already read Out of the Shadows, both the country report and the most recent edition, which is focused on U.S. state-by-state analysis, run—don’t walk—to get a copy. As child abuse professionals, you’ve probably wondered how the U.S. and, in fact, your state stack up on child sexual abuse prevention and intervention. The Out of the Shadows Index aims to answer that question by examining the legal framework, public policy, and also investments by states and countries. In today’s episode, we speak with Araceli Irurzun Pérez, research analyst at Economist Impact and a lead researcher on the Out of the Shadows report. As you will hear, the results are a bit surprising and turn upside down assumptions that we might have about the landscape within and across states.

Are these responses predictable by political affiliation? Nope. Or exclusively about financial resources? No, sir. And yet, one of the chief findings was that, while Children’s Advocacy Centers bear much of the burden for child sexual abuse prevention and intervention in the U.S.—and, indeed, in every state—they are woefully under-resourced.

Want a roadmap to improve child sexual abuse prevention and intervention in your state? Then please take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:51)
Surprising findings (6:18)
What’s lacking in most countries (10:25)
What some countries do well (11:56)
The U.S. pilot project (19:34)
What we need to do next (29:49)
Advice for child abuse professionals (33:46)
For more information (37:11)

Links:

Araceli Irurzun Pérez, research manager at Economist Impact and a lead researcher on the Out of the Shadows Index

Out of the Shadows - US Pilot: Shining a Light on Prevention of and Response to Child Sexual Exploitation Abuse in the US (2022), Economist Impact, London, UK

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In Bad Faith: When Clergy Abuse

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Clergy have a uniquely intimate place in the lives of people of faith: present at baptisms, weddings, sick beds, and funerals. They’re with us when we’re at our worst and at our best, and life’s highs and lows. And while most clergy view this as a sacred trust with parishioners, others—as we have learned—sadly use that access and trust to abuse children.

Anna Segura-Montagut, Ph.D., joins us to discuss a research study that moves beyond news accounts, books, and movies to explore critical questions when working with survivors of clergy abuse. How is survivors’ belief in God affected by the abuse? And how does that impact resilience? How is their trust in institutions affected? How does that impact their access to the very social and community supports needed to heal from that abuse? And most importantly, how do we walk besides these survivors in their own healing journey even as we struggle with our own feelings about faith and faith communities?

Topics in this episode:

Research decisions (1:37)
Similarities and differences (5:03)
Impact on belief (9:43)
Advice for child abuse professionals (15:25)
Entrapment (18:19)
Implications for clergy and the church (20:26)
Future research (23:51)
What survivors need (25:44)
Reason to hope (31:17)

Links:

Anna Segura-Montagut, Ph.D., clinical psychologist; assistant research scientist, Family Translational Research Group at NYU Dentistry Center for Oral Health Policy and Management

“An Exploratory Study on Mental Health, Social Problems and Spiritual Damage in Victims of Child Sexual Abuse by Catholic Clergy and Other Perpetrators,” N. Pereda, L. Contreras Taibo, A. Segura Montagut, F. Maffioletti, Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 31(2):1-19. DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2022.2080142, May 2022

Sherry Hamby, Ph.D., appeared on One in Ten on February 14, 2020. Her interview was later republished on August 6, 2020, as part of our “Best of the Best” series. “Greater Than the Sum—Multiple Adversities in Children’s Lives”

Victoria Banyard, Ph.D.

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Why Aren’t More Child Sexual Abuse Cases Prosecuted?

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 23:00:00 -0400

If you’re a child abuse professional, at one time or another you’ve wondered, “Why was this case prosecuted but that one wasn’t?” Or felt frustrated because even though everyone on the multidisciplinary team believed the child had been abused, the case still couldn’t move forward.

These questions and discussions are a routine part of case review and everyday life on a multidisciplinary team. But they are also often a black box to everybody else: The teacher that reported the abuse, the community, and even the family itself. What would it mean if we could unpack those decisions and better understand how these decisions are made—and, more importantly, improve cases so that more are made? How might it change the way we think about justice and its role in healing if we truly come to grips with how very rare it is in real life? And how might we better support children and families that do go through the criminal justice process so that that in itself doesn’t add to the trauma?

Dr. Stephanie Block from UMass Lowell joins us to discuss her recent research into why more child sexual abuse cases aren’t prosecuted.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:54)
Research foundation (4:28)
The hypotheses and findings (7:57)
Caregiver support (14:08)
Unexpected findings (22:41)
Prosecutors’ view (27:07)
Research and solutions (32:52)
Advice to policy makers (34:43)
For more information (38:22)

Links:

Stephanie Block, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Psychology, UMass Lowell

“Predictors of Prosecutorial Decisions in Reports of Child Sexual Abuse,” Block, S.; Johnson, H.; Williams, L.; Shockley, K.; Wang, E.; and Widaman, K. Child Maltreatment, 2022 Vol 0(0) 1-12. DOI: 10.1177/10775595221074375

“Rare Justice: Why Aren’t More Cases Prosecuted?” Teresa Huizar, National Children’s Alliance research into practice message, March 21, 2022

Ted Cross, Ph.D., recently joined us on One in Ten to discuss “The Future of Possible in Children’s Advocacy Centers” (August 25, 2022)

Administration for Children, Youth, and Families

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Best of the Best: Are We Solving the Wrong Problem in Child Welfare?

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 20:00:00 -0400

While we’re on vacation, here’s one of our favorite episodes: “Are We Solving the Wrong Problem in Child Welfare?” When you think of federal child welfare policy, maybe you expect a discussion of foster care and other post-abuse interventions. If so, this conversation with Jerry Milner, former head of the Children’s Bureau at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is going to blow your mind. Because after more than 40 years in child welfare, Milner's leadership of the Children’s Bureau turned a very, very different direction. He explored questions like: What would happen if we turned over our investment and focused on primary prevention instead? And are too many children separated from their parents unnecessarily through foster care? And, more importantly, what role do our own values of equity and belief in family support play not only in the lives of kids but in the life of our public policy? Milner is reimagining the child welfare system of the future. Take a listen to this interview, originally published on July 29, 2021.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:21)
Why primary prevention? (4:04)
Why it's hard to change (10:37)
Systemic inequities (16:45)
Different forms of neglect (21:49)
The consumer voice (31:52)
What’s next? (35:19)
Our podcast website (39:24)

Links:

Jerry Milner, DSW, is practice director of Family Integrity and Justice Works at Public Knowledge, and the former head of the U.S. Children’s Bureau

Children’s Advocacy Centers

“$20M diverted from police training facility to mental health facility in Prince George’s,” by Brad Bell, April 19, 2021, ABC7 News

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

Family First Prevention Services Act

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org. And come visit our podcast website at oneintenpodcast.org.

Office for Victims of Crime

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Best of the Best: Faith, Trauma, and the Problem of Evil

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 23:00:00 -0400

While we're on vacation, here's one of our favorite episodes: "Faith, Trauma, and the Problem of Evil." Many survivors of child sexual abuse struggle with questions of faith: Why did this happen to me? How do I understand what happened to me in the context of my faith? How do I make meaning of these traumatic events going forward?

While these might sound like strictly theological questions, child abuse professionals respond every day to questions of faith, trauma, and the problem of evil. How do we address with victims, survivors, and the frontline professionals working with them the deep need to make meaning of these traumatic events? We talk to Victor Veith, Director of Education and Research at Zero Abuse Project and a renowned writer and trainer, about the intersection of faith and child protection. How can we help children when they have spiritual questions? And how can we help child protection professionals wrestling with the trauma they bear witness to every day?

This was the second episode of One in Ten. It was originally published on May 13, 2019.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:35)
Faith-related questions in child sexual abuse cases (3:11)
Addressing spiritual questions (5:17)
Ways to address faith—and barriers (9:34)
Adopt a Social Worker (19:43)
Corporal punishment (21:29)
Advice for child abuse professionals (30:11)
For more information (32:33)

Links:

Victor Vieth, Chief Program Officer, Education and Research, for Zero Abuse Project and a founder of the National Child Protection Training Center. He is a former prosecutor and has a master’s degree in theology

Child Maltreatment: An Introduction, Cindy Miller-Perrin and Robin Perrin

On This Rock: A Call to Center the Christian Response to Child Abuse on the Life and Words of Jesus, by Victor I. Vieth

HALOS

Care in Action Minnesota

CAST, child advocacy studies minor provides students with real-world experience in a classroom setting

Julie Valentine Center, Greenville, South Carolina

“Religion in child sexual abuse forensic interviews,” Amy C. Tishelman, Lisa A. Fontes, Child Abuse & Neglect, Vol. 63, 2017, pp. 120-130.

No-hit zones

Academy on Violence and Abuse

Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County

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The Future of Possible in Children’s Advocacy Centers

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 03:00:00 -0400

We are complete nerds when it comes to research. This podcast was founded on it, and many listeners receive our weekly research-to-practice briefs. Over the last two decades, a growing evidence base has demonstrated the effectiveness of the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) model. And no one has contributed more to that evidence base than Ted Cross through his sustained research over 20 years. Because of research partnerships, we know more about forensic interviews than ever before. More than about evidence-based mental health treatment than ever before. More about forensic medical evaluation than ever before. And yes, more about the difference CACs make in their own local community than ever before. But there are still significant research gaps, and the CAC model is still evolving and adapting every single day.

What do we still need to learn to improve our work? How is the CAC model evolving to meet current needs, and future needs, and ever-changing needs? And how can we partner with researchers to improve our practice? Take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:59)
The flexibility of CACs for community response (9:26)
Different potential partners (16:58)
Unanswered questions (26:33)
Advice and new partners for CACs (33:15)
Polyvictimization (42:47)
Vacation and future episodes (44:27)

Links:

Theodore P. Cross, Ph.D., research professor at Children and Family Research Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

“The Child Victim as Witness Research Report,” Whitcomb, D.; De Vos, E.; Cross, T.P.; et al, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (October 1994)

“Practice in U.S. Children’s Advocacy Centers: Results of a Survey of CAC Directors,” Cross, Theodore P.; Whitcomb, Debra; Maren, Emi. Children and Family Research Center, School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (March 2022)

“Do Children’s Advocacy Centers improve families’ experiences of child sexual abuse investigations?” Jones, L.M.; Cross, T.P.; Walsh, W.A.; Simone, M. Child Abuse & Neglect (2007)

Wynona’s House

“Faith, Trauma, and the Problem of Evil,” with Victor Vieth (May 13, 2019)

New Jersey Children’s Alliance

For more about polyvictimization: “Greater Than the Sum—Multiple Adversities in Children’s Lives,” with Dr. Sherry Hamby (originally broadcast February 14, 2020, as “Mending the Tears of Violence”)

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at

National governing bodies

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The Unique Vulnerability of Youth Athletes

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Over the past five years, sexual abuse scandals in sports have continuously been in the news. Whether swimming, tae kwon do, or most famously gymnastics, the variety of sports that have had such scandals point to a very uncomfortable truth that sports has inherent child protection issues, and that these unique vulnerabilities require unique prevention strategies to keep youth athletes safe. Courtney Kiehl, former elite gymnast, abuse survivor, and now an attorney and advocate for child victims and adult survivors of child sexual abuse, joined us to discuss what makes youth athletes so vulnerable, and how we can help.

What coaching strategies create toxic cultures, which discourage kids from speaking up about concerns? How does the lack of accountability at the club level allow offenders to move location and keep right on coaching? How does the weight of adult expectations—coaches, parents, and, yes, us, the viewers—make it so very difficult for kids to disclose even the most harrowing abuse? And where is there reason for hope and action to create a future for elite sport, and indeed all sport, that is healthy and safe? Take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:46)
What good coaching looks like (6:53)
What makes athletes vulnerable (12:52)
Who regulates sports (19:20)
The bystander problem (28:17)
What all athletes need (32:34)
Parenting advice and the weight of expectations (33:52)

Links:

Courtney Kiehl, Esq., is an attorney at Paul Mones PC in California, a legal firm that specializes in representing victims of child sexual abuse. Prior to joining the firm, she founded A.C.H.E. (Abused Children Heard Everywhere) as a response to her own experience with sexual abuse by her gymnastics coach. She served as a fellow for CHILD USA’s Game Over: Commission to Protect Youth Athletes.

Game Over Commission; in January 2022, the commission released a case study on the abuse perpetrated by Larry Nassar

U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC)

U.S. Center for SafeSport

Related episodes: “The True Cost of Olympic Gold,” about the Game Over Commission’s report; an interview with Prof. Marci A. Hamilton, founder and CEO of CHILD USA and (February 25, 2022)

“Radically Vulnerable: Achieving Justice for Survivors” with Prof. Hamilton (September 30, 2019)

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The Limits of ACEs, Live Panel Discussion

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 15:00:00 -0400

The 1998 CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study helped build public understanding of the consequences of untreated childhood trauma. All these years later, does this tool tell the complete story? In this panel discussion recorded at National Children’s Alliance’s 2022 Leadership Conference, we explore what ACEs can—and can’t—accomplish in terms of influencing public support for policies that benefit kids. How can ACE screenings be used (and misused)? And what’s next for public health messaging that matters. Join Dr. Ernestine Briggs-King and Dr. Jonathan Purtle for a panel discussion moderated by NCA CEO Teresa Huizar in our first live-to-tape episode of One in Ten.

