Trigger Warning: This blog post discusses sensitive topics such as sexual assault. It’s important to take care of yourself while reading. Some suggestions are reading while you’re in a healthy headspace or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is (407) 500-HEAL. To get additional support and/or learn about your local resources, the National Hotline can be contacted at 1-800-656-4673.  There is always someone ready to help.

Prevalence of Sexual Assault in College

As summer comes to an end and we head towards the beginning of the school year, students get excited about moving back to campus, the upcoming football season and activities, making new friends, and immersing themselves in the typical college environment. A heavy, but important, topic to discuss is sexual violence and how you can stay safe to ensure your campus life is just as exciting as you are hoping it will be. RAINN, the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network compiled data on campus sexual violence and found that 13% of all students experience sexual assault, with a higher rate for undergraduates and female students.¹ According to RAINN, over 50% of college sexual assaults occur during the months of August to November, which has been labeled the “red zone”.¹ During the “red zone”, sororities and fraternities hold their “rush” events, new students are unfamiliar with the campus, there is an abundance of parties, and many students lack an established network of friends, all of which can contribute to the spike in sexual violence. Here are a few statistics to consider:

Title IX Federal Law

Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination in education on the basis of sex which includes all forms of sexual harassment. Colleges receiving federal funding are required to ensure equal access to education for all students while actively combating gender-based violence and discrimination. Title IX applies to every student whether they are female, male, or gender non-conforming. Under this law, schools must investigate every formal complaint, have a Title IX coordinator, have procedures for students to file complaints, and must publish and distribute a policy against sex discrimination. A few areas Title IX covers are:

– Sexual Violence

– Gender-Based Discrimination

– Sexual Harassment

– Pregnant and Parenting Students

– Women in STEM programs

Title IX also requires colleges to provide free supportive measures to the victim but what this amounts to will differ depending on the situation. These measures can include counseling, tutoring, extended deadlines, a leave of absence, campus escort services, housing reassignments, etc.

Ideas for Safety Planning

Safety planning is creating a personalized plan to help reduce the risk of future harm. A safety plan can look vastly different depending on the person, but they often include preventative measures, coping strategies, and creating a list of the resources that are available to support you. As a reminder, whether or not preventative actions are taken, it is never your fault. Some things that may be included on a safety plan for college students are:

1. Stay alert: Looking down at your phone is an easy distraction and may leave you unaware of your surroundings. While walking around campus, stick to populated, well-lit areas, when possible, and stay mindful of your surroundings.
2. Consider changing your social media settings: Some social media websites may use geolocation, so any posts allow your followers to see your location. Consider making your accounts private so only family and friends you trust are able to view your posts.
3. Use the buddy system: There is safety in numbers so taking a friend with you, whether it is while you are walking to class or just grabbing a coffee, reduces your chances of becoming a victim of a crime.
4. Share your location with family/friends: In case of an emergency, it is helpful for trusted family and friends to have your location to be able to alert authorities if necessary.
5. Give people time to earn your trust: The college environment can foster a false sense of closeness that can lead to putting too much trust into someone too early. You will likely make many friends very quickly, but it is okay to take your time and let them truly earn your trust before you depend on them.
6. Make a plan when going out: Before going out for the night, make a plan with your friends that everyone will stick to, that includes how everyone is getting home. Make sure if plans change, no one is left alone.
7. Keep an eye on your drink: Many drugs that are used in drug-facilitated sexual assault are colorless, odorless, and tasteless so it’s not always possible to tell if something has been added to a drink. Some safety tips to consider are drinking from unopened containers or drinks you watched being poured, keeping your drink with you at all times, and not taking drinks from strangers.
8. Know your drinking limits: Keep track of how much alcohol you have consumed, if possible. If you or a friend begin to feel extremely tired or more intoxicated than you should, it is possible that you have been drugged. Leave the situation and get help immediately.
9. It is okay to lie: You never have to stay in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable or threatened. If you want to leave a situation and are worried about upsetting someone or it possibly becoming dangerous, it is okay to come up with an excuse such as needing to take a phone call, not feeling well, having to take care of a friend, etc.
10. Explore self-defense classes: Self-defense classes aim to empower you by teaching realistic self-defense techniques and providing education on basic safety and awareness which can help build self-confidence.
11. Campus escort services: Some colleges provide escort services that are available to walk with you to and from locations or provide transportation, offering a safer alternative to walking alone.
12.  Meet first dates or new people in a public area.
13.  Mobile apps: There are many useful safety apps that are free to download including LiveSafe and bSafe for Android and IOS along with ReachOut which is available on IOS.
14. Consider creating a plan for what to do if you find yourself in a triggering situation: There are many different templates for safety plans that are available online that may help you start to brainstorm some ideas on how to cope with overwhelming emotions.

Survivors of assault may experience retraumatization in triggering situations like when they return to the environment the assault occurred or seeing their perpetrator on campus, for example. For this reason, safety plans often include suggestions for self-care or coping skills that may help when you are feeling triggered. Grounding and mindfulness techniques are commonly used strategies that help people regulate overwhelming emotions, connect with the present, and feel calmer. There are many different ways to practice grounding and mindfulness exercises. A brief overview of a few grounding techniques is shown in the infographic below:⁶

Campus Specific Resources

Along with the general safety tips discussed, each college campus has additional resources available for your safety. You can find the schools corresponding resources below:

University of Central Florida:

–Title IX report form

–Let’s Be Clear lists the contact information for Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, Victim Services, Student Care Services/UCF CARES, and links to the relevant policies on discrimination, Title IX, etc.

-The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities has compiled a list of complainant resources that are separated into confidential, nonconfidential, and community resources. Along with the information on Let’s Be Clear, the contact information for Student Legal Services is provided as well.

–UCF Victim Services Website

-Call the confidential 24/7 Advocacy and Support hotline at 407-823-1200.

-In the UCF Mobile app, the “SafeWalk” feature allows you to share your location, destination, and ETA with others who can track your trip in real-time. Your selected friends will receive updates and are able to message police for assistance by sending information on your location and timing from the app, in the event of an emergency.

-Call 407-823-5555 to request a security escort anywhere on campus. A UCF Police staff member or officer will walk with you to your destination.

*At UCF Downtown, to request a security escort you can also call 407-235-3800

Valencia College:

–Title IX report form

-Information on Valencia’s Title IX Coordinators and campus security phone numbers can be found here

–Victim Assistance Agency phone numbers listed by campus along with the BayCare Student Assistance Program which is a free service for Valencia students that is available 24/7. The BayCare services include, but are not limited to, webinars, support for mental and physical health, legal support, financial literacy information, personal and professional development courses, recipes, and health videos. 

-The Valencia College Safety app enables you to send your location and call security simultaneously, in the event of an emergency on campus. It also includes campus maps, emergency contact information, a place to report tips, and more safety features.

-Campus Escort System: You may contact your campus Security Office to request a security officer to accompany you to your class or vehicle. 

-Valencia provides a list of community-based organizations here

Rollins College:

–Title IX report form

–The Title IX and Violence Prevention webpage has detailed information for immediate action, confidential assistance, support, and reporting following sexual misconduct.

–Title IX: Sexual Misconduct and Harassment Policy is a PDF file that contains confidential and nonconfidential resources as well as the Title IX policy details.

