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Related Resources, Children At Risk

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Related resources for Volume 2, Issue 2: Teen Pregnancy.

Review: Reducing Adolescent Sexual Risk: A Theoretical Guide For Developing And Adapting Curriculum-Based Programs, Ralph J. Diclemente

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

A review of Reducing Adolescent Sexual Risk: A Theoretical Guide for Developing and Adapting Curriculum-Based Programs by Douglas Kirby.

Saturday Morning Television Advertisements Aired On English And Spanish Language Networks Along The Texas-Mexico Border, Cristina S. Barroso, Dianeth Rodriguez, Perla L. Camacho

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Objectives: The aim of this content analysis study is to characterize the TV advertisements aired to an at-risk child population along the Texas-Mexico border.

Methods: We characterized the early Saturday morning TV advertisements aired by three broadcast network categories (U.S. English language, U.S. Spanish language, and Mexican Spanish language) in Spring 2010. The number, type (food related vs. non-food related), target audience, and persuasion tactics used were recorded. Advertised foods, based on nutrition content, were categorized as meeting or not meeting current dietary guidelines.

Results: Most commercials were non-food related (82.7%, 397 of 480). The majority of the prepared foods …

Implications For Adoption And Implementation Of Effective Sexual Health Education Programs, Karin K. Coyle

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Research on school-based sexual health education programs is at a critical juncture. With the growing number of evidenced-based programs, more focus is needed on how to help schools adopt and implement these programs. The article in this issue titled “Sexual Health Education from the Perspectives of School Staff: Implications for Adoption and Implementation of Effective Programs in Middle School” provides data on individual cognitive factors that may influence adoption and implementation. This commentary explores another framework, Concerns Based Adoption Model, as a tool for examining and supporting change associated with adoption and implementation of sexual health education programs.

A Coordinated And Systematic Model For Adopting, Implementing And Maintaining Effective Sexual Health Education Programs In Schools, Stephen W. Banspach

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Getting evidence-based sexual health education activities into schools can be a complicated process. Working models that assist our educational system in the selection, implementation, and maintenance of effective school-based adolescent health programs are needed. Replicating sexual health programs in school-based settings: A model for schools provides a comprehensive and applied approach that engages all of the important stakeholders within a school district. The results from this study hold much potential to inform Texas and the nation about how a coordinated and practical model can assist school districts to increase the use of evidence-based programs addressing teen pregnancy prevention and sexual …

The Challenge Of Preventing Teen Pregnancy In Texas, Forrest L. Alton

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

A reduction in teen pregnancy and subsequent reduction in teen births correlates to myriad improvements in personal (e.g., high school completion, experience of abuse and neglect, etc); social (e.g., number of children in single parent families, life-long poverty, incarceration rates, etc); and economic (e.g., Medicaid costs, decreased tax revenue, etc) outcomes. In 2005, over 73,000 teen girls in Texas age 15-19 became pregnant, a number significantly higher than any other state. Given the severity of the issue the formation of a statewide organization in Texas devoted to addressing the prevention of teen pregnancy is long overdue. The challenge of reducing …

Rediscovering The Evidence: Parental Support For Sex Education In Schools, Michael D. Resnick Phd

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Invited commentary on Dispelling the Myth: What Parents Really Think about Sex Education in Schools

Commentary On "A Tale Of Two States", Ronna Popkin, John Santelli, Douglas Kirby

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

While both California and Texas have experienced declines in teen birth rates over the past three decades, declines in California have been larger, particularly among Hispanic teens. Differences in state policies may have shaped this disparity, as suggested by Tortolero and her colleagues in their article “A Tale of Two States: What We Learn from California and Texas”. Fundamental differences exist between Texas and California in their approaches to sex education, access to family planning services for teens, and public-private partnerships. However, methodological challenges are present when drawing state comparisons, including the limitations of available public health data and the …

Adolescents’ Sexual Health Matters: Texas Should Get On Board, Jane D. Brown

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Texas has an appalling record on adolescent sexual health. The Markham, et al. analysis of three data sets comparing Texas with the United States suggests what can be done to remedy the state's negative trends: (1) acknowledge that teens are having sex; (2) provide earlier, medically-accurate sex education; and, (3) provide reproductive health services in school-based health centers.