Topics in this episode:

Origin stories (2:07)
What’s good and bad about ACEs (5:39)
Public policy messaging (14:15)
ACEs and racism (22:42)
Protective factors and resilience (24:58)
The six messages (29:08)
What we’re curious about (36:48)
Audience questions (39:54)

Links:

Ernestine Briggs-King, Ph.D., is a clinical/community psychologist; the director of research at the Center for Child and Family Health; director of the Data and Evaluation Program at the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress; and an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine

Jonathan Purtle, Ph.D., is associate professor of public health policy and management and director of policy research at NYU’s Global Center for Implementation Science

CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (1998), Vincent J. Felitti, MD, FACP; et al

Previous episodes on related topics:

“Reframing Childhood Adversity,” with Julie Sweetland from FrameWorks Institute (April 14, 2022); includes a link to the “Reframing” study

“Greater Than the Sum—Multiple Adversities in Children’s Lives,” with Dr. Sherry Hamby (August 6, 2020; originally broadcast February 14, 2020, as “Mending the Tears of Violence”)

“The ACEs Message and Its Unintended Consequences,” with Dr. Jonathan Purtle (May 20, 2021)

“The Hidden Cost of Resilience,” with Dr. Ernestine Briggs-King (July 17, 2020; originally broadcast January 10, 2020)

“Bonus Content: Universal Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences,” with Dr. David Finkelhor (May 21, 2020)

“Beyond ACEs,” with Dr. Lisa Amaya-Jackson (December 4, 2019)

“The Science of Storytelling,” with Nat Kendall-Taylor from FrameWorks Institute (June 28, 2019)

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Collateral Damage: Kids and the Internet Privacy Wars

Thu, 26 May 2022 23:00:00 -0400

Justin Fitzsimmons, associate vice president at the National White Collar Crime Center, joins us to raise the alarm about the way in which technology companies, social media outlets, and online privacy advocates are now purposely pitting adult privacy rights against the protection and safety of children. Think end-to-end encryption is totally innocuous? What if that means that pedophiles can endlessly trade child sexual abuse images online with impunity? And how do we—as advocates for children—keep issues of child protection front and center for policy makers, for tech and social media, and ultimately for all Americans?

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:43)
Trends in technology-facilitated crime (2:45)
The privacy problem (6:56)
Our tech-driven lives (14:22)
What law enforcement needs (18:55)
What parents need to know (27:17)
What child abuse professionals need to do (34:23)
Don’t let technology scare you (41:40)
For more information (45:52)

Links:

Justin Fitzsimmons is associate vice president at the National White Collar Crime Center (nw3c.org), former president of the Board of Directors at National Children’s Alliance, and an expert on technology-facilitated crime.

CACs: Children’s Advocacy Centers

CSAM: child sexual abuse materials

ICAC: Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program

New York Times articles “The Internet Is Overrun with Images of Child Sexual Abuse. What Went Wrong?,” “How Laws Against Child Sexual Abuse Imagery Can Make It Harder to Detect,” and “Tech Companies Detect a Surge in Online Videos of Child Sexual Abuse”

NCMEC: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

NDAA: National District Attorneys Association

Common Sense Media

The Connected Parent

HealthyChildren.org

See also our previous episode, “Predators in Our Pockets: The New Digital Hunting Grounds”

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The Fear of False Allegations

Thu, 12 May 2022 19:00:00 -0400

If you’ve ever worked anywhere near the criminal justice system, you know how heartbreaking it is when a case goes to trial and you have a clear disclosure and great victim testimony and really solid corroborating evidence—and the jury acquits. In a child sexual abuse case, what would make a jury hear all of that and still acquit? Tayler Jones-Cieminski and other researchers set out to explore that very question, especially one specific aspect of juror beliefs: the myth about the prevalence of false allegations. What would happen at trial if there were an increased fear of false allegations? And does gender have anything to do with it?

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (3:05)
Disparity between evidence and verdict (7:17)
Fear of false allegations (11:49)
Implications for criminal justice system (24:32)
Role for juror education, public education (28:33)
Advice for child abuse professionals (31:30)
Future research (34:41)
Sharing the credit (38:40)
For more information (40:35)

Links:

Tayler Jones-Cieminski is a doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Chicago

“Jurors’ Gender and Their Fear of False Child Sexual Abuse Accusations Are Related to Their Belief in Child Victims’ Allegations.” Tayler M. Jones, Bette L. Bottoms, Kajal Sachdev, Jonathan Aniciete, and Karis Gorak (2021): Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2021.1931612

Bette Bottoms, Ph.D.

OJJDP, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Tamara Haegerich, Ph.D.

Kari Nysse-Carris, Ph.D.

“How Accurate Is Our Memory After 20 Years?” is our interview with Gail Goodman

Thomas D. Lyon, Ph.D.

Michael E. Lamb, Ph.D.

Jonathan Golding, Ph.D.

Voir dire

“Child victim empathy mediates the influence of jurors’ sexual abuse experiences on child sexual abuse case judgments: Meta-analyses.” Tayler M. Jones; Bette L. Bottoms; and Margaret C. Stevenson. (2020). Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 26(3), 312–332. DOI: 10.1037/law0000231 Also available from the University of Evansville.

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Exploring the Memoir of a Stolen Boyhood with Author Stephen Mills

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 15:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode is a conversation with author and survivor Stephen Mills about his recently published memoir, Chosen. For those who haven’t yet read his book, which we highly recommend, it recounts Mills’ abuse at the hands of a camp counselor over several years, and his long journey towards healing. While many institutional abuse cases involve boys, there are very, very few published accounts of male survivorship. And, if we’re to help boys who have been abused, then it’s critical for us to understand how this experience may differ from that of female survivorship. Mills’ account is deeply moving, and it challenges all of us to better protect boys in the first place, and better help them heal if they have been abused.

Topics in this episode:

Why we need this story (1:17)
Stigma and shame (3:42)
Grooming family and community (6:50)
Longing for justice (17:34)
Pushing institutions to change (26:17)
Public policy wishes (29:45)
Advice for child abuse professionals (34:39)
Learn signs and tactics (41:46)
For more information (47:01)

Links:

Stephen Mills is the coauthor with Roger Fouts of Next of Kin: My Conversations with Chimpanzees. He has advised and written for an array of public interest organizations in the fields of human rights, civil liberties, and the environment. Since 1983, he has worked with the Natural Resources Defense Council, building campaigns that have mobilized millions of people in support of environmental protection, and he serves as an ambassador for CHILD USA.

StephenMillsAuthor.com includes resources for survivors, families, and everyone and information on ways to take action to prevent child sexual abuse

“At a Place Where He Was Supposed to Be Safe, He Was Molested,” by Bruce Feiler, The New York Times, April 26, 2022

Other memoirs mentioned: Notes on a Silencing by Lacy Crawford; Half the House: A Memoir by Richard Hoffman; and The Tricky Part: One Boy’s Fall from Trespass into Grace by Martin Moran

Child Victims Act of 2019 (New York)

CHILD USA has information on child protection laws across the country, including statutes of limitation reform

U.S. National Blueprint to End Sexual Violence Against Children and Adolescents from Keep Kids Safe

National Scientific Council on the Developing Child

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Reframing Childhood Adversity

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 17:00:00 -0400

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a great time to talk about the way we message around child abuse and childhood adversities. The ways in which we’ve messaged about childhood adversity in the past may have served us very well, helping people come to terms with how important the topic is, the scope of the problem, and the lifelong impacts of it. But they may not be serving us very well now.

What if, in describing the problem as enormous and making that the centerpiece of our messaging, we’re making people think that the problem is intractable and they’re powerless as an individual person to make a change? Or, in focusing on the stories of individual families in order to gain empathy for them, what we really seem to be implying to the public is that there’s no room for public policy solutions, that this is a matter for each family to solve by themselves. We talked to Julie Sweetland, senior advisor at the FrameWorks Institute, about how to reframe childhood adversity.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (2:21)
Common communication traps (6:15)
Threat of modernity (14:28)
Key recommendations (19:09)
Systemic racism (32:16)
Hope and resilience (35:45)
Collective responsibility (39:55)
Evidence-based communication (42:00)
For more information (43:52)

Links:

Julie Sweetland, Ph.D., is a sociolinguist and senior advisor at the FrameWorks Institute.

ACEs: adverse childhood experiences

“Reframing Childhood Adversity: Promoting Upstream Approaches,” by Julie Sweetland, FrameWorks Institute (February 16, 2021); a presentation of the report is also available on the FrameWorks site

Harvard University Center on the Developing Child

Ascend at the Aspen Institute

Social Current

CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Zero to Three

Building Better Childhoods

researchgate.net/profile/Caitlyn-Muniz

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Does America Believe Female Sexual Abusers Actually Exist?

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Does America believe female sexual abusers actually exist? When we think about child sexual abuse, don’t we automatically picture in our mind a father, a stepfather, a Boy Scout leader, a male neighbor, a coach, or a priest? Our minds go there for a very good reason, and that is that 97% of convicted sexual offenders are, in fact, male. But we know that female-perpetrated child sexual abuse does exist.

What are the sort of perceptions—and misperceptions—that abound around this? What are the myths that exist about female-perpetrated sexual abuse? And how do these perceptions differ depending on who the woman is? What if it’s an aunt, or female clergy, or even a teacher? Maybe, most interestingly, as you’ll hear, a teacher most of all. We know from research that the traumatic impacts of female-perpetrated abuse are real and long-lasting. Does the general public actually believe the same? And how do we address the biases around this that may prevent victims from being believed and helped? Take a listen to our interview with Dr. Caitlyn Muniz.

Topics in this episode:

Why research this topic (1:58)
The focus on teacher/student cases (3:59)
Effect of authority roles (6:21)
Research findings (10:27)
What the general public might think (20:00)
Disclosures and reactions (24:30)
Cultural biases harm victims (34:23)
Advice for child abuse professionals (41:19)
Future research (44:00)
Share the episode (47:16)

Links:

Caitlyn N. Muniz, Ph.D., is assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at The University of Texas at El Paso

“The Influence of Authority Role and Victim Gender on Perceptions of Female-Perpetrated Child Sexual Abuse,” Caitlyn N. Muniz, Ráchael A Powers, Child Maltreatment, July 26, 2021

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The Surprising Prevalence of Sibling Sexual Abuse

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 22:00:00 -0500

When we think about problematic sexual behaviors in youth, we often think of a neighbor child, or someone at school. Someone acting out in the community with a child of our own. But rarely do we think about sibling sexual abuse, which we think of as somehow very rare. As you’re going to hear in this episode, it isn’t. It’s not uncommon.

Some of the most difficult cases we deal with at Children's Advocacy Centers are sibling sexual abuse cases. Mom and Dad come in, horribly upset. You have one child who is the victim, and they want to support that child. But at the same time they were terribly concerned about the child who had harmed their other child. The child who had thought it up and acted it out. And trying to think about how to prevent them from winding up and suffering all the pain and indignities of the criminal justice system.

What do we do in these cases that can actually be productive? How do we understand them moving forward? And how do we address the research gaps that leave us not always knowing entirely what to do?

Topics in this episode:

Why there's so little research on sibling sexual abuse (2:15)
Key findings about the research (8:00)
Poor mental health outcomes (15:26)
Risk factors in large families (23:50)
What can we do to protect children? (32:13)
For more information (35:36)

Links:

Nina Bertele is a research fellow at Charité - University Hospital Berlin (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin)

Anat Talmon, Ph.D.

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The True Cost of Olympic Gold

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 19:00:00 -0500

In recent years, how we look at the Olympics and elite sports has begun to change—driven by cases like that of Larry Nassar, the team doctor who for years and years got away with sexually assaulting and sexually abusing girls and young women. Marci Hamilton, the founder and CEO of CHILD USA, a think tank dedicated to child abuse and neglect, lead a case autopsy, conducted by subject-matter experts to find out how this was allowed to happen. And how can we prevent it from ever happening again? The Game Over Commission explored the toxic culture of sports, which values medals and money over athlete well-being. Hamilton joined us to discuss what the commission discovered, and what must be done to allow children and young adults to experience the joy of sports without the danger of abuse. Take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

The Larry Nassar case (2:28)
Game Over Commission (3:44)
Toxic culture in elite sports (7:27)
The economics of sports and pressures on athletes (12:41)
Near-zero regulation (17:44)
What parents need to know (27:17)
Total power, zero oversight: Team doctors (29:17)
Best child protection policies? (38:55)
Bankruptcy used against victims (40:44)

Links:

Prof. Marci A. Hamilton at the University of Pennsylvania is the founder, CEO, and academic director of CHILD USA, a nonprofit academic think tank. She is the author of Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect Its Children.

The biographies of those who testified before the commission are available online, including those of Larissa Boyce and John-Michael Lander.

Footage of the hearings is also available on the CHILD USA site.

In January 2022, Game Over Commission released a case study on the abuse perpetrated by Larry Nassar.

Bishop Accountability

AAU – Amateur Athletic Union

IOC – International Olympic Committee

NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association

USOC – U.S. Olympic Committee

USOPC – U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee

Listen to our earlier interview with Dr. Marci Hamilton, “Radically Vulnerable: Achieving Justice for Survivors,” Season 1, Episode 10 (September 30, 2019)

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Sticks and Stones … But What If Words Do Hurt?

