Proactive Outreach for Health of Sexually Exploited Youth

Developing tools to support medical professionals in serving sexually exploited youth

Full Project Name:Proactive Outreach for the Health of Sexually Exploited Youth (POHSEY)Primary Community Organization:Wraparound MilwaukeePrimary Academic Partner:Wendi Ehrman, MD, PediatricsAward Amount:$238,796

Award Date

January2016

Project Duration:27 months

Project Description Narrative:

Victims of sex trafficking experience a high rate of physical, mental, and sexual health problems, and the incidence of sex trafficking likely approaches that of many medical conditions and social risk factors screened for in routine patient care. Unfortunately, medical providers report a lack of awareness about the definition of sex trafficking. The current model of medical education does not address these deficiencies. In addition, only 5% of victims identified by community service providers are referred for medical care. Project partners aim to develop trainings, protocols, and tools to support medical professionals in more respectfully and effectively serving young people who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation/trafficking.

Community partners: Rethink Resources, City of Milwaukee Health Department

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Established protocols specific to the multi-disciplinary CART (Child Abuse Review Team) process, which supports increased collaboration between community agencies, child safety, mental health services, medical providers and law enforcement to allow a young person and their family to receive a more comprehensive care approach when concerns around CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) arise
Developed and sustained online training on Children's Hospital of Wisconsin website, implemented in Medical College of Wisconsin medical training curriculum, and Wraparound Milwaukee trainings
Fully integrated CSEC specific protocols and templates into the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Emergency Department through the use of EPIC
Incorporated portions of CSEC protocols and templates into Planned Parenthood and Froedtert Hospital protocols