-Free and confidential counseling at the Wellness Center via Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Students can call 407-628-6340 to schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor.

-Call Campus Safety at 407-646-2999 for assistance with transport on campus. Campus Safety is available 24/7 and can also call for medical transport in emergency situations. 

Seminole State College:

-Title IX report: Contact the SSC Equity and Diversity/Title IX Coordinator, by email, phone, mail, or in person.

-The Title IX webpage has a chart that describes an issue and lists the corresponding resource that addresses like who to call to change classes for separation from alleged perpetrator, seek counseling, etc.

-Campus Escort System: Call the security number at 407-708-2178 for an escort to or from your car.

Full Sail University:

–Title IX report form

-Information on Full Sail University’s Title IX policy, coordinator, complaint form, and community resources such as the National Sexual Assault Hotline can be found here

-Campus Escort System: Call 8800 24 hours a day and the security department will send an officer for a safety walking escort if you are within Fail Sail property limits.

Ana G. Mendez University:

-Title IX report: Contact the Title IX Coordinator by email, phone, mail, or in person.

–Sexual Violence, Dating Violence, Harassment and Discrimination by Sex (VAWA-Title IX) is a PDF file that details safety measures, community support resources, student rights under Title IX, how to file a complaint, and additional resources.

References:

1. Campus sexual violence: Statistics. RAINN. (n.d.). https://www.rainn.org/statistics/campus-sexual-violence

2. Cantor, D., Fisher, B., Chibnall, S., Harps, S., Townsend, R., Thomas, G., Lee, H., Kranz, V., Herbison, R., & Madden, K. (2020). Report on the AAU Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct. Association of American Universities.

3. Krebs, C., Lindquist, C., Berzofsky, M., Shook-Sa, B., Peterson, K. (2016). Campus Climate Survey Validation Study Final Technical Report. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.

4. Preventing sexual assault. Collage Stats. (2017, May 8). https://collegestats.org/resources/sexual-assault-prevention/

5. Preventing sexual assault in college. EduMed. (2022, January 28). https://www.edumed.org/resources/preventing-sexual-assault-in-college/

6. Schmidt, L. (2021, December 10). Six different types of grounding exercises for anxiety and intense emotions. The Growlery. https://www.tothegrowlery.com/blog/2017/4/18/six-different-types-of-grounding-exercises-for-anxiety-intense-emotions

7. Sexual assault on college campuses. Sexual assault on college campuses | Office on Women’s Health. (n.d.). https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/sexual-assault-and-rape/college-sexual-assault

8. Staying safe on campus. RAINN. (n.d.-b). https://www.rainn.org/articles/staying-safe-campus

9. US Department of Education (ED). (2021, January 5). Know your rights: Title IX prohibits sexual harassment and sexual violence where you go to school. Home. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/title-ix-rights-201104.html

Trigger Warning: This blog post discusses sensitive topics such as sexual assault. It’s important to take care of yourself while reading. Some suggestions are reading while you’re in a healthy headspace or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is (407) 500-HEAL. To get additional support and/or learn about your local resources, the National Hotline can be contacted at 1-800-656-4673.  There is always someone ready to help.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

A TBI is an injury to the brain due to a sudden external trauma. This may seem like a very broad definition, but that’s because TBIs can be caused by a wide variety of events.  Some common causes are falls, car accidents, sports injuries, and assault. The severity of TBIs can range from a mild concussion that resolves itself within a couple of weeks, to severe injuries that result in long-term complications and disabilities.

What are the Symptoms of TBIs?

There is a wide range of symptoms associated with TBIs that depend on the individual and the severity of the injury. Symptoms may be present immediately after the trauma or may begin to appear days or weeks afterward. Some common physical and psychological symptoms are:

Physical symptoms:

• headache with or without light or sound sensitivity

• nausea and dizziness

• fatigue

Psychological/cognitive symptoms:

• confusion

• memory or concentration problems

• sleeping more or less than usual

• mood swings

• feelings of depression or anxiety

Medical Evaluation, Classification, and Long-term Impact of TBIs:

To determine the initial severity, the majority of TBIs are evaluated with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Additionally, the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) is often used to estimate the expected degree of recovery. The predicted outcomes are based on the initial classification. Mild indicates that symptoms will gradually improve in most cases, moderate indicates a positive recovery in 60% of patients, and a severe classification indicates an expected positive outcome of 25%-33% (Agarwal et al., 2020).

Throughout this post, these terms will be referenced in relation to certain statistics as they are determined by medical diagnoses. As a quick disclaimer, there are limitations to the GCS/GOS so in no way does it mean that a mild TBI is an “easy” diagnosis. Classification in this way can often hinder treatment because the terms mild and moderate can lead to a withdrawal of care too early. Conversely, a patient labeled severe may have a more favorable outcome than previously expected (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2022). Although these assessments have some limitations, they are widely regarded as reliable and are considered an integral part of the physical evaluation after a brain injury.

In addition to the immediate impact, TBIs often result in lifelong health problems and disabilities. According to a study that collected information from participants 5 years after a TBI, 57% were moderately or severely disabled (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). In the US, this equates to over 5 million citizens, which is around 2% of the population (Brain Injury Association of America, 2022).

Groups at Greater Risk of Negative Outcomes:

The likelihood of experiencing long-term disabilities from a TBI depends on several factors such as the severity of the injury, socioeconomic status, and personal circumstances. Certain groups that are at a greater risk of long-term negative impacts include the following (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021):

• victims of intimate partner violence

• racial and ethnic minorities

• those in correctional facilities

• people who experience homelessness

• service members and veterans

• people in rural areas

• people in a lower socioeconomic status or do not have access to health insurance

The Link Between TBI and Assault:

The third most common cause of TBIs, which makes up about 10% of all cases, is assault (Bown, 2019). The correlation between assault and TBIs is a severely under-researched topic, and the research that does exist is limited since many victims are not examined by a health care professional. However, an older study conducted by Dr. Valera, a researcher at Harvard Medical School, focused specifically on female victims of intimate partner violence. This study found that of the 99 participants, 74% sustained at least 1 TBI and 51% suffered multiple TBIs (2003). While this gives us significant statistics, it’s important to remember that TBIs can also occur from an assault outside of intimate partner violence. Additionally, Dr. Valera’s study focused solely on female victims, but male and nonbinary victims can experience TBIs as well.

Overview of Disabilities and Sexual Violence:

Disability is a general term that encompasses a wide range of impairments, including TBIs. While there isn’t much research on this specific topic, it was recorded by the Office for Victims of Crime that people with disabilities are at least twice as likely to be victimized (2018). A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits activities of daily life. Although not a comprehensive list, a few of the categories are mental health disorders, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, and sensory disabilities. People with impairments are at a higher risk of experiencing sexual violence which can be due in part to the following circumstances:

• Dependence on a caregiver may lead to compliance because the victim can’t afford to lose the caregiver’s support.

• People in assisted living facilities are in constant contact with a large number of the staff and may not be aware of how to report abuse.

• There may be limited access to resources when there is a caregiver present or in a group home.

• Individuals with cognitive impairments may have difficulty recognizing inappropriate behavior or may be unaware of their right to report.