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 15:00:00 -0500

Over the past 18 months, systemic and structural discrimination have received widespread—and, let’s face it, much-needed—media attention and public discussion. But what hasn’t had the same level of attention is interpersonal discrimination. The nasty comments. The othering. The exclusion—not at the hands of a faceless bureaucracy, but in our own communities, between individual people. Now, many of us were raised with a sort of “sticks and stones can break our bones, but words can never hurt us” sort of bravado. But what if words, and actions, about our personal appearance, race, gender, and age did create long-term harm? What if instead of simple slights that we should shrug off, these were recognized as vulnerabilities for the development of mental illness or substance abuse in young adulthood? We spoke with Yvonne Lei, a medical student at UCLA and lead researcher on a study of interpersonal discrimination and its effects on young adults.

Topics in this episode:

Interpersonal discrimination (1:43)
Adolescents and interpersonal discrimination (6:47)
The ah-ha moment (12:39)
Research findings (14:33)
Frequency and cumulative effect (19:24)
Lasting effects (21:45)
Implications for health care professionals (25:53)
This is our workforce (28:10)
A call to action (32:24)

Links:

Yvonne Lei is a medical student at David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles

Lei, Yvonne, et al. “Discrimination and subsequent mental health, substance use, and well-being in young adults.” Pediatrics 148.6 (2021).

“Discrimination increases risk for mental health issues in young adults, UCLA-led study finds,” by Evelyn Tokuyama, UCLA Newsroom, November 7, 2021

Adam B. Schickedanz, MD

Deborah Goldfarb, JD, Ph.D.

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How Accurate Is Memory After 20 Years?

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Over the past two decades, and in many cases because of statute of limitations reform, many adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse have come forward to seek justice, disclosing painful memories of traumatic events from decades before. And while, thankfully, the general public has grown in its understanding of how and why abused children might delay disclosure well into adulthood, a question that frequently comes up in legal procedures is: How accurate and reliable are memories of events long past? We speak with renowned memory researcher Gail Goodman, who’s also the director of the Center for Public Policy Research at UC-Davis.

Topics in this episode:

Understanding trauma and memory (1:40)
Misperceptions (4:06)
Encoding traumatic memories (8:01)
Research on memories after 20 years (12:42)
Legal implications (30:25)
Public policy (35:04)
Future research (37:20)
Share this episode (41:04)

Links:

Professor Gail S. Goodman is director of the Center for Public Policy Research at the University of California, Davis.

Wu Y, Goodman GS, Goldfarb D, et al. “Memory Accuracy After 20 Years for Interviews About Child Maltreatment.” Child Maltreatment. December 2021. doi:10.1177/10775595211055184

Carole Peterson, Ph.D.

Mitchell L. Eisen, Ph.D.

Karen Saywitz, Ph.D.

National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, the Children’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Julia (Yuerui) Wu

Kathy Pezdek, Ph.D.

National Institute of Justice

National Science Foundation

Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys from the CDC

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Prevention, Healing, & Justice: A Blueprint for Action

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

We're all too familiar with the statistics and issues around child abuse in the U.S. But what do we really know about violence against children globally? Are there approaches other countries take that we should apply in our country? Are there successes we should emulate and pitfalls to avoid?

And what would it mean if thousands of organizations working to keep kids safe really banded together and demanded government changes to better support families and protect children? Together for Girls, National Children’s Alliance, survivor organizations, and many more are doing just that in the U.S. through the Keep Kids Safe Coalition and its blueprint for federal policy action. We're tackling all branches of government in a quest to eliminate sexual violence against children and youth. To find out how you can help, take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

Dr. Ligiero’s and Together for Girls’ core work (1:31)
Why the U.S. lacks comprehensive data (6:24)
Surprising results about boys (8:01)
Successful strategies, lessons learned (12:01)
Keep Kids Safe Coalition (20:50)
The blueprint for national action (29:20)
How you can get involved (44:13)
The end of season 3; see you in January (46:51)

Links:

Dr. Daniela Ligiero is the executive director and chief executive officer of Together for Girls, a global partnership working to end violence against children and adolescents

The U.S. National Blueprint to End Sexual Violence Against Children and Adolescents is from the Keep Kids Safe Coalition at keep-kids-safe.org

Gender Policy Council

CHILD USA

November 30, 2021, article by Lizzie Johnson in The Washington Post about a coach accused of sexual abuse

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Do Anti-Poverty Programs Reduce Child Abuse?

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0500

We’re always very careful to say that poverty doesn’t cause child neglect and abuse. And we don’t want to conflate these things or have people think that we’re blaming people for being poor. Yet we do know that poverty—particularly chronic and extreme poverty—can create an environment in which neglect and child maltreatment can thrive. Given that connection, could investments in anti-poverty programs actually reduce child maltreatment?

This is a key question, especially given that rates of neglect have only seen modest reductions in the U.S. over the past 40 years. And it was what Dr. Hank Puls, professor of pediatrics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, set out to research. Are we missing an opportunity to not only reduce poverty but also the suffering that comes from child maltreatment when we don’t invest heavily enough in these programs?

Topics in this episode:

A pediatrician determined to reduce child abuse (1:55)
State anti-poverty programs (3:24)
Costs and benefits (11:00)
Advocacy, and inequities (29:01)
What do child advocates need? (38:04)
Share this episode with a friend (45:52)

Links:

Hank T. Puls, M.D., is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

“State Spending on Public Benefit Programs and Child Maltreatment,” Henry T. Puls, Matthew Hall, James D. Anderst, Tami Gurley, James Perrin, Paul J. Chung. Pediatrics November 2021; 148 (5): e2021050685. 10.1542/peds.2021-050685

A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

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Multidisciplinary Teams: What's the Secret Sauce?

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 11:00:00 -0500

In today’s episode, we speak with Dr. James Herbert, senior research fellow at the Australian Center for Child Protection, the first Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) in Australia. Now, for those of us in the CAC movement or on multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), we sometimes take our work together for granted. The teamwork, the support—the conflict!—and the difficult decisions we make together to protect children. But imagine for a moment coming to that work completely fresh and as a research scientist, as Herbert did, and truly trying to unpack what makes it work.

Now, we know that research has established that MDTs create better outcomes in child abuse cases. But what is that secret sauce that does make it work? How do teams make their decisions in these high-stakes cases? And what research is still needed to help us better leverage the combined knowledge and skills of the team? Most importantly, how does improving the understanding of the MDT model help us better serve abused children?

Topics in this episode:

Getting into child abuse research (1:33)
A lack of research on multidisciplinary teams (7:20)
Current research on MDT effectiveness (9:34)
Barriers to service (what caregivers say vs. what CACs say) (21:35)
Government funding for child advocates (27:47)
Other research needs (31:24)
The EU and the Barnahus model (42:47)
Our next episode (45:12)

Links:

James Herbert, Ph.D., is a senior research fellow at the Australian Centre for Child Protection at the University of South Australia

“Better together? A review of evidence for multi-disciplinary teams responding to physical and sexual child abuse,” Herbert, JL & Bromfield, L (2019), Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 228–15.

Barnahus model

Elizabeth J. Letourneau, Ph.D.

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Sexual Behavior in Youth: What's Normal? What's Not? And What Can We Do About It?

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 11:00:00 -0400

When we first met Dr. Jane Silovsky years ago, talking about youth with problematic sexual behaviors, it was a pervasive myth in the Children’s Advocacy Center world that CACs could not serve these kids. Somehow they weren’t our kids, somehow they weren’t deserving of help, or somehow they just weren’t ours to serve. But 25% to 30% of our cases each year involve sexually abusing or acting out on other kids. To make any difference at all in that work, we have to serve these kids. This is meaningful prevention work.

In today’s conversation, we explore what’s normal sexual behavior in youth—a tough question for any parent or any colleague. How do we identify and stop problematic sexual behaviors? What treatment actually works? How do we involve families in their own healing and success? And how do we get beyond billboards and bus kiosks to doing the kind of prevention work that actually matters?

Topics in this episode:

What is problematic sexual behavior?
What causes it?
Myths about problematic sexual behavior
The importance of caregivers
Demographics & treatment
Public policy and CAC advice
Put on your oxygen mask first
Available resources
Learn more

Links:

Barbara L. Bonner, Ph.D.

20-25% of cases at CACs involve a child hurting another child

David Finkelhor, Ph.D.

Resources for parents from the National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth

Military Learning Family Network webinar series is publicly available

NCA’s resources on problematic sexual behavior in youth

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) original study

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What’s Culture Got to Do With It? Everything.

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 11:00:00 -0400

Our guest today is Dr. Maegan Rides At The Door, the director of the National Native Children’s Trauma Center at the University of Montana. Now, many of us know at least some of the historical trauma faced by Native Americans and Alaska Native families, not just the genocide of the past, but also the boarding school abuses of the very recent past.

How does this impact children today? And how does racism, which is very much in the present, add to the trauma burden these children face? And how do we appreciate and recognize and leverage the incredible strengths and resiliency displayed by Native families multigenerationally? Most importantly, how do we craft culturally responsive services, not just in word and good intention, but in actuality, indeed?

Topics in this episode:

Child welfare needs to be culturally responsive (2:09)
Historical trauma and structural racism (5:47)
Cultural resiliency (11:44)
Expanding the original ACEs (17:07)
Recommendations (19:24)
Public policy (25:32)
Culture eats strategy for lunch (28:24)
Advice for CACs (35:30)
Share this episode! (39:05)

Links:

Maegan Rides At The Door, Ph.D., LCPC, is director of the National Native Children’s Trauma Center at the University of Montana College of Education. She is an enrolled member of the Assiniboine-Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation and a descendant of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.

The NNCTC offers a number of resources on trauma.

Rides At The Door, Maegan, and Ashley Trautman. 2019. “Considerations for Implementing Culturally Grounded Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Services: Recommendations for Working with American Indian/Alaska Native Populations.” Journal of Public Child Welfare 13 (3): 368–78. doi:10.1080/15548732.2019.1605014.

RYSE Center

RYSE’s expansion of the ACEs pyramid is available online.

Child development centers on military bases

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Trauma and Resilience in Military Families

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 17:00:00 -0400

When we think of military families, we rightly think of sacrifice and duty. But do we also think about resiliency, perseverance, and a sense of community? The unique sense of identity that comes with military service comes with a complex set of supports and struggles for service members. Dr. Stephen Cozza, a researcher and professor at the Uniformed Services University, joins us to explore the unique strengths and challenges of military families. What are the risks and protective factors that we should be aware of in working with military families? How does the phases of deployment and re-entry create some points of unique vulnerabilities that we need to attend to? And at a time when many soldiers are returning, how can we support families?

Topics in this episode:

An interest in the impact of trauma on military families (1:23)
Protective factors (2:52)
Risk factors (8:37)
Support for military families (13:48)
Neglect (24:36)
Current research (33:26)
CAC-military partnerships (38:52)
Learn more about our work (47:07)

Links:

Stephen J. Cozza, MD, is a retired Army psychiatrist who served as chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Walter Reed and is now a researcher and professor at the Uniformed Services University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress

Attack on the Pentagon

2019 Demographics Profile of the Military Community 60% of children in the military are under 11 years old, and 40% are 5 years old or younger

Military OneSource

Family Advocacy Program (FAP)

New Parent Support Program

2020 U.S. Department of Defense report on FAP

NCA’s CAC-military partnerships program

CAC-military coverage map

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. And visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org.

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act reauthorization

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Taking Stock: The Plan to End Child Abuse Deaths, Five Years On

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:00:00 -0400

Nearly a decade ago, a coalition of national organizations including NCA began strategizing about how to end child abuse fatalities. We passed a bill that established a congressional commission, which issued a report in 2016. Now we're looking at the successes and challenges of that work. What's changed, or not, in five years? What about state reforms? Join us with Amy Harfeld from the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths and reporters Lia Russell and Caitlin Andrews.

Topics:

2016: The plan (1:45)
Transparency (18:05)
Public policy (23:56)
Advice for CACs (28:00)
A cluster of deaths (32:15)
Another wave of reform? (48:09)

Links:

Amy C. Harfeld, JD, national policy advocate and senior staff attorney, Children's Advocacy Institute; coordinator, National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths

Caitlin Andrews and Lia Russell, investigative reporters, Bangor Daily News

Within Our Reach: A National Strategy to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities, report from the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities, March 17, 2016

State and local reforms

Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act

Family First Prevention Services Act

Maine ombudsman

“After a series of deaths, scrutiny starts again for Maine’s child welfare system,” Lia Russell, Bangor Daily News, June 26, 2021

“Legislative watchdog to probe issues raised by Maine child welfare ombudsman,” Caitlin Andrews, Bangor Daily News, August 11, 2021

Casey Family Programs

OPEGA

Visit us at NationalChildrensAlliance.org and OneInTenPodcast.org

Children’s Advocacy Centers

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Are We Solving the Wrong Problem in Child Welfare?