Sexual Health Education From The Perspective Of School Staff: Implications For Adoption And Implementation Of Effective Programs In Middle School, Melissa F. Peskin, Belinda F. Hernandez, Christine Markham, Kimberly Johnson, Shellie Tyrrell, Robert C. Addy, Ross Shegog, Paula M. Cuccaro, Paul E. Deroulet, Susan R. Tortolero

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Introduction: US teens are having sex early; however, the vast majority of schools do not implement evidence-based sexual health education (SHE) programs that could delay sexual behavior and/or reduce risky behavior. This study examines middle school staff’s knowledge, attitudes, barriers, self-efficacy, and perceived support (psychosocial factors known to influence SHE program adoption and implementation). Methods: Professional school staff from 33 southeast Texas middle schools completed an internet or paper-based survey. Prevalence estimates for psychosocial variables were computed for the total sample. Chi-square and t-test analyses examined variation by demographic factors. Results: Almost 70% of participants were female, 37% white, …

Does Immediate Access To Birth Control Help Prevent Pregnancy? A Comparison Of Onsite Provision Versus Off Campus Referral For Contraception At Two School-Based Clinics, Peggy Smith, Gabrielle Novello, Mariam R. Chacko

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of different policies on access to hormonal contraception and pregnancy rates at two high school-based clinics.

METHODS: Two clinics in high schools (Schools A and B), located in a large urban district in the southwest US, provide primary medical care to enrolled students with parental consent; the majority of whom have no health insurance coverage. The hormonal contraceptive dispensing policy of at School clinic A involves providing barrier, hormonal and emergency contraceptive services on site. School clinic B uses a referral policy that directs students to obtain contraception at …

Choosing And Maintaining Programs For Sex Education In Schools: The Champss Model, Belinda F. Hernandez, Melissa Peskin, Ross Shegog, Christine Markham, Kimberly Johnson, Eric A. Ratliff, Dennis H. Li, I. Sonali Weerasinghe, Paula M. Cuccaro, Susan R. Tortolero

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Background: Despite effective solutions to reduce teen birth rates, Texas teen birth rates are among the highest in the nation. School districts can impact youth sexual behavior through implementation of evidence-based programs (EBPs); however, teen pregnancy prevention is a complex and controversial issue for school districts. Subsequently, very few districts in Texas implement EBPs for pregnancy prevention. Additionally, school districts receive little guidance on the process for finding, adopting, and implementing EBPs. Purpose: The purpose of this report is to present the CHoosing And Maintaining Programs for Sex education in Schools (CHAMPSS) Model, a practical and realistic framework to help …

Teen Pregnancy: Ending The Cycle, Angelo P. Giardino, Robert D. Sanborn

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

The implications of the new research presented in Volume 2, Issue 2 (Teen Pregnancy) of the Journal of Applied Research on Children are explored, calling attention to proactive policy solutions to combat teen pregnancy.

A Tale Of Two States: What We Learn From California And Texas, Susan R. Tortolero, Paula M. Cuccaro, Nancy M. Tucker, I. Sonali Weerasinghe, Dennis H. Li, Melissa F. Peskin, Ross Shegog, Christine Markham

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Teen birth rates and teen pregnancy prevention strategies vary widely across individual states in the US, which has the highest overall teen birth rate among developed nations. California and Texas, the two most populous states currently accounting for a quarter of all teen births, have taken very different approaches to addressing adolescent reproductive health. This case study examines the racial/ethnic composition and socioeconomic factors of these two states from 1981 to 2008. State programs and policies implemented between 1991 and 2008 as well as changes in access to contraception and public–private partnerships are discussed. Based on the lessons learned from …

Dispelling The Myth: What Parents Really Think About Sex Education In Schools, Susan R. Tortolero, Kimberly Johnson, Melissa Peskin, Paula M. Cuccaro, Christine Markham, Belinda F. Hernandez, Robert C. Addy, Ross Shegog, Dennis H. Li