TBIs can cause cognitive impairment that affects memory, perception of risky situations, and disabilities that require a caregiver. The reliance on a caregiver puts those with TBIs at a higher risk of assault and mistreatment (CDC, 2007).

If you or a loved one has a disability and has experienced sexual violence or abuse, there are resources available for support:

• Call 911 or contact your local police station to make an official report of abuse

• Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) or click here to speak to a National Sexual Assault Hotline Advocate

• RAINN online anonymous chat option to connect you with a trained specialist

• RAINN Sexual Abuse of People with Disabilities Resources

• Visit the Victim Service Center website for more information on crime victim services

How to Support Someone Who Has a TBI:

TBIs can be life-altering for the victim and their loved ones as well. It’s common for family and friends to feel helpless because it’s not always clear what you can do to help. Here are some recommendations when caring for a loved one with a TBI:

• Maintain a calm, patient, and understanding attitude

TBIs are incredibly overwhelming and can be disorienting when trying to readapt to normal, daily life. It’s common for someone with a TBI to have many negative emotions and feel distressed when having difficulty completing simple tasks. It’s important to stay calm and patient to help them feel supported.

• Educate yourself on the recovery from TBIs and expect inconsistency

Recovery isn’t always linear, and it’s normal for some days to be better or worse than others. It’s common for someone with a TBI to experience mood swings and be hostile towards you which can be difficult to understand. A lack of control over the situation may cause their anger to be displaced onto you in an effort to cope with the drastic changes that come along with TBIs.Reading into what TBIs do to the brain and understanding the ‘why’ behind their actions and words can help you appreciate the extent of what they’re going through.

• Help break down their tasks to promote simplicity

Previously simple tasks become extremely overwhelming after a TBI. A great way to help them feel confident and supported is to break their tasks into smaller steps. You can also do some of the bigger things for them that they may have difficulty with at first, and slowly reintegrate them back into their routine in small amounts.

• Monitor overstimulation and promote familiarity

Establishing a daily routine to promote familiarity in such a disorienting time can help lessen some of the distress they’re experiencing. Coping with the mental and emotional side effects along with the physical impact of a TBI can very quickly lead to overstimulation. Avoid conversations that are full of new information or sarcastic jokes. These situations can be hard for them to follow and may only lead to more frustration.

These are just a few common tips to keep in mind, but if you would like a more in-depth guide on how to care for a loved one with a TBI, please check out the following resources:

• Brain Injury Association of America Guide for Caregivers
• Mayo Clinic Patient Education “How to Help Someone Who Has a Brain Injury”
• Brain Injury Association Caregiver Information Center

Caregiver Support:

Helping someone recover from a TBI can impact caregivers as well and it’s normal to feel scared and overwhelmed. Caregivers have a heavy, time-consuming responsibility and it’s common to prioritize the well-being of others over your own. Caregiver burnout is the emotional and physical exhaustion that stems from neglecting your needs while taking care of someone else. Remember, you can’t take care of others unless you take care of yourself first. To learn more about how to support yourself and avoid burnout, check out the caregiver support resources from Mayo Clinic and BrainLine.

Final Notes:

If you believe you or a loved one are suffering from a TBI, it’s important to get medical care as soon as possible. While medical care is imperative in treating traumatic brain injuries, it’s important to seek emotional support as well. Please feel free to use Victim Service Center’s free counseling or call the 24-hour helpline at 407-500-HEAL (4325) for support during a crisis.

References:

1. 2018 NCVRW Resource Guide: Crimes Against People with Disabilities Fact … (n.d.). https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/ncvrw2018/info_flyers/fact_sheets/2018NCVRW_VictimsWithDisabilities_508_QC.pdf

• Agarwal, N., Thakker, R., & Than, K. (2020, February 3). Traumatic Brain Injury. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Traumatic-Brain-Injury

• Bown D, Belli A, Qureshi K, Davies D, Toman E, Upthegrove R. Post-traumatic stress disorder and self-reported outcomes after traumatic brain injury in victims of assault. PLoS One. 2019 Feb 7;14(2):e0211684. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211684. PMID: 30730924; PMCID: PMC6366871.

• Brain Injury Awareness Month. Brain Injury Association of America. (2022, April 5). Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/brain-injury-awareness

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 12). Health Disparities and TBI. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/health-disparities-tbi.html

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Is a Lifelong Condition. https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/pdf/moderate_to_severe_tbi_lifelong-a.pdf.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2007). Victimization of persons with traumatic brain injury or other disabilities: A fact sheet for professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/11667

• Traumatic Brain Injury Categories Should Be Updated and Personalized to Better Guide Patient Care, Says New Report. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2022, February 1). Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2022/02/traumatic-brain-injury-categories-should-be-updated-and-personalized-to-better-guide-patient-care-says-new-report

• Valera EM, Berenbaum H. Brain injury in battered women. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2003 Aug;71(4):797-804. DOI: 10.1037/0022-006x.71.4.797. PMID: 12924684.

LGBTQ+ is an umbrella term that encompasses many identities. All of those identities are important and they all carry their own different experiences. People that hold those different identities are often victimized in different ways.

It’s important to uplift and bring awareness to those specific experiences in order to validate the experiences of survivors.

According to the National Survey of Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence, conducted by Waiters et al in 2013, Bisexual women,  had a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of rape and sexual violence other than rape by any perpetrator when compared to both lesbian and heterosexual women.¹

A specific sexual violence phenomenon that commonly affects lesbian women is corrective rape. Corrective rape is when lesbian women are sexually assaulted by men in order to “correct” their homosexuality.

The prevalence of rape over a lifetime for men is:

• – Gay – numbers are too small
• – Bisexual – numbers are too small
• – Heterosexual – 0.7%¹

However, these numbers are due to gay and bisexual men facing an increased number of barriers when reporting sexual assault. These barriers include:

• “Why didn’t you fight back?”

• Fear of being discriminated against when reporting

• Expected masculinity

• Fear of being told they “wanted it” because they are attracted to men.

According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, almost 50% of trans, non-binary, gender nonconforming individuals report having experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.²

Sexual violence victimization is much more prevalent in trans individuals that are also black, indigenous, and people of color. Out of the 47% that indicated having been sexually assaulted, 65% identified as Native American, 59% were multi-racial, 58% were middle eastern, and 53% were Black.²

There are also many identities that fall under the transgender umbrella, as transgender is anyone that identifies as something other than the gender they were assigned at birth so not only does that include trans women, trans men but also non-binary people and gender non-confirming identities. However, there is not enough research regarding their experiences of sexual violence, but their experiences are still valid.

Intersex people often experience something known as medicalized rape. From a young age, they are taught their genitals must look a certain way in order to fit within the binary of male or female sex, so medical professionals often perform surgery on them during their youth. As they get older, intersex people often regret these surgeries, as they come to terms with their intersex bodies, and realize that this surgery was done without their consent. An example of one of those surgeries is known as vaginoplasty, which is basically dilation of the vagina if they are deemed not too deep enough for penetration. Intersex children are sometimes required to have genital examinations, to see whether the surgeries were successful. This is a form of sexual abuse that many intersex people have to endure as children.