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 17:00:00 -0400

Are we solving the wrong problem in child welfare? When you think of federal child welfare policy, maybe you expect a discussion of foster care and other post-abuse interventions. If so, this conversation with Jerry Milner, former head of the Children’s Bureau at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is going to blow your mind. Because after more than 40 years in child welfare, Milner's leadership of the Children’s Bureau turned a very, very different direction. He explored questions like: What would happen if we turned over our investment and focused on primary prevention instead? And are too many children separated from their parents unnecessarily through foster care? And, more importantly, what role do our own values of equity and belief in family support play not only in the lives of kids but in the life of our public policy? Milner is reimagining the child welfare system of the future. Take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

Origin story (1:20)
Why primary prevention? (4:04)
Why it's hard to change (10:38)
Systemic inequities (16:44)
Different forms of neglect (21:50)
The consumer voice (31:54)
Our new podcast website (39:28)

Links:

Jerry Milner, DSW, is director of the Family Integrity and Justice Works at Public Knowledge, and former head of the U.S. Children’s Bureau

“$20M diverted from police training facility to mental health facility in Prince George’s,” by Brad Bell, April 19, 2021, ABC7 News

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

Family First Prevention Services Act

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org. And come visit our new podcast website at oneintenpodcast.org, or email us at oneinten@nca-online.org

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

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The Trauma They Carried, with Dr. Jordan Greenbaum

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 17:00:00 -0400

Years ago, few Americans—even in the field of child abuse—knew or understood child sex trafficking. The media portrayed it as a problem “over there” someplace, far from our shores. Now we know that child sex trafficking is both a global problem and a local one, one that affects children and youth who come across our borders, and youth in schools right down the street.

What makes children vulnerable to trafficking, and those who cross our borders especially vulnerable to it? How do we identify those at risk? How do we address the trauma and pain victims of trafficking have survived and carry with them? And perhaps most critically, now that we do know better, how do we do better on this issue? We talk with Dr. Jordan Greenbaum, director of Global Initiative: Child Health and Well-Being at the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Topics in this episode:

Child sex trafficking is a local problem (1:21)
Marginalization and other risk factors (4:26)
What CACs can do (11:31)
Unintended consequences (14:31)
Barriers to referrals (16:43)
Core competencies (27:01)
A public health approach (29:24)
Learn more about our work (37:37)

Links:

Jordan Greenbaum, MD, is director of the Global Initiative for Child Health and Well-Being at the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) and an expert on child sex and labor trafficking.

Federally qualified health centers

National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center

HEAL Trafficking

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)

Core Competencies for Human Trafficking Response in Health Care and Behavioral Health Systems (February 2021)

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast or email us at oneinten@nca-online.org.

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Shola Richards on the Heart of a Healthy Workplace

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

If you’ve worked any time at all, then you’ve worked in some place that was unhealthy. Maybe it was full of gossip and backstabbing. Or perhaps there was one disgruntled employee who just made the whole place miserable. Or perhaps you or one of your colleagues was bullied. Toxic workplaces take an emotional toll. They’re exhausting. Draining. Demoralizing.

What can we do as leaders to create a healthy workplace culture right from the very start? How do we turn around one that’s developed some sort of trouble spot? And how do we contribute to a healthier and happier workplace through our own attitude and resiliency? In “The Heart of a Healthy Workplace,” speaker, author, and workplace culture consultant Shola Richards talks to us about creating a healthy workplace environment.

Topics in this episode:

Toxic workplaces (1:25)
Leadership: Sink or swim (7:50)
Return to the office post-pandemic (10:23)
The strongest teams (16:08)
Crucial Conversations (22:34)
Tough love self-care (32:25)
The next normal (39:42)
Inclusion and belonging (41:52)
Learn more about NCA and CACs (45:06)

Links:

Shola Richards is the founder and CEO of GoTogether Global and a keynote speaker, coach, and consultant. He is the best-selling author of Go Together: How the Concept of Ubuntu Will Change How You Live, Work and Lead and of Making Work Work: The Positivity Solution for Any Work Environment.

In June 2021, he was featured as the closing keynote speaker at our annual Leadership Conference for the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) movement.

Crucial Conversations and Crucial Accountability are from VitalSmarts

Learn more about Admiral James Stockdale’s outlook in Good to Great by Jim Collins

Adverse Childhood Experiences Study

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The ACEs Message and Its Unintended Consequences, with Dr. Jonathan Purtle

Thu, 20 May 2021 14:00:00 -0400

When the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study came out and proved the link between traumas such as child abuse and long-term negative health and mental health impacts, why did the public latch onto some results but not others? Why are people less convinced about the physical health impacts of ACEs than others? What role does political leaning play? And are we messaging some things that are harmful or counter-productive? We talk to Jonathan Purtle from Drexel University about how to make sure the general public understands and wants to make the kinds of system changes necessary to improve kids’ lives.

Topics in this episode:

ACEs go mainstream (02:14)
Studying the right way to message about abuse (06:39)
Research results (10:19)
People resist ACEs’ brain/body connection (15:38)
Unintended consequences (20:01)
How to talk about solutions (27:28)
More research needed (32:41)
What to say and what not to say (35:48)
For more information about this topic (42:36)

Links:

Jonathan Purtle, DrPH, MPH, MSc, associate professor of health management and policy, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health

“Public Opinion About Adverse Childhood Experiences: Social Stigma, Attribution of Blame, and Government Intervention,” Purtle J, Nelson KL, Gollust SE, Child Maltreatment. March 2021. doi:10.1177/10775595211004783

Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice

Sandra L. Bloom, MD

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University

“Beyond ACEs” with Dr. Lisa Amaya-Jackson, One in Ten podcast episode (December 4, 2019)

NCA 2021 Leadership Conference, June 7-9, 2021

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast or email us at oneinten@nca-online.org.

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

The Journey to Jenna's Law, with Jenna Quinn

Fri, 07 May 2021 15:00:00 -0400

Jenna Quinn was one of the first survivors to translate their experience of abuse into child abuse prevention public policy. Jenna was abused by a close friend of the family, someone known through the Christian school she attended. Her mom was a teacher, and her family very supportive, and yet Jenna, like so many others, became vulnerable to ongoing abuse because she didn’t know who, or how, to tell. And her school, like so many other schools, provided no abuse prevention education to kids or to school personnel. The 2009 Jenna’s Law changed that in Texas and became a model for other efforts. Listen in as we explore how centering the experiences of survivors can translate into important policy solutions, and how survivors can not only survive but experience post-traumatic growth that allows them to thrive.

Topics in this episode:

Why she spoke up (1:25)
Jenna’s Law (8:44)
Stigma (12:44)
Faith communities and child abuse (15:04)
Post-traumatic growth (18:23)
What’s next for Jenna (35:44)
Advice for CACs (39:45)
Next episode (44:53)

Links:

Jenna Quinn, M.S., champions the passage of Jenna’s Law at the state and federal level to require K-12 schools to educate students, teachers, and caregivers about how to prevent, recognize, and report child sexual abuse

Jenna Quinn will be the Opening Keynote speaker at our 2021 Leadership Conference on June 7

Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas (Denton County)

SANE (sexual assault nurse examiner)

Warning signs of child sexual abuse (#ItsYourBusiness)

Darkness to Light has many prevention resources

#ChurchToo (similar hashtags are in use for other religions)

Victor Vieth; see also our earlier interview with him, “Faith, Trauma, and the Problem of Evil” (May 13, 2019)

Post-traumatic growth (PTG), Richard G. Tedeschi, Ph.D., and Lawrence G. Calhoun, Ph.D.

The original study into adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

A bill to pass the Jenna Quinn Law (S. 734) was introduced in the U.S. Senate on March 11, 2021

The biblical story of Tamar is told in 2 Samuel 13

CDC Vital Signs issue on the effects of ACEs

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

A Pathway to Healing, with Patrick Anderson

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 16:00:00 -0400

When we think about Alaska, we think of Denali, pictures we’ve seen, movies we’ve watched, the wonderful wildlife, and people still living on the cusp of the frontier. But what films don’t always show, and what books don’t always cover, is the incredible challenges of this environment: the high rates of trauma, the high rates of addiction, the high rates of suicide, and the high rates of child abuse. How do you help families identify the root causes of trauma and truly heal? We talk to Patrick Anderson, CEO of RurAL CAP, about the nexus of a brutal truth and enduring hope.

Topics in this episode:

Working in Alaska (1:26)
Toxic stress (7:47)
Historical trauma (12:57)
The fear response (17:48)
Six step healing hypothesis (26:28)
Whole community healing (38:28)
Two generation response (42:33)
The Stockdale paradox: Brutal truth and enduring hope (46:10)

Links:

Patrick M. Anderson, CEO of RurAL CAP (Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc.)

RurAL Cap’s health and well-being programs

The original study into adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

AAP website on Early Brain and Child Development

Three types of stress responses

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

1867 Treaty of Cession

Joseph LeDoux, Ph.D.

Dr. Vincent Fellitti

Lean thinking, or the Toyota Production System

Martin Seligman, Ph.D., positive psychology

Angela Duckworth, Ph.D., Grit

David Berceli, Ph.D.

Dr. James Gordon, Breathe, Shake, Dance (YouTube)

EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Capt. Joseph Hibbeln, M.D.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.

The Stockdale Paradox

Carol Dweck, Ph.D.

American Board of Pediatrics

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Addressing the Doctor Deficit

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 14:00:00 -0400

Sometimes we forget that the medical response to child abuse as a discipline developed over our lifetime, and what was nascent 30 years ago is now a board specialty, like cardiology or oncology. For all the gains we’ve made in research and practice, though, there are still tremendous challenges in ensuring that all children who’ve been abused have access to medical care. Things like: Why is there such a scarcity of child abuse pediatricians? What can we do to increase the number of physicians willing to care for abused children as a part of their practice? And how can we ensure that abused children—no matter where they live in the U.S.—get the care they need to heal and thrive? In today’s episode, “Addressing the Doctor Deficit,” we speak with a pioneer in the field: Dr. Suzanne Starling, a renowned medical expert and child abuse pediatrician.

Topics in this episode:

Accidentally becoming a child abuse pediatrician (1:16)
Fewer than 400: A rare specialty (6:18)
Barriers to kids getting medical exams (12:27)
Family advocates taking the lead (17:30)
How public policy can help (23:12)
Effect of the pandemic (25:28)
What’s next in the field? (31:50)
Unintended consequences (36:14)
How to get more people involved (41:17)

Links:

Suzanne Starling, M.D., is a board-certified child abuse pediatrician who serves as medical director and associate center director of the Chadwick Center for Children and Families at Rady Children’s Hospital - San Diego and clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California San Diego

Sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) are registered nurses with specialized training in medical forensic care of patients who have experienced sexual assault or abuse

To learn more about teleforensic interviewing, listen to “The Intersection of Technology and Forensic Interviewing” with Debra Poole, Ph.D., and Jason Dickinson, Ph.D. (May 28, 2020)

To learn more about the impact of the pandemic on mental health and advice on how to cope, listen to:

“We’re Not All Having the Same Pandemic,” with Rabah Kamal and Carole Campbell Swiecicki, Ph.D. (June 11, 2020)

“Can a Pandemic Have a Silver Lining?” with Dr. Danielle Roubinov of the University of California (September 10, 2020)

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Engaging the Hope Within Us, an Interview with Deondra and Gregory Brown

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 22:00:00 -0500

On today’s episode, “Engaging the Hope Within Us,” our guests are award-winning classical pianists and siblings Gregory and Deondra Brown of The 5 Browns. When we think of classical music, we often think only of the beauty of it, not also of the pain and vulnerability that it can express and evoke. The 5 Browns shook perceptions of the classical music world when they revealed that all three sisters had been sexually abused as children and sought justice in their case. This brave act shattered stereotypes and elevated the issue of child sexual abuse in an audience where it had previously been little discussed. Our conversation today touches some core questions. How does music connect us to our own humanity? How can music help heal survivors in broken places that nothing else seems to reach? And how does the love and supportive family, as allies, help survivors thrive?

Topics in this episode:

The 5 Browns (1:29)
Deciding to disclose (4:34)
Advice for allies and survivors (8:04)
The power and benefit of music (21:45)
The Little Tin Box and supporting CACs/CJCs (33:44)
Learn more about our work (48:28)

Links:

The 5 Browns

The Little Tin Box

Tracey Tabet is the administrator for the Utah Children’s Justice Center (CJC) Program, where she oversees the state’s Children’s Justice Centers and serves as the director of the Utah Chapter of NCA

Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is the term we use at the national level, but some states use Children’s Justice Center (CJC)

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Neglect and the Ecosystem of Abuse

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 20:00:00 -0500

In today’s episode, we talk with Paul DiLorenzo, who’s worked in every aspect of the child welfare system over the past 40 years—as a writer, as a consultant, and as a case worker. This varied experience gives him a wealth of knowledge and information and truly unique insight into our field. One of his key insights has been around the relationship between chronic neglect and child sexual abuse. Now if you’ve been working in the child protection field for a while, you often think about it—yes, that people are polyvictimized, or maybe victimized in more than one way. But have you thought deeply about the fact that chronic neglect may create the environment in which child sexual abuse can thrive?

DiLorenzo asks the question about how we might interrupt the cycle of generational abuse by stopping the cycle of chronic neglect. What prevents us from doing this right now? Is part of it that as child abuse professionals, we’ve grown cynical and given up on some families entirely as they cycle back through the system? What would it really mean if we truly believed in the power of redemption and that even the most struggling families could change? Join us in this thoughtful conversation about engaging families right where they are and helping them invest in their own healing.