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Background: School-based sex education is effective in reducing risky sexual behavior among adolescents that may lead to unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. However, most sex education policies in the US do not support evidence-based programs. Understanding parental attitudes around sex education is crucial to overcoming perceived barriers to implementing school-based sex education. Little research has been published on the opinions of parents in Texas, which accounts for 12% of the nation’s teen births. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether Texas parents favor teaching sex education in schools, in what grades they think sex education should …

Adolescent Sexual Behavior: Examining Data From Texas And The Us, Christine Markham, Melissa Peskin, Belinda F. Hernandez, Kimberly Johnson, Robert C. Addy, Paula Cuccaro, Ross Shegog, Susan Tortolero

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Background: The US has higher rates of teen births and sexually transmitted infections (STI) than other developed countries. Texas youth are disproportionately impacted. Purpose: To review local, state, and national data on teens’ engagement in sexual risk behaviors to inform policy and practice related to teen sexual health. Methods: 2009 middle school and high school Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data, and data from All About Youth, a middle school study conducted in a large urban school district in Texas, were analyzed to assess the prevalence of sexual initiation, including the initiation of non-coital sex, and the prevalence of sexual …

Adolescent Sexual Health: Time To Engage, William Smith

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Issue editor introduction to Volume 2, Issue 2 of the Journal of Applied Research on Children.

School Based Health Centers Should Provide Contraception To Teens, Laura Davis, Emily Bridges

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Many students are sexually active, and hundreds of thousands experience pregnancy every year. Smith, Novello, and Chacko’s research found that students at a school where contraception is available on site were more likely to access contraception and less likely to experience pregnancy – illustrating the power of school based health centers (SBHCs) to help students take responsibility and protect their own futures. Yet the majority of SBHCs are prohibited from dispensing contraception. To remove barriers in access to contraception and help reduce teen pregnany, policymakers, school administrators, and health providers should ensure that SBHCs follow youth-friendly protocols and provide confidential …

Human Trafficking Victims And Their Children: Assessing Needs, Vulnerabilities, Strengths, And Survivorship, Noel B. Busch-Armendariz, Maura B. Nsonwu, Laurie Cook Heffron

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Given the increased awareness and attention to human trafficking, including the establishment of federal laws and policies, federally funded task forces that provide law enforcement responses, and specialized victim services, it is important to assess the impact of these procedures and services on survivors/victims of international human trafficking and their immigrant children. By federal definition, certified victims of international human trafficking are eligible for all services provided to refugees in this country, including reunification with their minor children. This research is based on a qualitative study conducted in Austin and Houston, Texas with human trafficking victims/survivors. The project’s goal was …

Health Care Providers' Training Needs Related To Human Trafficking: Maximizing The Opportunity To Effectively Screen And Intervene, Reena Isaac, Jennifer Solak, Angelo P. Giardino

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Human trafficking is a complex and multifaceted problem that takes the form of economic, physical and sexual exploitation of people, both adults and children, who are reduced to simple products for commerce. Human trafficking in the United States also has both a domestic and an international aspect. Health care providers are in a unique position to screen for victims of trafficking and may provide important medical and psychological care for victims while in captivity and thereafter. Trafficked persons are likely to suffer a wide spectrum of health risks that reflect the unique circumstances and experiences in a trafficked victim’s life. …

Prioritizing Healthy Child Development Could Prevent Child Prostitution, Bridget Gavaghan

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

The CHILDREN AT RISK documentaries “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking” and “International Human Trafficking” draw attention to the dire consequences of our failure as a society to ensure that all children are raised with healthy experiences in safe and loving environments. It is our collective responsibility to put policies and services into place to prevent child prostitution from happening in the first place, while also providing treatment and care for the victims of prostitution. We must embed the prevention of child prostitution into a broader vision for healthy child development and encourage our national, state, and local policymakers to prioritize the …

Community Responsibility For Runaway And Thrownaway Youth--Commentary, Linda M. Williams

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

The following is a commentary on an article discussing homeless youth and the need for communities to address this issue. It is clear that research is needed to understand more about the extent, causes and consequences of youth homelessness whether the youth has run or been thrown away from home. Drawing on interviews conducted with homeless and runaway youth, this commentary calls for community responsibility directed at locating these youth, acknowledging their presence in communities across the U.S., and developing coordinated multijurisdictional responses that support youth development and build on the strengths that have helped them survive.