A recent survey from European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) found that 22%of intersex respondents have experienced physical or sexual assault.³

Our society is often sexually-driven, this makes it incredibly hard for asexual individuals to be accepted and it makes them often victims of sexual violence. A phenomenon mentioned as corrective rape is also experienced by asexual people. Their asexuality is often viewed as not normal and something that must be fixed through corrective rape. According to the 2015 Asexual Census, 43.5% of 8,000 asexual people surveyed reported having experienced sexual violence such as rape and coercion.⁴

Sources:

¹Walters, M.L., Chen J., & Breiding, M.J. (2013). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Findings on Victimization by Sexual Orientation. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

²James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Retrieved from the National Center for Transgender Equality: https://www.transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/USTS-Full-Report-FINAL.PDF

³European Union: European Agency for Fundamental Rights, The fundamental rights situation of intersex people, May 2015, FRA Focus 04/2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5551c3524.html [accessed 2 May 2022]

⁴Bauer, C., Miller, T., Ginoza, M., Chiang, A., Youngblom, K., Baba, A., Pinnell, J., Penten, P., Meinhold, M., Ramaraj, V. (2017). The 2015 Asexual Census Summary Report. Retrieved from https://asexualcensus.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/2015_ace_census_summary_report.pdf

Throughout the country, sexual assault remains a highly prevalent crime with an American sexually assaulted every 68 seconds¹. At the outset of the use of sexual assault collection kits in the U.S. in the late 1970’s, the recommended protocols stated that DNA evidence should only be collected up to 72 hours, or 3 days following the sexual assault. However, with advances in DNA analysis techniques, improved sensitivity of instrumentation, continued DNA research and dedication by forensic biologists nationwide, the recommended collection interval has been extended as of 2016. In ‘Recommendations for Efficient DNA Processing of Sexual Assault Evidence Kits in a Laboratory’, the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) now recommends collection of vaginal samples up to 5 days (120 hours) post-assault rather than 3 days.² These guidelines also recognize that ‘there may be potential to extend the time frame to nine days post vaginal assault’² due to technological advancements and research findings.

Some of this supporting research has been conducted by one of our own VSC volunteers, Dr. Erin Hanson (PhD), a Research Associate Professor at the National Center for Forensic Science (NCFS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Dr. Hanson, along with her colleague Dr. Jack Ballantyne UCF Professor and NCFS Associate Director for Research, work towards developing new strategies to improve DNA profile recovery from challenging and late reported sexual assault evidence. They have found evidence of improved male DNA profile recovery for collections ranging from 6-9 days post assault³. This was done through the use of an additional DNA amplification step that targets DNA only on the Y-chromosome. This step has proved helpful due to the fact that the DNA collected from most vaginal forensic examinations contains an overwhelming amount of female DNA in relation to the small amount of male DNA that may be present.

As can be seen in the infographic below, collection time intervals vary by state with a majority of states implementing the recommended collection interval of up to 5 days post-assault (shown in purple). It is highly encouraging to see several states being proactive in response to sexual assaults and increasing their collection intervals beyond the 5 days. With continued improvements in DNA technology and more research demonstrating the ability to obtain DNA profiles in later reported sexual assault evidence, we hope to see an increase in the number of states using these extended intervals. These intervals are believed to be the most up-to-date protocols provided by each state as of 2022 and are typically found in the guideline and protocol handbooks used by sexual assault nurse examiners for forensic examinations. The sites to all of the sources for each state are linked below. Some states had contradicting information that listed multiple recommended intervals in which case the most recent source was used. Additionally, some states differentiated the collection time intervals between pre-pubescent, adolescent, and adult victims, while others provided a range of time. These differences are indicated in the legend to the right of the infographic. (Note: this infographic list time intervals specifically for collection of evidence from vaginal assaults; SWGDAM recommended intervals are 3 days and 1 day post-assault for anal and oral collections, respectively.)

Overall, it is important for a sexual assault kit to be collected by a trained sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) as soon as possible following a possible sexual assault. This is because DNA from the perpetrator gradually degrades and reduces the forensic analyst’s ability to obtain a DNA profile. The probability of obtaining a distinct profile can also be hindered by a variety of activities (i.e. eating, drinking, showering, sexual activity, urinating, etc…).⁴ However, if a victim reports an assault and consents to having a sexual assault evidence collection kit done within the recommended interval, it should still be performed regardless of these activities as they do not eliminate the possibility of obtaining DNA evidence. Prior to any forensic examination, victims should be informed of all of their rights as well entirely what the examination will entail and be made to feel as comfortable as possible during this procedure that some find very invasive and triggering. Patients can take breaks and be allowed to stop the exam at any point if they are uncomfortable and/or change their mind about having a forensic examination done. More information about the sexual assault examination process can be found at https://www.rainn.org/articles/rape-kit.

Sources by State:

Sources

1. www.rainn.org/about-sexual-assault
2. Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods. Recommendations for the Efficient DNA Processing of Sexual Assault Evidence Kits. https://www.swgdam.org/_files/ugd/4344b0_4daf2bb5512b4e2582f895c4a133a0ed.pdf
3. Hanson, E.K.; Ballantyne, J. A Y-short tandem repeat specific DNA enhancement strategy to aid the analysis of late reported (≥6 days) sexual assault cases. Medicine, Science and the Law. 2014, 54(4), pp. 209-218.
4. https://www.rainn.org/articles/rape-kit

Trigger Warning: This blog discusses sensitive topics such as sexual assault. It’s important to take care of yourself while reading. Some suggestions are reading while you’re in a healthy headspace or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 Helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is 407-500-HEAL (4325). To get additional support and/or learn about your local resources, the National Hotline can be contacted at 1-800-656-4673.

There is always someone ready to help.

“I perfectly remember the day my mind completely unlocked everything. I was on the bus with a friend, and he began to tell me how in his class they were doing some speeches and one of his classmates told him she was a victim of sexual violence. At that moment I was shocked, and I kept asking my friend how he started telling it, what she said, and repeated the same questions while my mind only wondered how she could tell it to an entire room, and I didn’t even tell it to myself. I can tell myself.

We arrived at his house, and we kept talking about it. At one point I told him it’s crazy how it happens to the people you least expect. There was a silence and he asked me, “Has it happened to you?” My eyes just watered, and I said yes. After that day my mind couldn’t block those memories again. In my mind I only imagined myself telling my parents, but it was something I really couldn’t do; until one day I just had a very big impulse in my heart and there was something that told me to grab my phone and record a video telling my story. I had that video saved for a week because I didn’t have the courage to do it.

One morning I just posted it. Yes, I thought of my parents and my whole family. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy for them, mostly if they were going to hear it from an Instagram video. But only those who have been through this understand that talking about it is not that easy, and even less so with the people who love you not because you don’t trust them, but because you don’t want to see the pain in their eyes. It was the only way I felt comfortable telling my story and I had to put myself first. It is my story and I decide how to tell it, there is no right way or place to do it. I only decide on it and as long as I felt comfortable, it was the only thing I needed. I never imagined that so many people would write to me privately thanking me for that video, that thanks to my video they didn’t feel alone, people told me about their stories for the first time and the most beautiful thing was when they told me that thanks to my video, they gained the motivation to tell their story for the first time.

From that day on, I felt like I was shouting to the world what had happened to me, that for the first time I was heard, and I had the support that I would have liked to have at the time that everything was happening. I never talked about it because I was a child and I didn’t understand what was happening to me, I was just too innocent. I knew that what was happening was not normal, but between emotions of fear and confusion, I preferred to remain silent. I grew up and understood, but my mind preferred to block it. Thanks to the girl who told her story in my friend’s class I told mine.