Topics in this episode:

Recurrence and revictimization (1:42)
What increases the risk (7:26)
Key points for prevention and intervention (14:49)
Own the outcome (25:39)
What's not working (31:46)
Learn more about NCA and CACs (39:20)

Links:

Abbreviations used in this conversation: CAC means Children’s Advocacy Center; MDT is multidisciplinary team; CPS is child protective services

Paul DiLorenzo, ACSW, MLSP, interim executive director, Philadelphia Children’s Alliance

Child Sexual Abuse Recurrence report, Philadelphia Children’s Alliance and Temple University (December 2020)

Julia Kobulsky, Ph.D., and Bernie Newman, Ph.D., Temple University School of Social Work

Engaging and Healing Families webinar, Philadelphia Children’s Alliance (February 17, 2021)

Casey Family Programs

National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC) in Huntsville, Alabama, was the first CAC

Humans of New York

Vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress (TEND definitions)

National statistics on child abuse

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

An Interview with Filmmaker Sasha Joseph Neulinger

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 02:00:00 -0500

On today’s episode, we talk with Sasha Neulinger, director and producer of the award-winning documentary, Rewind, a film about his survival of abuse. Now for those listeners who attended our conference and watch party, you already know his powerful film. But for those who might be new to Sasha and his work, run, don’t walk, to your Amazon Prime account and queue up this great film.

Now, some of you might be thinking, “After a day of dealing with child abuse, why would I want to watch the film and listen to this episode?” In one single word: Hope. What makes Sasha’s account so unique are really two things. One, he didn’t have to rely on his memory alone to reflect on his childhood. He had 200 hours of film of his everyday life as a child and could watch as an adult and dissect how and when his abuse impacted his life. And two, he filmed his own reckoning with his past. With all the pain, yes, but also with all the resilience and hope that came with understanding and loving his inner child. What Sasha ultimately captured was radical self-acceptance and hope.

In this episode, we explore that journey—both the filmmaker’s journey and Sasha’s inner journey to healing and hope. Take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

Unresolved trauma: Making the film (1:39)
Facing your fears (7:17)
What audiences need (15:35)
Call to action (25:29)
Helping adult survivors (30:15)
What’s next for Sasha (40:17)

Links:

Sasha Joseph Neulinger, director and producer of critically acclaimed documentary Rewind.

Amazon Prime members can stream Rewind for free. It’s also available on AppleTV, iTunes, and Google Play, and it aired on Independent Lens on PBS.

Voice for the Kids

Statute of limitations reform (childusa.org resource)

Prevention Project Dunkelfeld

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Is Child Sexual Abuse Inevitable?

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 16:00:00 -0500

Years ago, Elizabeth Letourneau had a key insight: What if instead of focusing exclusively on victims and parents for child sexual abuse prevention, we really turned to the source of the problem: the person at risk of sexually abusing a child?

Now, we really don’t like to talk about, or even think about, the fact that some youth and some adults are sexually attracted to children. But what if we could teach middle schoolers about sexual boundaries and about consent before they ever made a misstep? And what if those youth and adults struggling with the shame of an unwanted sexual attraction to children had a way to get help before they ever harmed a child? And what if we lifted the weight so many victims feel about their responsibility to somehow keep themselves safe and placed this responsibility instead squarely on the shoulders of those who might otherwise harm them?

Topics in this episode:

Help Wanted prevention program (1:40)
Google and Facebook get involved (7:24)
Middle-school intervention (15:27)
Online programs in the future? (23:15)
Which prevention programs work? (24:47)
Best practices for youth-serving organizations (28:01)
What do we need next? (34:15)
Federal focus needed (37:51)
Contact Congress about funding research (44:14)

Links:

Elizabeth Letourneau, Ph.D., director of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Help Wanted

Stop It Now! USA

CDC

Responsible Behavior with Younger Children

Shifting Boundaries

National Center for Child Traumatic Stress

Committee for Children

U.S. Center for SafeSport

Australian Royal Commission

Commit to Kids

Bloomberg American Health Initiative website, framework and leadership desk guide

We interview Dr. Letourneau previously in “Child Abuse as a Public Health Issue” (aired 5/2/19)

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Centering Survivors in the Law, Criminal Justice Crystal Ball, Part 3

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:00:00 -0500

In our season-ending episode, we look at the wave of statute of limitation (SOL) reform that has swept our country, giving survivors of child sexual abuse—who may take years to fully process and disclose what happened to them—more time to seek justice. But the reform also poses challenges for prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and professionals who work with victims of child abuse. How do we properly maintain evidence in perpetuity? What resources do we need to really store this evidence—both physical and digital—and support survivors throughout their lifetimes? In this conversation with Nelson Bunn, executive director of the National District Attorneys Association, we discuss how to meet the practical demands of retaining evidence and prosecuting older cases while keeping survivors centered at the heart of our work and at the heart of reform.

This is the last episode of Season 2 for One in Ten. We’ll be back in early January with a fascinating conversation about a different approach to preventing child sexual abuse.

Topics in this episode:

Benefits and challenges of SOL reform (2:04)
Preserving evidence (7:37)
Digital evidence (11:31)
Prosecuting the backlog (15:29)
Advice for CACs (18:38)
Learn more about NCA and CACs (22:24)

Links:

Nelson Bunn, executive director, National District Attorneys Association (NDAA)

childusa.org/law has information on child protection laws across the United States

Justice Served Act of 2018 amended the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to add, as a purpose area under the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program, increasing the capacity of prosecutors to address the backlog of violent crime cases involving suspects identified through DNA evidence. Debbie Smith is a survivor of sexual assault. The DNA evidence from her forensic exam afterward went unanalyzed for more than five years.

Listen to the rest of the Criminal Justice Crystal Ball Series:

Part 1: “The Future of Prosecution” with Nelson Bunn (aired 11/5/2020)
Part 2: “What’s Past Is Prologue” with Brad Russ (aired 11/19/2020)

You may also enjoy “Radically Vulnerable: Achieving Justice for Survivors” with Prof. Marci Hamilton (aired 9/30/2019)

Seacoast Mental Health Center

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What's Past Is Prologue: Criminal Justice Crystal Ball Series, Part 2

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:00:00 -0500

It was after midnight one night in 1983 when young police detective Brad Russ heard the knock on his front door that would transform his career. A 16-year-old girl named Kathy had run through a driving rainstorm to reach the one person in her neighborhood she thought might help her. Russ had never investigated child abuse before, and overnight he got a crash-course in the disjointed way the system handled—or didn’t handle—such cases. It launched him on a lifelong mission to improve his own community’s response to abuse and made him a champion of Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) and the multidisciplinary team (MDT) model.

Fast forward to today, with communities across the United States confronting problems with our justice system and police-community relations. In part two of our Criminal Justice Crystal Ball Series, “What’s Past Is Prologue,” we talked with Russ about his own experience with systemic reform. What can we learn from the past? How might deep partnerships between the police, MDT members, and CACs set an example and provide a path forward in these community conversations? How can meaningful collaboration and trust form the glue that keeps it all together?

Topics in this episode:

The past: A siloed approach to child abuse cases (1:53)
Common issues in abuse investigations (11:26)
Collaboration is difficult and necessary (21:14)
How to make things happen (32:20)
Our next episode (42:39)

Links:

Brad Russ, former police chief of the Portsmouth, N.H., Police Department, is executive director of the National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College

Abbreviations used in this interview: CPS (child protective services); CACs (Children’s Advocacy Centers); DCYF (New Hampshire’s name for CPS, the Division of Children, Youth, and Families); MDT (multidisciplinary team); OJJDP (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program

CACs mentioned: Colorado Springs, Colo.; Dallas; Huntsville, Ala.; Rockingham County (Portsmouth), N.H.

During his conversation with us, Brad Russ credited a number of people he worked with over the course of his career. Some of the names were edited out when we trimmed the interview. The full list of people mentioned: Joy Barrett, Bill Black, Ed Garone, Wendy Gladstone, Brian Killacky, Ron Laney, Sandy Matheson, Marci Morris, Bill “Mort” Mortimer, Jim Reams, and Kay Wagner.

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The Future of Prosecution: Criminal Justice Crystal Ball Series, Part 1

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 17:00:00 -0500

In the midst of a national debate about criminal justice reform, what’s the role of the prosecutor? And how do we transform the system while still centering victims? We spoke to Nelson Bunn, executive director of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), about the unique role of prosecutors in leading systemic change. In a time of anxiety in the community about the relationship with law enforcement and with the criminal justice system overall, trust, accountability, and transparency are vitally important. And so are victims—we have to make sure they’re taken care of as well.

This episode is the first in a three part series on criminal justice reform: Criminal Justice Crystal Ball. How might the justice system look different moving forward? Let’s find out.

Topics in this episode:

Prosecutors’ perspective on criminal justice reform (2:11)
A shift in thinking over time (6:20)
Transparency, accountability, and trust (11:25)
Collaboration; the CAC model (17:09)
The voice of the victim (21:05)
Our next episode (23:32)

Links:

Nelson Bunn, is executive director of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA)

First Step Act of 2018 (and the NDAA press release about it)

Commonswealth’s Attorney Nancy G. Parr is the current president of NDAA

Prison Fellowship website has a video on Why Pell Grants Matter

The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) model and multidisciplinary teams (MDTs)

Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities

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Is Abuse Contagious?

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 16:00:00 -0400

In “Is Abuse Contagious?” we sit down for a conversation with a guest who does fascinating work—Dyann Daley of Predict Align Prevent. As a pediatric anesthesiologist, Dr. Daley was driven by the sight of little kids fighting for their lives in the emergency room because they had been abused. She started a nonprofit that uses existing data to find neighborhoods that are hot spots for abuse—including some places where folks say, “Oh, not, that’s not a problem on this side of town.” How can a family’s environment raise the risk of abuse? And what can we do to get abuse prevention services to the neighborhoods where they’re needed the most?

In this episode:

Children 0-3 most at risk of dying from abuse (1:45)
Environment influences behavior: A place-based approach to prevention (4:28)
The Predict Align Prevent model (11:53)
Office of Prevention and targeted universalism (16:50)
Protecting kids to death (30:31)
What the critics say (42:05)
There is no evil overlord hoarding data (47:35)
What can people do? (51:49)

Links:

Dyann Daley, MD, is a pediatric anesthesiologist and the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Predict Align Prevent (PAP)

The Richmond, Va., report; an ethical evaluation of the PAP program; and other resources are available online at predict-align-prevent.org/resources

Gary Slutkin, MD, former head of the World Health Organization’s Intervention Development Unit, founded Cure Violence (cvg.org)

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

Nurse-Family Partnership

Casey Family Programs

Related episode of One in Ten: “Prediction as Prevention” with Emily Putnam-Hornstein, Ph.D., aired on August 15, 2019

The Leadership Conference mentioned is our annual conference

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit nationalchildrensalliance.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast or email us at oneinten@nca-online.org.

Ann S. Masten Ph.D., Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development

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Can a Pandemic Have a Silver Lining?

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 14:00:00 -0400

In “Can a Pandemic Have a Silver Lining?”, we invite Dr. Danielle Roubinov of the University of California to discuss a “research manifesto” letter she and her colleagues published in JAMA Pediatrics in August. Even as a novel coronavirus has upended our world, leading to new public health and safety guidelines that are playing hob with many research projects, it is also fostering innovation. The result has, in some ways, catalyzed research into early childhood adversity.

COVID-19 has also ratcheted up the pressure on parents. Dr. Roubinov has a hopeful message for them, too: Even small positive experiences, and having a strong relationship with a caring adult, can help a child weather adversity.

In this episode:

The intersection of childhood adversity and the pandemic (1:32)
Why we focus on the negative (4:49)
Concerns about disparities and about parents’ mental health (9:51)
The absence of a negative is not always a positive (14:12)
Polystrengths, and the importance of caregivers (16:48)
ABC intervention: Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (27:15)
An open letter to policymakers (35:35)
A message for parents (37:52)

Links:

Danielle Roubinov, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco

“How a Pandemic Could Advance the Science of Early Adversity.” JAMA Pediatrics. 2020 Jul 27. Roubinov D, Bush NR, Boyce WT. PMID: 32716499.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

“Greater Than the Sum—Multiple Adversities in Children’s Lives,” One in Ten interview with Sherry Hamby, Ph.D., originally aired on February 14 (as “Mending the Tears of Violence”). Rebroadcast on August 6, 2020

Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC intervention) was developed by Mary Dozier, Ph.D., at the University of Delaware

Resources:

"Healing Interpersonal and Racial Trauma: Integrating Racial Socialization Into Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for African American Youth"

The EMPOWER Lab at the University of Georgia

Dr. Metzger's research

UGA Racial Trauma Guide

Coping with Racial Trauma (infographic)

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The Meaning of Healing for Black Kids and Families

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 15:00:00 -0400

We're back from our Best of the Best series to talk with Dr. Isha Metzger, a clinical psychologist, a University of Georgia researcher, and head of The EMPOWER Lab. But her real claim to fame: she noticed that the gold-standard treatment for children delivered at CACs wasn't working for her Black clients, dug into it, and came up with a brand-new adaptation to serve Black children and families, build their trust, and see themselves reflected in the work of healing from trauma. In fact, Just as concrete barriers need to be lowered to help families engage with treatment, the messages embedded within that treatment must include racial socialization and messages that include messages of strength, joy, pride, and voice. How can CACs and clinicians ensure they're meeting the needs of Black kids and families, or of other BIPOC kids? What are white clinicians to do to ensure that the messages in treatment fit the experiences of their BIPOC clients? And what are the implications for family engagement?

