A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluation of the Not a Number Program to Prevent the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) and Youth in Minnesota

尽管对儿童的商业性剥削的确切范围仍然是 未知，其对儿童身体和情感的重大负面后果 有据可查。然而，几乎没有评估研究来指导社区 关于哪些方法可以有效，预防最佳做法和问题依然存在。不是 NUMBER(NaN)是CSEC预防教育计划，由非营利性组织 组织之爱146。NaN正在通过培训教员的模式提供给 明尼苏达州的年轻人面临CSEC的风险。虽然这是一个有前景和有证据支持的计划，但它 还有待评估。本研究的目的是评价NaN在临床上的有效性。 用严格的整群随机对照降低青少年CSEC受害比率 方法：与明尼苏达州的24个青年服务机构合作。研究团队 将使用基于社区的参与性研究(CBPR)方法来实施和 理解评估结果。这项为期5年的研究将分为两部分。 构成部分A(研究第1-2年)将涉及：改进研究方法；开展 明尼苏达州执行NAN的过程评估；收集定性数据以 了解社区对预防结果目标和试点测试评估的看法 工具和方法。B部分(学习年3-5)将涉及实施 评估。24个青年服务机构将根据机构和社区进行配对 特征(例如，机构规模、社区人口、农村或城市位置)。在 每对机构将被随机分配到一个实施条件(NAN 在预试后六个月内实施)或进入等待名单控制条件(NAN计划 在6个月的跟踪调查之后由青年完成)。大约30名青年 将按机构登记参加研究(N=720；每种情况n=360)，并提供结果数据 收集4个时间点：基线、6周随访、6个月随访和12个月随访 向上。这项研究由一支经验丰富的多学科研究人员和从业者团队领导， 将是对CSEC预防计划的第一次严格评估。调查结果将提供 对以教育为基础的预防对减少CSEC受害者的有效性的批判性见解 并为未来的项目发展和预防政策提供信息。这项研究针对美国疾病控制与预防中心 RFA-CE-22-003中概述的研究优先事项4。

Although the exact scope of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) remains unknown, its significant negative physical and emotional consequences for children has been well documented. However, there is little evaluation research to guide communities on prevention best practices and questions remain about what approaches can be effective. Not a Number (NAN) is a CSEC prevention education program developed by the non-profit organization Love 146. NAN is being delivered through a train-the-trainer model to groups of youth in Minnesota at-risk for CSEC. While it is a promising and evidence supported program, it has yet to be evaluated. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of NAN in reducing rates of CSEC victimization for youth by using a rigorous cluster randomized controlled methodology in partnership with 24 youth-serving agencies in Minnesota. The research team will use a Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach to implementing and understanding the evaluation. The 5-year study will be divided into two components. Component A (Study years 1-2) will involve: refining the study methodology; conducting a process evaluation of NAN implementation in Minnesota; qualitative data collection to understand community perspectives on prevention outcome goals, and pilot testing evaluation tools and methodology. Component B (Study years 3-5) will involve implementing the evaluation. Twenty-four youth serving agencies will be paired based on agency and community characteristics (e.g., agency size, community demographics, rural or urban location). Within each pair, agencies will be randomly assigned to an implementation condition (NAN administered within six months of the pre-test) or to a wait-list control condition (NAN program administered after 6-month follow-up surveys are completed by youth). Approximately 30 youth will be enrolled in the study per agency (N=720; n=360 per condition), with outcome data collected at 4 time-points: baseline, 6-week follow-up, 6-month follow-up and 12-month follow- up. The study, led by an experienced, multi-disciplinary team of researchers and practitioners, will represent the first rigorous evaluation of a CSEC prevention program. Findings will provide critical insight into the efficacy of education-based prevention for reducing CSEC victimization and inform future program development and prevention policy. This study addresses the CDC’s Research Priority 4 outlined in RFA-CE-22-003.