My whole life changed completely. Even though I told my story and was able to lift a weight that I had been carrying alone for a long time, I realized that there were still many things that I had to heal. I decided to go to the psychologist and help myself. As Chanel Miller says in her book Know my name “The journey will be longer than you imagined, the trauma will find you again and again. Don’t become the ones who hurt you. Stay tender with your power. Never fight to hurt, fight to rise. Fight because you know that in this life you deserve security, joy, and freedom. Fight because it is your life. Not from anyone else. I did it, I’m here.” (Miller 332). It was a long and difficult process. I had a lot of emotions and anxiety was like my best friend. But little by little I felt stronger. I no longer felt so lost, I stopped doing things that at some point I thought fulfilled me and started doing things that really did. I was filled with dreams; I wanted to learn more about the issue of sexual violence. At some point in my life I found an organization that supports survivors of sexual abuse and I decided that I wanted to be a motivational speaker not only to tell my story but to educate people of sexual violence that happens more than we think, and above all to let people who have gone through this know that they are not alone and that there is a way to heal. Thanks to this situation I wanted to get closer to God, he was the one who really helped me heal and forgive, to understand that what happened to me does not define who I am. I understood that my purpose in this life is to help people see that there is a way out of this deep dark hole and that life is much more beautiful than we think. Every story is different, and every process is different, but it’s still just as important. It’s something that will always be there, but with the right tools, you learn to live with it. As I always say, even though they invaded the most precious thing “Your body and Soul”, they did not manage to steal your essence.”

If you or a loved one have experienced sexual violence, you can call our 24/7 Crisis Line 407-500-HEAL (4325) for immediate crisis intervention, or call our main line 407-254-9415 to set up an appointment for services.

Whether you consider yourself LGBTQ+ or not, we’ve all been to the doctor. We’ve all been sick at some point or another, made a doctor’s appointment, and sat in the waiting room wondering about what happens next. What if you just changed doctors and this is your first appointment with them? Are you comfortable sharing your personal and medical background with them? Is there anything that you think would cause the doctor to turn you away without a referral to someone who can? What if they ask you an intimate question that they don’t really need to know about you but ask out of “curiosity”? For many LGBTQ+ individuals, these are very real fears.

Imagine for a moment that a person, Alex, gets sick and has to go to the doctor. Imagine that they make the appointment and are sitting in the waiting room. Out comes a nurse assistant and they call for “Jordan”. It’s not the person’s name but they’re the only one sitting in the waiting room so they stand up and walk to the nurse assistant. They tell the nurse assistant that their name is Alex, not Jordan. The nurse assistant says okay and continues through the routine weight and blood pressure tests. The nurse assistant takes Alex to a room where they tell them to wait for the doctor who will be in shortly. Imagine the doctor comes into the room and calls the patient Jordan. Alex corrects the doctor, just as they had the nurse assistant. The doctor then asks about medications, past surgeries, and any “current boyfriends”. Alex explains that they have a long-time partner and there’s an awkward silence after which point the doctor makes a joke about how they “must love not having to worry about getting pregnant”. Alex is a nonbinary trans person who was assigned female at birth and hasn’t legally changed their name. When Alex said they had a partner the doctor automatically assumed the gender of their partner to be female, and out of fear Alex didn’t correct the doctor, leading Alex to not disclose important information about their sexual history and concerns they had about HIV and STDs. Alex left the appointment feeling invalidated, scared, and unsure of where to turn.

In this example, Alex is deadnamed by the nurse assistant as well as the doctor. Alex is assumed to be heterosexual, and their sex assigned at birth is also assumed. This is problematic because it puts Alex in the position of having to correct the doctor’s assumptions in order to get the care that they need. Alex may feel unsafe to disclose their identity to the doctor for a number of reasons that could be personal to their life experiences. Many LGBTQ+ patients fear their medical interactions because of microaggressions, heteronormative assumptions, prejudice, lack of acceptance, and need for self-advocacy/provider education. LGBTQ+ patients also fear the possibility of a healthcare provider displaying blatant discrimination against them.

This is just one example of the ways in which LGBTQ+ individuals have been treated by medical professionals. Work still needs to be done in order to ensure the safety and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals within healthcare systems.

In this article, we will discuss how healthcare professionals can provide affirming care for their LGBTQ+ patients and why it’s important to do so.

Why do LGBTQ+ Individuals Need Specific Healthcare?

Medical professionals are looked to for guidance in scary and unpredictable times in a patient’s life. For someone who is LGBTQ+, this can also provide added stress out of fear of rejection, humiliation, and frustration by their medical professionals. This is evident in the fact that more than 1 in 6 LGBTQ+ adults reported avoiding health care due to anticipated discrimination while another 1 in 6 LGBTQ+ adults reported experiencing discrimination in health care encounters.[1] This shows that just simply the fear of discrimination is a deterrent from receiving healthcare. Whether they are othered by their sexuality or gender identity (or both), microaggressions and discrimination lead patients to feel unsafe in an environment that is supposed to help and provide answers for their discomfort — not add to it.

Providing specific healthcare services for LGBTQ+ individuals can also help to make the experience of going to the doctor feel more comfortable and safe. These services include but are not limited to: gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), LGBTQ+ support groups and mental health counseling, as well as HIV and STI testing. While cisgender and/or heterosexual individuals can also be affected by HIV and STIs, gay and bisexual men made up an estimated 2% of the U.S. population in 2013 but 55% of all people living with HIV in the United States.[2] This demonstrates the disproportionate affect that HIV has on the LGBTQ+ community and should be considered when implementing services for them.

Being an LGBTQ+ friendly healthcare provider can look and sound a number of different ways but ultimately it comes down to knowing that that medical professional does not see the LGBTQ+ patient as different or less worthy of respect, empathy, and kindness than their heterosexual, cisgender counterparts.

Steps for Healthcare Providers to Be More LGBTQ+ Friendly:

• Ask for and continuously use a patient’s pronouns
• Do not assume cisgender or heterosexual identity
• Research and learn about LGBTQ+ terminology and gender affirming surgeries
• Do not ask intimate personal or medical questions without justifiable reason
• Change terminology on patient forms to be more inclusive
• Include pamphlets and posters that show LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance

Assuming a person is cisgender or heterosexual can cause a patient to feel pressured to “out” themselves and can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety for the individual. Asking a patient’s pronouns when you first meet them (and providing your own) can be an easy way to make a patient feel seen and validated from the very beginning of the interaction and, through continued use of their correct pronouns, throughout the appointment. Using more gender-neutral terms like “partner” or “significant other” in reference to patient relationships is a simple and effective way to not assume a patient’s sexual orientation and allows them to disclose their identity if they choose.

LGBTQ+ individuals need their healthcare providers to be knowledgeable about and be open to learning terminology or about the process of a surgery a patient may have undergone to align with their gender. It is also necessary to keep in mind that it should not be the patient’s job to educate the professional and curiosity should never be the justification for invasive questions about intimate details of a person’s medical or personal history.