Topics in this episode:

What is racial socialization?
How social and racial messages affect treatment outcomes
Culturally specific treatment strategies
How racial adaptations for treatment models work
Racial trauma and polyvictimization
The role of celebratory experiences in treatment
Racial justice
Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Mental health disparity

David Finkelhor, Heather A. Turner

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Best of the Best: Greater Than the Sum—Multiple Adversities in Children’s Lives

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Greater Than the Sum—Multiple Adversities in Children’s Lives (originally "Mending the Tears of Violence") is the third in a three-part series of best-of-the-best episodes. Adversity and violence are common in kid's lives. The cumulative burden creates a lifelong vulnerability to physical and psychological issues. So how do we help kids thrive? What strengths are most important? Sherry Hamby, research professor of psychology at the University of the South, discussed trauma’s cumulative impact and how teachers, parents, and advocates can help kids.

Topics:

Adversity and violence (2:02)
Polyvictimization, dose response (7:20)
Resilience, polystrengths (12:30)
Symptom relief is not well-being (20:39)
Important strengths (23:08)
Recovering positive affect (30:14)
Helping kids (35:30)

Links:

Sherry Hamby, Ph.D., Life Paths Research Center director and ResilienceCon founder

ACE study

National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence

“Polyvictimization: Children’s Exposure to Multiple Types of Violence, Crime, and Abuse”

Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire

Ann S. Masten, Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development

“Sense of Purpose—The Most Important Strength?”

“From Poly-Victimization to Poly-Strengths: Understanding the Web of Violence Can Transform Research on Youth Violence and Illuminate the Path to Prevention and Resilience”

“Poly-victimization, Trauma, and Resilience: Exploring Strengths That Promote Thriving After Adversity”

MMPI

“Developmental Stage of Onset, Poly-Victimization, and Persistence of Childhood Victimization: Impact on Adult Well-Being in a Rural Community–Based Study”

Two-by-Ten

James Pennebaker

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit nationalchildrensalliance.org. And join us on Facebook at

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

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Best of the Best: The Hidden Cost of Resilience

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -0400

We're taking a short summer break and re-airing several of our most popular episodes that are especially relevant in light of current events. This week, we'll explore how kids fare after abuse: The Hidden Cost of Resilience. Earlier this year, we spoke to Dr. Ernestine Briggs-King from Duke University School of Medicine and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network about resilience in kids who have suffered abuse, and how what we see on the surface isn't always the full story. What does the research tell us about the long-term issues that even the most resilient children may face? And what impact do racism and other forms of discrimination have on kids, both as an adverse experience itself and as it affects their recovery from trauma?

Topics in this episode:

What is resilience?
Factors that help people be resilient
Abuse disrupts social connections
Racism, homophobia, and other compounding factors
The hidden cost of resilience
Talking to caregivers
Racism’s impacts, and the role of caregivers
Resources

Links:

Ernestine Briggs-King, Ph.D., Duke University School of Medicine, and the Center for Child & Family Health

Robert Pynoos, MD, UCLA

Gene Brody, Ph.D. “UGA Research Uncovers Cost of Resiliency in Kids,” by April Reese Sorrow, May 20, 2013, University of Georgia Columns.

“Is Resilience Only Skin Deep? Rural African Americans' Preadolescent Socioeconomic Status-Related Risk and Competence and Age 19 Psychological Adjustment and Allostatic Load,” by Gene H. Brody Tianyi Yu, et al, July 1, 2013, Psychological Science, Vol. 24(7): 1285-1293.

“Family Support Buffers the Physiological Effects of Racial Discrimination,” by Gene Brody, March 1, 2016, Association for Psychological Science Observer.

“The Hidden Cost of Resilience,” by Leonora Desar, June 6, 2013, Psychology Today.

Professor Ann S. Masten, University of Minnesota, author of Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development

This New Yorker article, “How People Learn to Become Resilient,” talks about the work of Norman Garmezy and Emmy Werner.

Sir Michael Rutter

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org. And join us on Facebook at

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Best of the Best: The Bystander Effect

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 21:00:00 -0400

We’re taking a short summer break and re-airing several of our most popular episodes that are especially relevant in light of current events. First up: the pandemic. When schools shut down to help slow the spread of the virus, one of the consequences was kids isolated at home, away from the teachers and other professionals who are most likely to spot the signs of abuse and take action. In 2018, more than two-thirds of reports to child abuse hotlines came from people who had contact with kids as part of their job. What’s good for public health isn’t always good for the safety of an individual child. Across the country, reports of abuse dropped dramatically. That doesn’t mean the abuse stopped. It just disappeared behind closed doors.

That makes it even more crucial that people in the community, like us, speak up when we believe a child is in danger. But, far too often, we hesitate. Before we can persuade our friends and neighbors to report suspected abuse, we have to understand why they don’t. One of our very first guests on One in Ten was Wendy Walsh, of the Crimes Against Children Research Center. We spoke about The Bystander Effect—Why People Don’t Report Child Abuse. Listen again as we explore the issues and the policies and practices that could help us keep children safe.

Topics in this episode:

Why don’t people speak up? (3:30)
Are people aware they should report suspected abuse? (7:20)
At the heart of people’s concerns about reporting abuse (10:52)
Negative perceptions about child protective services (13:16)
The SHINE Campaign (17:20)
Research priorities, and barriers to research (18:50)
Universal mandatory reporting (23:50)
What needs to change? (25:34)
Catching kids falling through the cracks (28:08)
The one takeaway (30:31)

Links:

Wendy A. Walsh, Ph.D., is a research assistant professor of sociology at the Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire

The statistic about who reports abuse is from Child Maltreatment 2018 at acf.hhs.gov

Granite State Children’s Alliance, KNOW AND TELL program

SHINE Campaign on Facebook and on Instagram

The National Survey of Children’s Health

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We’re Not All Having the Same Pandemic

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 15:00:00 -0400

We have two guests for you: one offering insights into research on the impact that the coronavirus pandemic is having on mental health, and the other giving us the perspective from the field. First up is Rabah Kamal, a senior policy analyst at the Kaiser Family Foundation. Before COVID-19, about one in five adults in the U.S. reported being worried, anxious, or depressed on a regular basis. Among teenagers, about 12% reported anxiety or depression. And that was before a global pandemic hit. What impact is the pandemic having on mental health? What factors raise the risk of problems? What helps?

Then you’ll hear from Carole Campbell Swiecicki at Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in South Carolina about the mental health impact of the pandemic on her CAC’s clients, her staff, and the CAC’s multidisciplinary team partners.

Topics in this episode:

Prevalence of mental health issues in the U.S. (1:52)
Impact of COVID-19 on mental health (4:29)
Innovation and the future (26:45)
Health care workers and first responders (36:48)
What families are facing (40:36)
Essential vs. non-essential workers (44:19)
Impact on kids, and how we can help them (49:27)
Going back to work (1:01:15)

Links:

Rabah Kamal is a senior policy analyst at the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) which is not related to any health insurance organizations

KFF’s “The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use”

Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam

World Health Organization

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Coping with Stress

Carole Campbell Swiecicki, Ph.D., is executive director of Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center and a clinical assistant professor at the Medical University of South Carolina

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Video diaries appeared in a CBS News story in May 2020

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: COVID-19 Behavioral Health Resources; Mental Health and Coping links for individuals; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) COVID-19 resources

Our own COVID-19 resource page is publicly available

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org. And join us on Facebook at

National Science Foundation

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The Intersection of Technology and Forensic Interviewing

Thu, 28 May 2020 17:00:00 -0400

Before anyone had ever heard of COVID-19, professors at Central Michigan University and Montclair State University were examining whether forensic interviewers could use telehealth technology to connect with children in remote or rural service areas in cases where child abuse was suspected. It was interesting research but not particularly urgent, because whatever their findings, most forensic interviews would still be conducted face-to-face. Then the pandemic hit.

Forensic interviews are conducted by specially trained individuals who must talk to children about abuse allegations in ways that are unbiased, fact-finding, legally sound, and not traumatizing. With communities across the country shutting down, we needed to know: Are teleforensic interviews as accurate and effective as face-to-face interviews? And are children OK with them? We talked to professors Debra Poole and Jason Dickinson to find out what they’ve learned.

Topics in this episode:

Why research teleforensic interviewing? (1:43)
The reaction (before the pandemic) (6:46)
A matter of equity; and, what the study found (9:48)
Unanswered questions (17:50)
Interviewer discomfort (25:03)
Building psychological safety (33:12)
What additional training will interviewers need? (38:40)
What’s next to study? (44:50)
Our next episode (49:00)

Links:

Jason Dickinson, Ph.D., acting chairperson, Social Work and Child Advocacy, Montclair State University (New Jersey)

Debra Poole, Ph.D., experimental faculty, Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University

Martine Powell, Ph.D., professor, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University (Brisbane, Australia)

Crimson Barocca, LCSW-C, forensic interview program supervisor, Baltimore Child Advocacy Center (Baltimore, Maryland)

Leyla Sandler, MSW, LICSW, forensic services director, Safe Shores, the D.C. Children’s Advocacy Center

TF-CBT, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Mister Rogers

Nicole Lytle, Ph.D., assistant professor, Social Work and Child Advocacy, Montclair State University

“Montclair Researchers Aid Child Witnesses With Tele-Forensic Interviewing,” Patch, March 27, 2020

Additional information on teleforensic interviewing at Children’s Advocacy Centers can be found on the COVID-19 resource page on NCA's website.

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org. And you can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/OneinTenPodcast.

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Bonus Content: Universal Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences

Thu, 21 May 2020 12:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode is a bit of bonus content for you. Adverse childhood experiences—also known as ACEs—can have lifelong effects. But does that mean we should screen everyone for ACEs? Recently, we spoke to Dr. David Finkelhor, from the Crimes Against Children Research Center and the University of New Hampshire, about the change in rates of abuse and neglect over time. If you listened to that episode, “Bad News Is a Story; Good News Is a Statistic,” what you didn’t hear was the conversation we had about the idea of universal screening for ACEs. Would such screening actually help? If not, what would? We spoke for just a few minutes on the topic, but we think you’ll find it interesting.

Topics in this episode:

When screening works best (1:28)
Our under-resourced behavioral health system (7:23)
Our next episode (11:01)

Links:

David Finkelhor, Ph.D., sociology professor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center, and co-director of the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire

“Bad News Is a Story, Good News Is a Statistic”

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org. And visit One in Ten on Facebook at facebook.com/OneinTenPodcast

Elizabeth Gershoff, Ph.D.

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Let's Talk About Spanking

Thu, 07 May 2020 10:00:00 -0400

Research shows that about 75% of physical abuse starts as physical discipline gone terribly awry. We have years of data showing spanking is ineffective—and in fact, harmful to kids. But often the topic is treated as a third rail by many child abuse professionals: avoided and ignored.

We spoke to Stacie LeBlanc, CEO of The UP Institute and a champion of no-hit zones. Why is it so difficult for child abuse professionals to discuss spanking with parents? How do we get past the culture wars on this topic? And how can we open a respectful conversation that moves beyond “Well, I turned out fine”? How can no-hit zones help?

This episode was recorded over Zoom, and there are some minor sound quality issues.

Topics in this episode:

· Concerns for kids during the pandemic (1:17)

· Connection between spanking and physical abuse (2:53)

· The research (4:15)

· Poyvictimization and adverse childhood experiences (6:03)

· A common problem that’s hard to talk about (8:05)

· Handling parents’ objections (13:17)

· A respectful approach (21:00)

· Banning spanking, changing social norms (2:48)

· How to start a no-hit zone (26:23)

· Our next episode (34:06)

Links:

Stacie LeBlanc, CEO of The UP Institute

No Hit Zone Toolkit

The No Hit Zone concept was created in 2005 by Dr. Lolita McDavid at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio

Painless Parenting

National No Hit Zone Committee

Stop Spanking

U.S. Alliance to End the Hitting of Children has a list of organizations with policy statements on this topic

American Academy of Pediatrics, put out a policy statement in November 2018

Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children has a map of global progress on the issue

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org.

“This Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint: Strategies to Address Wear & Tear in Helping Professionals During COVID-19”

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This Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint: Pacing Yourself Through the Pandemic

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 12:00:00 -0400

Child protection professionals have tough jobs on any day. Add in a pandemic, and you’re piling stress on top of stress. We talked to Françoise Mathieu, executive director of TEND, an academy in Canada offering resources and training to address the needs of workers in high-stress, trauma-exposed workplaces like Children’s Advocacy Centers and their partner agencies.

Françoise is a globally recognized expert on addressing burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma in these high-stress workplaces. Naturally, she’s a great person to talk to about how to cope with the added stress and fear of a pandemic while working in fields that already have their share of these issues on the best of days. What’s a healthy response? Why should we stop saying, “Well, when things go back to normal …”? How do we deal with the ever-present feeling that we’re not doing enough? And how do we care for ourselves and our colleagues while keeping our distance? This interview was recorded on Zoom, and there are minor fluctuations in sound quality.

Topics in this episode:

· Reacting to the pandemic: denial first (1:28)

· Feeling guilty that you’re not doing enough (8:23)

· Grief and the new normal (19:11)

· Caring for yourself and others (31:34)

· A sense of moral injury (38:40)

· Healthy habits to get you through the crisis (43:21)

· Free resources (50:50)

· Our next episode (53:58)

Links:

Françoise Mathieu, executive director of TEND

Black swan theory

NCAC

Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink

Linda Cordisco Steele

“Leaders Are People Too: Staying Well During COVID-19,” interview with Dr. Patricia Fisher

Karen Hangartner

TEND’s COVID-19 resources.“Feet on the Floor.” The Three Minute Breathing Space. Staying Well During COVID-19.