Related Resources, Children At Risk

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Related resources for Volume 2, Issue 1: Human Trafficking.

Human Trafficking, Sex Tourism, And Child Exploitation On The Southern Border, Jim Walters, Patricia H. Davis

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Human trafficking and various other forms of child sexual exploitation on the United States-Mexico border are described from social science and law enforcement perspectives, including current laws and definitions, case examples, and descriptions of victims and traffickers. The Southern Border Initiative of the AMBER Alert Project is outlined as one effort to combat trafficking through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and programs in the United States and Mexico. Policy recommendations include increasing knowledge and collaboration between law enforcement, social service agencies, and judicial systems across the border region and between the United States and Mexico.

Commentary: “Human Trafficking Victims And Their Children: Assessing Needs, Vulnerabilities, Strengths, And Survivorship", Susan C. Mapp

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

A commentary on Busch-Armendariz, Nsonwu, and Heffron’s article, “Human Trafficking Victims and Their Children: Assessing Needs, Vulnerabilities, Strengths, and Survivorship,” noting key findings and calling for further research.

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: The Challenges Faced In Prosecuting Those Who Prey On America’S Youth, Sherri Zack

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

This commentary is a discussion of the article "Human Trafficking, Sex Tourism, and Child Exploitation on the Southern Border." Most importantly, it is a comment on the lack of attention given to American children prostituted in our own backyards. All forms of sex trafficking are deplorable but the plight of the American child victim creates unique challenges for prosecutors, law enforcement and non-governmental agencies working hard to bring the crimes involved with domestic minor sex trafficking to the forefront. To that end, this commentary attempts to provide resources and guidance.

Runaway And Throwaway Youth: Time For Policy Changes And Public Responsibility, Ira Colby

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

The traditional American dream of owning a home, obtaining a college education, and working at a good, paying job is only that, a dream, for scores of homeless youth in America today. There is a growing street population of young people who have been thrown out of their homes by their caretakers or their families, and who face life-threatening situations each day. For these youth, the furthest thing in their lives is reaching the so-called “American Dream;” and their most immediate need is survival, simply living out the day in front of them. They have few options that lead to …

Sex Trafficking Of Minors In The U.S.: Implications For Policy, Prevention And Research, Kimberly Kotrla, Beth Ann Wommack

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Context: Information currently available on the trafficking of minors in the U.S. for commercial sexual exploitation includes approximations of the numbers involved, risk factors that increase the likelihood of victimization and methods of recruitment and control. However, specific characteristics about this vulnerable population remain largely unknown. Objective: This article has two distinct purposes. The first is to provide the reader with an overview of available information on minor sex trafficking in the U.S. The second is to present findings and discuss policy, research, and educational implications from secondary data analysis of 115 cases of minor sex trafficking in the U.S. …

Human Trafficking: What Is The Role Of The Health Care Provider?, Patricia A. Crane, Melissa Moreno

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

The article will address the global and local issue of human trafficking. An estimated 20,000 people are trafficked within the U.S. each year. Trafficked people are forced, defrauded and coerced into labor and sexual service for profit of others. Traffickers use individual vulnerabilities and immigration status, language ability and poor understanding of U.S. laws to identify future victims. One case in 2005 in Texas resulted in 100 victims being identified, none of whom revealed themselves to health care professionals.

Health care professionals need contemporary and updated information and resources about health risks, screening methods, and identification of trafficked persons. Readers …

Sex Trafficking Of Minors As A Human Rights Issue, Rick Halperin

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

The following commentary serves as a response to the article, “Sex Trafficking of Minors in the U.S.: Implications for Policy, Prevention and Research,” drawing the important, though not often mentioned, connection between the sex trafficking of minors and human rights. The commentary argues that child trafficking has been inadequately addressed due to its relative invisibility, a lack of knowledge about human rights, and a lack of discourse about the human rights issues involved in sexual trafficking. As such, in the current day, the recognition that women and girls who are sexually exploited by traffickers are victims has seemingly been forgotten. …