Keeping all this in mind, it is imperative for healthcare providers to be more LGBTQ+ friendly. It will help their patients to feel more affirmed in their identities and receive that same expected level of care as their heterosexual and/or cisgender counterparts. A study the Trevor Project conducted in 2021 regarding the acceptance of transgender and nonbinary youth and their suicide rates found that trans and nonbinary youth who reported high gender identity acceptance from healthcare professionals had 32% lower odds of attempting suicide in the past year.[3] Affirming a person’s identity is suicide prevention.

If you are a healthcare professional, please consider the steps to become more LGBTQ+ friendly and work towards improving the care that individuals get from your workplace. There is always work to be done to strive for equality but with the help of allies, it becomes a little easier.

If you are a LGBTQ+ individual, please know that steps are being taken to make healthcare providers more affirming. You are not alone, and you deserve to feel validated and respected.

Resources for Healthcare Providers

Guidelines for the Primary and Gender-Affirming Care of Transgender and Gender Nonbinary People

Perceptions of Healthcare Experiences: Relational and Communicative Competencies to Improve Care for LGBT People

Providing Inclusive Services and Care for LGBTQ+ People: A Guide for Health Care Staff

Discrimination in the United States: Experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans

Resources for LGBTQ+ Individuals in Central Florida

Spektrum Health

26Health

The Center

Bliss Cares

Hope & Help

Resources for all LGBTQ+ Individuals

Trevor Project

GLSEN

Human Rights Campaign

PFLAG

What is Sex Work?

I would like to start off with a note on language. Members of the sex worker advocacy community prefer the terms “sex work” and “sex worker” over “prostitution” or “prostitutes”. It is sometimes necessary to use the latter terms when referring to legal terminology or particular language used in past research or literature. ¹

With that being said, “prostitution” exists in the earliest lists of professions in the Sumerian records dating back to 2400 B.C. Over the centuries and across the world, the oldest profession has gone through everchanging combinations of being legal, illegal, criminalized, decriminalized, regulated, and taxed. Looking at the United States in recent years, sex work became legalized and regulated in 10 counties in Nevada, in 1971. However, male prostitutes were not legalized until 2009 because health codes specified that sex workers must undergo ‘cervical testing’ for sexually transmitted diseases, which ruled out men until the language was changed. ²

Sex work can be direct or indirect. Direct work is work that has a clear objective of exchanging sex for money, such as escorts, street sex work, brothels, and private sex work. Indirect work is associated with sex work but does not always involve sexual intercourse. This includes work like exotic dancing, BDSM, and massage parlors. Among direct and indirect sex work, there are various levels of control a sex worker has, and various levels of risk of harm associated. ³ Among other factors, sex work varies in the type of arrangement (formal or informal), the extent of involvement (part-time or full-time), setting (street or private setting), and degree of willingness (choice or coercion–which will be discussed further in the next section on Sex Trafficking).⁴

There are a few lenses or paradigms through which sex workers can be viewed, such as oppression and empowerment. The oppression paradigm views all sex workers as choosing this line of work because of experienced abuse and victimization, which is more often the case for individuals who have no other choice but to become a sex worker to survive. The empowerment paradigm emphasizes the choice some individuals have in becoming a sex worker. The polymorphous model recognizes that there are a variety of reasons people choose to pursue sex work.⁵

Despite the common belief that all sex workers are traumatized and working against their will, there are a variety of reasons people pursue work in the industry beyond oppression or abuse. Sex work can be a wanted choice or for survival, especially for individuals who have limited education and career opportunities. ⁴ We should decriminalize some people’s only way to survive, but more on that later.

Sex Work vs. Sex Trafficking

A marked difference between sex work and sex trafficking is consent verses coercion.  Consent is when someone agrees to something of their own free will whereas coercion involves being convinced or compelled to do something you do not want to do through manipulation, threats, or force. Sex workers are either their own boss and decide what they want to do or they are an employee with rights.

Sex trafficking is a crime in which there is a lack of consent and instead force, fraud or coercion is used to cause someone else to sell sex for their own gain. Traffickers tend to target individuals who are most vulnerable or in need and may pretend to be a protective or romantic figure for a victim and promise financial gain. This process, known as sexual grooming, is used to control and manipulate an individual into sex trafficking. There are six primary stages of grooming: targeting a victim, gaining trust and information, filling a need, isolation, abuse, and maintaining control. Drugs are often used to keep people in sex trafficking, keeping victims in a daze and making it even harder for them to go to the police, so heavy drug use could be a warning sign that someone is being sex trafficked.⁶

Sex trafficking is by far the most commonly identified form of human trafficking and the world’s fastest growing criminal industry. Florida has the third highest rate of sex trafficking in the United States. Some people believe that sex work is a gateway to sex trafficking but research done by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) shows no clear consensus of the relationship between criminalizing sex work and efforts to combat sex trafficking.¹ It all comes down to power and control; do this because you want to verses do this or else.⁷ Among sex workers, those who exerted more control and choice over their work circumstances reported greater satisfaction.⁴ To learn more about sex trafficking and human trafficking, read Natalia Richard’s blog post titled Human Trafficking Awareness Month-What You Need to Know at https://victimservicecenter.org/human-trafficking-awareness-month-what-you-need-to-know/

Cultural Considerations and Intersectionality

A breakdown of demographics reveals sex workers are 40% black, 33% Latinx, and only 6% fully white supporting evidence that systemic racism leads people of color disproportionately to sex work. 79-87% of sex workers have been confronted by police, with higher rates for trans people and people of color.

Due to high rates of unemployment, lack of career training and education, and employment discrimination, many transgender women engage in sex work to survive. Transgender women of color sex workers face the most adversities due to their intersectional marginalized identities—including racial and gender discrimination, transphobia, and economic challenges (such as unemployment)—coupled with the social isolation and stigma associated with sex work. Sex work is linked to risks such as substance abuse, mental illness, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual and physical abuse, all of which transgender women of color experience higher rates of.⁸ Transgender sex workers are targets of mistreatment, stigmatization, physical and sexual violence more than their cisgender counterparts.⁴ Family rejection more than doubles the likelihood of transgender people going into sex work and becoming homeless. Feminine trans people are twice as likely as masculine trans people to participate in sex work. ⁷

Sex work has diverse conditions varying by culture and circumstance. You can learn much about how a society views sexuality, gender, class, and race by how it has historically viewed sex work. To fully understand the motivations, satisfactions, difficulties, and risks associated with sex work, it is important to learn more about the unique contextual conditions. ⁴

When talking about the legal status of sex work, intersectional social justice issues emerge since criminalization negatively affects sex workers who are LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, especially transgender, queer/questioning, and more), immigrants, and BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) disproportionally more than their cisgender, heterosexual, white peers.¹

Legal Statuses and Their Impact on Sex Work/ers

There are various legal and policy approaches towards sex work, specifically direct sex work—legally   defined as “prostitution”. Those approaches range from full legalization (of both buying and selling sex), decriminalization, partial decriminalization, to full criminalization (of both buying and selling sex).