Secondary Traumatic Stress Consortium COVID-19 Resources

NCA’s COVID-19 response page

Stephen Covey’s Circles of Concern and Influence (video)

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org.

National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System

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Bad News Is a Story; Good News Is a Statistic

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 15:00:00 -0400

Prof. David Finkelhor joined us to discuss a recent one-year uptick in rates of child sexual abuse in the U.S.—and the longer-term reduction in rates of abuse and neglect (down more than 60% since 1992). What might have caused the uptick? And why are we so quick to spot bad news when the bigger news of a substantial decrease gets so little attention? Does child abuse prevention education in schools work? And what do we need to do to keep driving rates of abuse down?

Topics in this episode:

· An uptick in child sexual abuse? Should we be concerned? (1:34)

· Rates of abuse and neglect in the U.S. have gone down more than 60% since 1992 (4:49)

· Could our success make people take the issue less seriously? (13:34)

· Prevention education (18:20)

· Interesting research questions (23:40)

· Learning from COVID-19 responses and innovation (26:44)

· Our next episode—if you like the podcast, please share it! (31:15)

Links:

David Finkelhor, Ph.D., sociology professor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center, and co-director of the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire

Children’s Bureau (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Minnesota Student Survey

National Crime Victimization Survey (U.S. Department of Justice)

Steven Pinker’s Better Angels of Our Nature and Enlightenment Now

Erin’s Law

NCA’s COVID-19 resources page is publicly available and includes telemental health resources

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org.

Mat Heck, Jr., is the elected prosecutor for Montgomery County, Ohio

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COVID-19 and Criminal Justice

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 10:00:00 -0400

Prosecutor Mat Heck is our guest today. Amid a pandemic, public health experts are urging us to stay home and stay away from each other to avoid spreading the deadly virus. At National Children’s Alliance, our entire staff is teleworking—and in fact, you’ll hear that this interview was conducted over the internet. Our criminal justice system, however, is built around in‑person interactions. Now, virtually overnight, many aspects of the system had to start operating remotely. What still needs to be done in person, and how do we proceed when public health and public safety are at odds?

As the elected prosecutor for Montgomery County, Ohio, Mat is dealing with this issue directly. How has the pandemic impacted his work? How can victim advocates and forensic interviewers at Children’s Advocacy Centers do their jobs under these difficult conditions? Should we expect a rise in child abuse and other crimes? And how is Mat helping his own staff deal with the added stress of a pandemic on top of an already difficult job?

Topics in this episode:

· The challenge for law enforcement and prosecutors

· Essential vs. nonessential work

· Victim advocacy during a pandemic

· Making sure children are protected: Children’s Advocacy Centers and the forensic interview

· Child protective services checking in on families

· Will we see a rise in crimes like domestic violence and child abuse?

· Helping our workforce deal with the added stress

· Our next episode: Dr. David Finkelhor and changes in rates of child abuse and neglect over time

Links:

NCA’s coronavirus resource page for CACs, partners, and caregivers

Victim/Witness Division and Child Abuse Bureau of the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office

CARE House Child Advocacy Center

Webinar on CAC triage plans: COVID-19 and CACs

Montgomery County Children Services

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org.

Harford County Child Advocacy Center

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Predators in Our Pockets: The New Digital Hunting Grounds

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 15:00:00 -0500

Two guests join us to discuss the overwhelming number of images of child sexual abuse online. First, we spoke to Lieutenant Veto Mentzell with the Harford County (Md.) Sheriff’s Office. How has technology changed producing and distributing these images? What’s the impact on survivors? Who are these predators in our midst? We discussed the role of Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces and how well-intentioned efforts to update legislation can criminalize children’s behavior.

Then, you’ll hear from Emily Cashman Kirstein at Thorn, a nonprofit that builds technology to defend children from abuse. What do we need tech companies to do—or do more of—to protect children? Why are we failing to keep up with the growth of abusive materials online? We talked about the threat posed by end-to-end encryption and what Thorn is doing on the issue of self-generated content.

Topics (Veto Mentzell):

Who produces and shares abusive imagery? (2:14)
Technology now is a common part of abuse cases (5:53)
Self-produced images: the risk for kids (9:58)
The impact on kids and families—and investigators (14:04)
What policy makers need to know (22:24)
The best advice for Children’s Advocacy Centers (31:37)

Topics (Emily Cashman Kirstein):

An audacious goal: eradicating child abuse from the internet (34:21)
The prevalence of this material and what’s driving the growth (35:51)
The role of nonprofits and of policy makers (42:46)
Holding tech companies accountable (48:45)
Encryption, digital privacy, and child protection (51:15)
What else is promising? (55:48)

Links:

Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Maryland ICAC

“Digital Safety” episode of Public Health Matters

The State Chapter is Maryland Children’s Alliance

Thorn’s TED Talk: “How we can eliminate child sexual abuse material from the internet”

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)

Safer

Telegraph article: “Tech companies should pay for child abuse epidemic ‘like oil spills’, ex-Government child safety Czar says”

Safety by Design, Australia

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit nationalch

David Finkelhor, Heather A. Turner

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Mending the Tears of Violence

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Episode 204, “Mending the Tears of Violence.” Adversity and violence are common in kid's lives. The cumulative burden creates a lifelong vulnerability to physical and psychological issues. So how do we help kids thrive? What strengths are most important in overcoming adversity? Sherry Hamby, research professor of psychology at the University of the South, discussed trauma's cumulative impact and how teachers, parents, and child advocates can help kids.

Topics:

Adversity and violence in children's lives (1:39)
Poly-victimization and the dose response (6:58)
Resilience (12:06)
Poly-strengths (16:11)
Symptom relief is not well-being (20:16)
The most important strengths (22:46)
Teacher engagement; how to help kids (35:09)
How to help kids (39:34))
Our next episode (47:13)

Links:

Sherry Hamby, Ph.D., Life Paths Research Center director and ResilienceCon founder

ACE study

National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence

“Polyvictimization: Children’s Exposure to Multiple Types of Violence, Crime, and Abuse”

Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire

Ann S. Masten, Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development

“Sense of Purpose—The Most Important Strength?”

“From Poly-Victimization to Poly-Strengths: Understanding the Web of Violence Can Transform Research on Youth Violence and Illuminate the Path to Prevention and Resilience”

“Poly-victimization, Trauma, and Resilience: Exploring Strengths That Promote Thriving After Adversity” (article in press at interview time)

MMPI

“Developmental Stage of Onset, Poly-Victimization, and Persistence of Childhood Victimization: Impact on Adult Well-Being in a Rural Community–Based Study”

Two-by-Ten

James Pennebaker

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit nationalchildrensalliance.org.

“The Sexual Abuse to Prison Pipeline: The Girls’ Story”

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The Child-Trafficking-to-Adult-Prostitution Pipeline

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Episode 203, “The Child-Trafficking-to-Adult-Prostitution Pipeline.” Multiple states and jurisdictions are considering full decriminalization of adult prostitution. On the surface, it seems like a way to help an exploited population. But the potential for harm is real—especially for children. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and we spoke to Yasmin Vafa of Rights4Girls about the connections between child sexual abuse and sex trafficking and the adult sex trade. What are supporters of full decriminalization missing? And what would a truly survivor-focused approach look like?

Topics in this episode:

· The sexual-abuse-to-prison pipeline, a domestic crisis (1:30)

· No such thing as a child prostitute (4:27)

· State statutes; child sex trafficking is a form of child abuse (6:15)

· The connection between sex trafficking and the rest of the sex trade (9:30)

· Defeating a full decriminalization bill in Washington, D.C. (17:40)

· Other states considering decriminalization (20:43)

· Advice to child advocates (24:11)

Links:

Yasmin Vafa, co-founder and executive director of Rights4Girls (originally known as Human Rights Project for Girls)

The No Such Thing Campaign featured Withelma “T” Ortiz Walker Pettigrew, whose viral petition helped persuade the Associated Press to stop using terms such as “child prostitute.”

Human trafficking state laws

National Center for Homeless Education (U.S. Department of Education) resources on trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children, Youth and Families “Guidance to States and Services on Addressing Human Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States”

“Vermont bill would decriminalize adult prostitution,” January 12, 2020, Associated Press

Current status of H.569, “An act relating to prostitution,” in the Vermont General Assembly

The equality model or Swedish model (partial decriminalization)

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). If you suspect an incident of child sex trafficking, call the NCMEC hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). Don’t ask, “what if I’m wrong?” Ask, “what if I’m right?”

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

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The Hidden Cost of Resilience

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 16:00:00 -0500

Episode 202, “The Hidden Cost of Resilience.” The ability to bounce back from trauma is a good thing. But, increasingly, research is uncovering signs that all may not be well with the kids who look like they’re doing just fine. We spoke to Dr. Ernestine Briggs-King about resilience—and its hidden costs. How can we help kids and families cope with trauma? What factors put children at higher risk? And what does the latest research tell us about the long-term health issues that even the most resilient children may face?

Topics in this episode:

· What is resilience? (1:25)

· Factors that help people be resilient (2:59)

· Abuse disrupts social connections (9:01)

· Racism, homophobia, and other compounding factors (12:25)

· The hidden cost of resilience (17:25)

· Talking to caregivers (25:20)

· Racism’s impacts, and the role of caregivers (28:54)

· Resources (33:13)

· Our next episode (36:58)

Links:

Ernestine Briggs-King, Ph.D., Duke University School of Medicine, and the Center for Child & Family Health

Robert Pynoos, MD, UCLA

Gene Brody, Ph.D. “UGA Research Uncovers Cost of Resiliency in Kids,” by April Reese Sorrow, May 20, 2013, University of Georgia Columns.

“Family Support Buffers the Physiological Effects of Racial Discrimination,” by Gene Brody, March 1, 2016, Association for Psychological Science Observer.

“The Hidden Cost of Resilience,” by Leonora Desar, June 6, 2013, Psychology Today.

Professor Ann S. Masten, University of Minnesota, author of Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development

This New Yorker article, “How People Learn to Become Resilient,” talks about the work of Norman Garmezy and Emmy Werner.

Sir Michael Rutter

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org.

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Gender Bias and the Myth of Parental Alienation

Sun, 05 Jan 2020 22:00:00 -0500

Episode 201, “Gender Bias and the Myth of Parental Alienation.” Everyone’s heard of the vengeful ex-wife who accuses her ex-husband of child abuse just to get back at him during a divorce. There’s even a scientific-sounding term for it: parental alienation. But is parental alienation real? And are judges taking allegations of abuse seriously enough? We spoke to Professor Joan Meier from George Washington University Law School who has some, frankly, startling data on the subject. How does alleging abuse affect custody decisions? Is there scientific proof that alienation exists? And what can we do to persuade the courts to do a better job of investigating abuse?

Topics in this episode:

· Realizing children aren’t being protected.

· Junk science: parental alienation syndrome.

· The myth of the vengeful ex-wife.

· Women are not considered as credible as men.

· What the research really show?

· What should the courts be doing?

· Reaction by judges

· What can we do about it?

Links:

Joan S. Meier, professor of clinical law at George Washington University Law School

“‘A gendered trap’: When mothers allege child abuse by fathers, the others often lose custody, study shows,” is a Washington Post article about the study.

Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project (DV LEAP) provides pro bono appellate representation in compelling domestic violence cases and trains attorneys and courts around the country

DV LEAP’s Legal Resource Library include briefs and court opinions, training materials, publications, links to domestic violence organizations, case digests, and custody resources

Learn more about the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers and National Children’s Alliance on our website, read our annual report, and visit us on Facebook.

Motivational interviewing

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The Family-Focused Advocate

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 18:00:00 -0500

Season 1, Episode 12, “The Family-Focused Advocate.” One barrier to improved outcomes for children is getting families to participate in and complete mental health treatments. We have the services available at Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs), but not enough families take advantage of them. This is a family engagement problem. How do we change that? We spoke to Libby Ralston from Project BEST about a shift in the way we communicate—and a focus on family advocacy. What barriers must we overcome? And how can our team partners help make the case for treatment?

Topics in this episode:

· The value of caregivers’ support and involvement in their child’s treatment. (1:24)

· Strategies to engage families in services. (6:20)

· Barriers to participating in treatment. (9:42)

· Trauma-screening and assessments as family engagement tools. (13:42)

· A shift in the way we communicate. (18:40)

· Do you have a family engagement problem? (20:25)

· We’re communicating caring. (27:15)

· Our multidisciplinary team (MDT) partners can help. (29:16)

Links:

The reference to our data is about NCA’s Outcome Measurement System

The family engagement training project refers to the Enhance Early Engagement (E3) Training for Children’s Advocacy Centers’ Victim Advocates, a project that NCA and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center are conducting in 2020.

Learn more about the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers and National Children’s Alliance on our website, read our annual report, and visit us on Facebook.

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Beyond ACEs

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 11:00:00 -0500

Episode 111: “Beyond ACEs.” In 1998, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study showed that traumatic events in childhood were common and could have lasting effects—on everything from SAT scores while we’re in school to long-term physical health issues as adults. But are all ACEs created equal? We invited Dr. Lisa Amaya-Jackson from the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress to discuss the benefits—and the limitations—of keeping score. Have we oversimplified the way in which we talk about ACEs? What’s the role of the community in developing resilience? (And why does she think “resilience” is both a beautiful word and a burden?) What do we need to know to help survivors heal?