Partial decriminalization criminalizes the buying of sex but not the selling of it. This is known as the “Nordic Model”, as it originated in Sweden followed by Norway as well as the “End-Demand Model” because it was intended to end the demand for buying sex which was thought to be a way to combat sex trafficking. While appearing progressive, evidence shows that this model may instead keep sex trade “underground”, which elevates the level of violence buyers inflict on sex workers. As long as part of the profession is criminalized, there is still danger for sex workers.¹⁰

Violence and harassment towards sex workers by the public, clients, and police is enabled and encouraged by its illegal status. Criminalization of sex work can be a deterrent for individuals who are trafficked to escape their situations, and current laws stigmatize sex work thus creating barriers to health services including HIV care and prevention. ⁹

Legalization means regulation, health and safety standards, and making sure that underage individuals are not selling sex. By legalizing sex work, sex workers may be able to obtain health care without fear of arrest and carry condoms around without worrying that they could be used against them as evidence at a trial. Sex workers would be able to use the legal system in the event they are physically harmed at work, or to fight against poor and unsafe working conditions. Legalization would give sex workers healthier and safer working conditions.¹⁰ However, legalization also creates institutional barriers that further discriminate against sex workers who hold marginalized identities. It may also infringe upon the freedom of sex workers to do their work in the ways that best suit them. 

The ACLU reviewed over 80 sources and found that research suggests a decriminalization model yields the best health, safety and economic outcomes for sex workers and the community as a whole.¹ In the U.S., a legislator in Vermont introduced a bill to decriminalize sex work at the beginning of 2020 stating that sex work is not a public safety threat; the real threat is the fact that sex workers are driven underground and live in dangerous conditions.⁹

If a government does not recognize sex work as work, occupational health and safety standards cannot be met or regulated for sex workers as it is for employees in every other occupation. In order to improve the health and wellbeing of sex workers, we must shift towards a view of sex work as a valid profession through the implementation of legal and public policy reforms. Sex workers deserve personal independence and privacy, and to feel safe working in the public sphere. Decriminalization would allow them that freedom and safety to work.¹⁰

Sources:

1. American Civil Liberties Union. (2020). Is sex work decriminalization the answer? What the research tells us. https://www.aclu.org/report/sex-work-decriminalization-answer-what-research-tells-us

2. ProCon. (2013, August 28). Historical Timeline: History of Prostitution from 2400 BC to the Present 

https://prostitution.procon.org/historical-timeline/

3. Harcourt, C., & Donovan, B. (2004). The many faces of sex work. Sex Transm Infect 2005, 81, 201-206.

https://sti.bmj.com/content/81/3/201

4. Bianchi, F. T., Reisen, C. A., Zea, M. C., Vidal-ortiz, S., Gonzales, F. A., Betancourt, F., Aguilar, M., & 

Poppen, P. J. (2014). Sex work among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Bogotá. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43(8), 1637-50. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-014-0260-z

5. McCarthy, B., Benoit, C., & Jansson, M. (2014). Sex work: A comparative study.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-014-0281-7

6. Natalia Richard’s blog post titled Human Trafficking Awareness Month-What You Need to Know at https://victimservicecenter.org/human-trafficking-awareness-month-what-you-need-to-know/

7. VSC Podcast, episode 22: Sex workers and Sexual Violence

8. Nemoto, T., Bödeker, B., & Iwamoto, M. (2011). Social support, exposure to violence and transphobia, and correlates of depression among male-to-female transgender women with a history of sex work. American Journal of Public Health, 101(10), 1980-1988.

https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2010.197285

9. Sean Bland & Benjamin Brooks. (2020). Improving laws and policies to protect sex workers and promote health and wellbeing: A report on criminalization of sex work in the District of Columbia. Whitman-Walker Institute, O’Neill Institute For National and Global Health Law, and HIPS. https://whitmanwalkerimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sex-Worker-Law-and-Policy-Report-FINAL.pdf  

10. Welch, B. (2021). Public Health and Sex Work: Using History to Motivate Change. Journal of Legal

Medicine., 41(1-2), 95-108. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01947648.2021.1935633?needAccess=true

Other sources that may be useful for more information:

Decriminalize Sex Work is a national organization pursuing a state-by-state strategy to end the

prohibition of consensual adult prostitution in the United States. They provide information, advocacy resources, press releases, and more. Visit https://decriminalizesex.work/  to learn more.

This webpage details the prostitution policies in 100 countries around the world. Some data may be outdated but this webpage provides a source to refer to the most updated information: ProCon. (2018, April 23). Countries and their prostitution policies. https://prostitution.procon.org/countries-and-their-prostitution-policies/  

This webpage details the laws and related punishments for prostitution in all 50 states: Procon. (2018, May 4). U.S. federal & state prostitution laws and related punishments. https://prostitution.procon.org/us-federal-and-state-prostitution-laws-and-related-punishments

“Being a survivor is about learning to cope. I am a survivor because I am still here. It is hard to be a survivor. I put so much effort into it and people. You need to have some sort of passion in life. I have a passion to live.”  ~ Ally, a survivor

As described on ecpact.org, Ally was sexually exploited by a man she met online in Canada. At that time, she was struggling with family issues and her identity. Like many teenagers, she looked for support and attention online. She met a man online that gave her the attention she craved. Eventually, they met in person, and he sexually assaulted her. He blackmailed her to keep her silence. The shame of the secret led to depression which led her to abuse drugs.  Ally is just one instance of online grooming. Ecpat.org

What is grooming?

Grooming is an intentional act of an adult to befriend a child, establish an emotional connection and find a child’s insecurities. The perpetrator uses grooming tactics such as attention, validation, unconditional regard to build a child’s trust and create opportunities to perpetrate abuse. Predators have weaved their way into the online universe by contacting children through video game chats as another child or a respectable adult. They offer support and validation that is missing in that child’s life.

According to Childnet.com, online grooming consists of social media, video games, and private chats. Predators use fake accounts, names, and photos to befriend the child. They appear as another child, modeling agent, a scout, sports coach, or famous influencer that pretend to have the same interests to build trust and establish a friendship. Online predators are indifferent to race, ethnicity, or gender- any child is in danger. Some children may be more susceptible due to other vulnerabilities such as special educational needs disability. They have difficulty in learning and communication skills.

After the trust is gained, they direct the conversation towards sexual experiences by asking to share naked photos or videos. Some predators may set up a location to meet. These predators eventually manipulate, blackmail, and control the child. Also known as sextortion, instead of money, they demand more photos or videos. An article on THORN.org, predators use photos and videos as leverage. If the child does not comply, they threaten to share it family and friends thus creating shame and isolation in children. As a result, the child begins to isolate themselves from friends and family. It is important to remember that online groomers are not always strangers. They could be family friends or someone they have met at a social gathering, and they use online to build rapport.

The National Center for Educational Statistics found children spend 50% more on-screen time due to the pandemic and school closures.

Along with an increase of time being spent online, Children are also participating in sexting.

THORN’s article states that self-generated child sexual abuse material (SG-CSAM), is rapidly growing to exploit children. A consensual or coercive naked photo taken by the child is sent to a known individual known as “sexting” or “sharing nudes.” In the future, these photos can be used by offenders to groom other children. Sexting gives the predator control over photos/videos sent. The predator may share those photos with other people or use it to blackmail the victim. According to the study, adolescents think sharing nudes is a form of sexual exploration and flirting. About 40%, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys, find it normal to share nudes.

The most popular image/video sharing platforms are Instagram (56%) and Snapchat (55%). On Snapchat, 70% have shared their photos, and 69% have seen others. And 54% have shared other’s photos. On Instagram, 66% share, and 67% seen others. Online predators groom a child by making an emotional connection. Afterward, they begin sexual conversations, and it leads to sexting which is sending naked photos.

How can we spot online grooming?

With children being online more it can be difficult to know what is happening in the virtual world. These red flags may not mean that a child is experiencing online grooming however they could be indicators to check in and have a conversation. According to the article, Grooming: What parent should know and what schools should do if they suspect it. The typical red flags for parents to pay attention to:

• Wanting to spend more time on the internet

• Being secretive about who they are talking to online, and websites visited.

• Switching screens

• Noticing new items that have not been given by you, a friend, or a family member

• Using sexual language that is not age-appropriate

• Expressing hostile or volatile behavior

How can we protect children from online grooming?

Parents/caregivers need to teach children about online predators. Starting the conversation at a young age leaves the children equipped to feel safe to talk to someone if situation as such arises. Children at an early age need guidance on body boundaries and consent to prevent falling for the predators’ devious tricks of sharing nude photos. It is essential for parents, caregivers, and teachers to begin a conversation to prevent future harm. A great resource by Michigan State University called, “Preventing Grooming by Child Sexual Predators,” provides great information on opportunities to speak with children about predators. For example:

1. Talk About Secrets
2. Keeping secrets can be harmful. A responsible adult will not ask a child to keep a secret for their parents. Children must know that they will not get in trouble if they tell you a conversation they had with another adult and they asked the child to keep a secret. Children should know that parents/caregivers will support them no matter what.
3. Listen, Listen, and Listen Some More
4. Listen carefully to the child. It shows that you love, value, and respect them. Communicate by giving them your full attention. Listen without judgment. Children are likely to share more information if they know they will not be judged, disrespected or punished.
5. Teach Children to be Assertive
6. Respectfully encourage children to voice their opinions about likes and dislikes; this will help them stand up for themselves and feel empowered. Children may not feel empowered when an adult puts them in an unsafe situation. Children need to know that it is ok to say “NO” to adults. The word “NO” is a complete sentence and puts a boundary in place.
7. Teach Children consent
8. Consent is giving someone permission to do a certain activity or for something to happen. Such as, when you go to the doctor, you give consent for the doctor to perform a certain procedure. Also, in relationships each individual has to give or deny consent. Consent is freely given; it should be clear and specific. A person has the right to deny consent or change their mind if the situation seems unsafe.
9. Consent can be modeled at home by asking your children to touch, hug, or kiss them, and respecting their wishes if they say, “no.” This teaches children personal boundaries.
10. Talk About Consent and Relationships
11. Talk to children at an early age about consent and respect in romantic relationships. Talking to them openly encourages them to come talk to you when they are concerned or confused when something happens to them, and they feel unsure.

The goal is to keep children safe and to be actively involved. The key is to be vigilant and prepared to protect children and help them build skill necessary that will help keep them safe from in person and online predator. More great tips on: https://www.canr.msu.edu/creating-safe-environments/uploads/files/Final%20-%20Preventing%20Grooming.pdf

Unfortunately, just like with any risk reduction we cannot make sure children are and will be safe 100% of the time. However, early conversations, support, and trust can prevent online grooming and if something does happen, children will know who to reach out for help.

Resources:

TO REPORT CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, OBSCENITY, OR TO REPORT A CYBERCRIME: www.cybertipline.com
Or call: 1-800-THE-LOST (provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children). The congressionally mandated CyberTipline is a reporting mechanism for cases of child sexual exploitation including child pornography, online enticement of children for sex acts, molestation of children outside the family, sex tourism of children, child victims of prostitution, and unsolicited obscene material sent to a child. Reports may be made 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Online Resource:

Darkness to light

Missingkids.org

Stopsextortion.com tips and resources to protect yourself and loved ones before it starts.

Riverbridgerc.org:

In these 10 episodes Meghan Hurley Backofen provides caregivers with 10 Tips for Sexual Abuse Prevention. She discusses much of the misinformation caregivers have that put children at greater risk for sexual abuse trauma. She also identifies what children need to know to be a “least likely” victim. This class is based on her work with sexual abuse survivors and extensive knowledge of sexual abuse victimization. Caregivers will feel empowered after learning specific strategies in how to talk with children about this difficult topic and how to respond if sexual abuse is suspected. This podcast is an excellent resource for parents who want to share Meghan’s book “Who’s the Boss of this Body” with their child.

Podcast:

On audible

What grooming looks like and how to cope afterwards by Emma Cantrell

[The respect room] Preventing Sexual Grooming Part 1

BBC Radio: File on 4: Online Grooming

Books for parents:

Mia’s Secret: story of a young girl groomed by her mom’s friend

MOSAC: Book What do I do now? MOSAC published a comprehensive guide for mothers of sexually abused children. It is an important resource for professionals to offer to moms and family members of sexually abused children. Amazon link below. Also available at Apple and book source.

Shefali Tsabary: renown parent expert and author. “The conscious parent”

Speaker: Resurrection Graves is child sexual abuse expert.

She is available for radio, T. v. and speaking engagements at

Resurrection.wordpress@yahoo.com or 202-717-7377

Bebe Moore Campbell founded the formally known National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month; it was created to bring awareness to the mental health struggles of underrepresented populations in the United States. Bebe began her journey when her daughter had a mental illness, and the system prevented her from getting the help she needed. The language “minority” created controversy among the community, and so recently the month was renamed to Blacks, Indigenous People, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness Month. The term highlights the mental health challenges of oppressed racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Black, Indigenous People, People of Color continue to experience a wide range of discrimination, oppression, and inequality entrenched in the history and systems of America as well as intergenerational trauma from the centuries of abuse. Furthermore, cultural incompetence of health care providers likely contributes to underdiagnosis and/or misdiagnosis of mental illness in BIPOC leading to lack of sufficient mental health care.

BIPOC emphasizes that not all People of Color have the same experience, especially when it comes to legislation and systemic oppression. Respectively it separates the two essential groups, Black and Indigenous People, to explain the specific injustices experienced by those two populations, and other people of color may not have necessarily experienced when it comes to systemic racism and oppression. BIPOC wants to phase out the term “one size fits all” language especially in race, power, and privilege. It is imperative to use language (abbreviations and acronyms) that are respectful and precise and not intended to show prejudice. At the same time, adapting to the ways, people describe themselves and their communities.

Strength in Communities is the theme for year 2021. It focuses on BIPOC queer and transgender (QTBIPOC) people. BIPOC and QTBIPOC have developed system supports to fill the gaps within the oppressive world of the healthcare system.  The support system is in community care, self-directed care, cultural care. Strength in Communities explains that these types of care are vital for their mental health.

For more information about BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month as well as resources please visit https://mhanational.org/.

If you need mental health crisis support Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor from Crisis Text Line. VSC’s 24/7 crisis helpline is always available to those in Central Florida who have experienced a crime, trauma, or sexual assault and need immediate assistance.

There are multiple suicide hotlines as well as warmlines for those who just need support. Visit here for Central Florida specific resources: https://www.mhacf.org/community-crisis-suicide-services/

For warmlines by area visit the list here: https://screening.mhanational.org/content/need-talk-someone-warmlines/