Topics in this episode:

· The terms used to define trauma. (1:34)

· “All ACEs were not created equal.” (5:29)

· How an ACE can be more potent, and the problem with oversimplification. (8:58)

· How an ACEs assessment fits into the CAC rubric. (20:23)

· Advice for CACs. (26:20)

· Resilience and how communities and organizations can help kids recover. (29:43)

· What’s coming up at the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (40:53)

Links:

The original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study

National Center for Child Traumatic Stress

Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope (2016 documentary)

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, at TEDMED 2014, “How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime”

Core Curriculum on Childhood Trauma, including The 12 Core Concepts: Concepts for Understanding Traumatic Stress Responses in Children and Families

Learn more about the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers and National Children’s Alliance on our website, read our annual report, and visit us on Facebook.

New York Survivor Tool Kit.

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Radically Vulnerable: Achieving Justice for Survivors

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 17:00:00 -0400

Episode 110: “Radically Vulnerable: Achieving Justice for Survivors.” The legal landscape has started to change for survivors of child sexual abuse. Are we headed in the right direction? And what do we need to do to keep more children safe? We talked to legal scholar Marci Hamilton from CHILD USA about the progress that’s been made—and what needs to happen next.

Topics in this episode:

· Many adult survivors had no legal remedy. (1:39)

· Statute of limitations (SOL) reform—and who opposes it. (4:35)

· How do SOL windows work? (10:29)

· Top public policy aims. (14:27)

· How to help adult survivors. (17:45)

· Youth sports and other fields where kids are radically vulnerable. (20:30)

· Game Over Commission. (27:00)

· Advice for institutions. (29:10)

· What do we most need to understand? (31:33)

· Our next episode topic. (32:42)

Links:

The Boston Globe Spotlight report on clergy sex abuse (2002).

Catholic Charities.

New York’s Child Victims Act took effect on August 14, 2019.

childusa.org/law has information on child protection laws across the United States.

Child Welfare Information Gateway information on mandated reporting.

Game Over Commission.

Leaving Neverland documentary.

At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal.

U.S. Center for SafeSport.

Dr. Earl Bradley, former pediatrician and convicted child molester.

Studies from Michigan State University, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and Congress (“The Courage of Survivors” Senate Olympics Investigation, July 30, 2019).

David Corwin, MD, professor at the University of Utah.

US Partnership on Mobility from Poverty

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Housing Instability and Child Welfare

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 16:00:00 -0400

Episode 109: “Housing Instability and Child Welfare.” Housing instability has an out-size impact on family well-being. What we can do to help children dealing with trauma retain a sense of roots and resilience? And what less-talked-about issues related to housing should we be aware of? The Urban Institute’s Maya Brennan joined us to discuss the deep cycle of cascading instabilities that has its roots in housing and what we, as a society, can do to help keep families strong.

Topics in this episode:

· Housing as a basic human need. (1:34)

· What can we do to help? (4:44)

· The impact housing instability has on children. (6:45)

· Family stressors and cascading effects of instability. (11:25)

· Domestic violence as a cause for eviction. (15:07)

· Programs that help families. (17:57)

· What doesn’t help. (20:57)

· What questions should we be asking? (25:23)

· Dangerous housing and its effect on kids’ health. (28:54)

· The public policy change we need. (34:05)

· One piece of advice for Children’s Advocacy Centers. (36:26)

· Neighborhood decay. (37:11)

· Our next episode topic. (38:46)

Links:

Maya Brennan is a senior policy associate at the Research to Action Lab at the Urban Institute.

The Children and Instability page on the Urban Institute’s website covers housing, including supportive housing for families involved in the child welfare system, and other topics.

Five-site pilot program: Partnerships to Demonstrate the Effectiveness of Supportive Housing for Families in the Child Welfare System.

“How Housing Quality Affects Child Mental Health,” October 26, 2017, by Will Schupmann on howhousingmatters.org.

“How Housing Affects Children’s Outcomes,” January 2, 2019, by Veronica Gaitán on howhousingmatters.org.

Our next episode, “Radically Vulnerable: Achieving Justice for Survivors,” will feature Prof. Marci Hamilton from CHILD USA.

Laurie Anne Pearlman, Ph.D.

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The Edge of Compassion

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 17:00:00 -0400

Episode 108: “The Edge of Compassion.” We know that compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and burnout can take a heavy toll on people in the field of child protection. Children’s Advocacy Center staff, law enforcement, prosecutors, medical providers, case workers, and others deal with this every single day. How do we stay hopeful and resilient in the face of such suffering? We invited Françoise Mathieu, co-executive director of TEND Academy and a highly sought-after speaker on the subject of high-stress workplaces, to discuss how child advocacy professionals can protect ourselves and our colleagues as we deal with cases of horrific child abuse. How can we cope with the stress while still remaining effective and compassionate for the children and families we work so hard to help? (Call quality was a problem with this episode, but it’s absolutely worth listening to what Françoise has to say.)

Topics in this episode:

· The difference between compassion fatigue, burnout, secondary trauma, and vicarious trauma. (3:41)

· How to know in the moment that you’re being impacted by stress. (6:40)

· How the stress of our jobs can affect our own kids. (16:17)

· The weight of the job can make other things seem frivolous. (19:32)

· We can’t do this alone. (26:35)

· What do people need to be healthy? (35:47)

· Trauma exposure as a viral load. (40:14)

· Flipping our lids. (44:06)

· Low-impact debriefing. (Don’t slime people.) (53:32)

· The one thing to remember. (58:03)

· Our next episode. (59:31)

Links:

Françoise Mathieu, M.Ed., CCC., RP, is the co-founder and co-executive director of TEND Academy. She is the author of The Compassion Fatigue Workbook.

The Resources page of the TEND website includes more information about compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and secondary traumatic stress. And check out the TEND blog for related topics.

The Secondary Traumatic Stress Consortium is a group of researchers, trainers, practitioners and advocates with a common goal of advancing the field of secondary traumatic stress towards health. The website has free resources and information on training.

NCA’s Standards for Accredited Members are available on our website as a PDF. Promoting the well-being of employees and partners is part of the Organizational Capacity Standard (see page 50).

Dr. Patricia Fisher, R.Psych., L.Psych., is co-founder and co-executive director at TEND. To learn more about the organizational health model, read this article on the TEND website.

Low impact debriefing

Our next episode will feature Maya Brennan from the Research to Action Lab at the Urban Institute

USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

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Prediction as Prevention

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:00:00 -0400

Episode 107: In “Prediction as Prevention” we ask the question: Can big data help us determine which children are most at risk of foster care placement? And how do we direct resources to those children to ensure they’re safe? We examine the way in which predictive modeling sheds light on the impact of implicit bias in our nation’s child welfare system. About 50% of African-American and black families in this country will experience a child welfare investigation. That’s far, far more than the data indicates we should expect to see. That’s a problem. But can an algorithm be the answer? Emily Putnam-Hornstein, an associate professor at the University of Southern California School of Social Work and the director of Children’s Data Network, joined One in Ten to talk about what role big data should have in making potentially life-and-death decisions about children’s safety.

Topics in this episode:

· What is predictive analytics and how it is used in child welfare? (1:56)

· The big question to answered by big data. (3:52)

· The over-representation of black families in child welfare investigations. (5:31)

· Who gets reported? (6:58)

· Why haven’t we solved this problem yet? (10:01)

· Can individuals accurately assess risk? (12:24)

· How can predictive analytics address implicit bias? (15:24)

· How does it work in practice? (19:38)

· The impact of predictive analytics. (23:58)

· What’s next for the field? (28:48)

· Our next episode topic. (32:20)

Links:

Children’s Data Network

The conference mentioned is NCA’s 2019 Leadership Conference. Emily Putnam-Hornstein and Rhema Vaithianathan led a plenary session about how risk modeling can support child welfare practice.

The question of who reports suspected abuse (or why they don’t) was the subject of our third episode, The Bystander Effect, with Dr. Wendy Walsh of the Crimes Against Children Research Center.

“Can big data help prevent child abuse and neglect?” by Giles Bruce at the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, talks about Emily Putnam-Hornstein’s work (June 24, 2019).

Our next episode will feature Françoise Mathieu of TEND Academy.

Cracked Up movie website

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Treating the Smoke and Not the Fire

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 17:00:00 -0400

Episode 106: “Treating the Smoke and Not the Fire” is a conversation about a new documentary, Cracked Up—an emotionally arresting, trauma-informed look at the lifelong consequences when we fail to protect a child. In Cracked Up, filmmaker Michelle Esrick chronicles Saturday Night Live star Darrell Hammond’s journey from childhood trauma, through decades of misdiagnoses of its effects, toward hope and healing. The duo talk about what drove them to make the film and how they hope it will help change the conversation about child abuse. As Michelle says, too often society treats the smoke—things like addiction and mental illness—and not the fire—the very experiences that caused them in the first place.

Topics in this episode:

· What drove them to make Cracked Up (2:20)

· What they didn’t know at the start of the journey (4:34)

· Trauma is when your reality is not seen or known (8:04)

· Telling a survivor’s story with respect and without causing them further harm (9:36)

· A hunger to call out the bad guy, and to be believed (12:14)

· The consequences of trusting your own reality (14:23)

· The haunted house—the shock a simple thought can cause (23:18)

· Trauma, substance use, and addiction: Treating the smoke and not the fire (28:25)

· The investment in disbelief. It’s hard to shatter images—and monsters hide in the light (35:23)

· Public policy: What would you like to see changed? (39:38)

· How to set up an educational screening of Cracked Up (41:35)

· Our next episode topic (42:00)

Links:

Darrell and Michelle, NPR radio interview on WNYC (at 34:25)

Darrell’s book about his experiences

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and The Body Keeps the Score

Dr. Nabil Kotbi

Penny Dreadful

With Dr. Jacob Ham in “The Long Arm of Childhood Trauma” episode of the Road to Resilience podcast

Dr. Vincent Felitti, co-principal investigator of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study

Dr. Bruce Perry

Host an educational screening of Cracked Up

Resources on the Cracked Up movie website

And the $10 million we’d like to see the government spend is to give the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding for research into preventing child abuse. Learn more about that in our interview on “Child Abuse as a Public Health Issue” with Dr. Elizabeth Letourneau.

Did you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

The Science of Storytelling

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 12:00:00 -0400

Episode 105: “The Science of Storytelling” features Nat Kendall-Taylor, CEO of the FrameWorks Institute, which works to change the conversation on social issues. We discussed how to get people to engage in conversations about an uncomfortable topic—child sexual abuse. What should we change about our own messaging to give people hope that they can do something about it? We also discussed a new research project into communication strategies on this issue, and when we might learn the results.

Topics in this episode:

· The most surprising result of research into child sexual abuse. (1:47)

· How we talk about the issue can be a problem. What should we stop doing? (5:11)

· Pivoting—our biggest communication challenge. (13:28)

· When people think monsters are the root cause, what’s the solution? (18:42)

· Balanced messaging. (21:17)

· Talk about progress without losing urgency. (26:25)

· When death won’t do it in driving a sense of urgency, what will? (29:38)

· The “snapping” myth. (33:05)

· Current research on communication strategies—and when we’ll get results. (37:43)

· Summing it all up. (41:36)

· Our next episode topic. (43:42)

Links:

FrameWorks Institute

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Dr. Elizabeth Letourneau at the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Letourneau was our very first guest on One in Ten, in the episode on “Child Abuse as a Public Health Issue.”

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The Failure That Leads to All Others

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 16:00:00 -0400

Episode 104: “The Failure That Leads to All Others,” features Mary Graw Leary, a former prosecutor and a professor at The Catholic University of America School of Law. Why does child sexual abuse seem to flourish in institutional settings? How can institutions prevent abuse? And when prevention fails, how must institutions respond?

Link:

The Catholic University of America School of Law

Crimes Against Children Research Center

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The Bystander Effect—Why People Don't Report Child Abuse

Fri, 31 May 2019 17:00:00 -0400

In Episode 103: The Bystander Effect—Why People Don’t Report Child Abuse, Wendy Walsh, a research assistant professor of sociology at the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, talks about why people shy away from reporting suspected child abuse—and how we can overcome those barriers.

Links:

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Faith, Trauma, and the Problem of Evil

Mon, 13 May 2019 16:00:00 -0400

In Episode 102, “Faith, Trauma, and the Problem of Evil,” Teresa talks to renowned writer and trainer Victor Vieth from Zero Abuse Project about the intersection of faith and child protection. How do we respond when children struggle to understand what happened to them in the context of their faith? How can we help survivors and frontline professionals who wrestle with the human need to make sense of a world where we bear witness to trauma every day? As a Christian theologian and a former prosecutor, Victor knows the importance of learning how to handle when faith, trauma, and the problem of evil collide.

Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse

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Child Abuse as a Public Health Issue

Thu, 02 May 2019 16:00:00 -0400

Research indicates that 15-20 percent of girls and 5-10 percent of boys in the United States are affected by child sexual abuse. Those are numbers that should make everyone sit up and take notice, and yet one of the biggest funding gaps we see in our field is the lack of government support for research on how to prevent this abuse. Instead of a public health issue, child sexual abuse is still seen by many as a criminal justice problem. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Elizabeth Letourneau of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse about what policies she sees as fundamentally flawed, where the bright spots are, and why prevention should be a federal priority.

Mentioned in this episode:

Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers

Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA)

David Finkelhor, Ph.D.

Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Jane Silovsky, Ph.D.

Safe Dates

Shifting Boundaries

NCA resources for addressing youth and children with problematic sexual behaviors