The links below contained detailed information for the upcoming 2017 Safe States Alliance Annual Meeting, taking place September 12-14, 2017 in Aurora, Colorado.
Please note:
- A total of five concurrent sessions will take place during the Annual Meeting, and there will be up to five breakouts occurring simultaneously during each of those concurrent sessions. Within each breakout, there will be up to four presentations that take place.
- This online system does not allow us to embed the individual presentations within each breakout. Please note the session presentations listed under each Concurrent Breakout title for associated content.
- The on-site mobile app WILL embed these sessions for ease of use.
- A printable, detailed agenda can be found on the 2017 Annual Meeting website.
- If you have any questions, please contact info@safestates.org
- All session times and locations are tentative and subject to change. Safe States will continue to update these details as changes take place.
Engaging Youth and Strategic Partnerships to Prevent Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Youth
Learning Objectives
In this session, participants will:
1. Learn about the Minnesota Dpartment of Health anti-trafficking Safe Harbor Program
2. Develop awareness of an trafficking prevention outreach strategy that uses partnerships and engages those most affected
3. Apply ideas presented to their own efforts to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation
Statement of Purpose
To create effective outreach materials for sexually exploited and at-risk youth, Minnesota Department of Health anti-trafficking Safe Harbor Program tapped into existing grantee relationships and engaged youth to prevent sexual exploitation. In human trafficking and sexual violence, those who are most vulnerable are often the most difficult to reach. Youth are particularly vulnerable yet wary of authority-driven interventions. State agencies can be more effective in combating trafficking and sexual exploitation through strategic relationships with partners who have trusted access to vulnerable populations and by engaging youth when creating interventions directed towards youth.
Methods/Approach
Interviews with the network of Safe Harbor Program grantees identified a need for messaging that would increase youth awareness of the Safe Harbor Program, enable them to self-identity their risk and/or own experience of exploitation, and have reliable contact information for services. Vital was engaging youth to develop materials that would speak to them. Statewide youth focus groups developed initial imagery, ensuring youth-centric language and diversity. Youth participants ranged from exiting “the life,” still actively involved, and youth prevention peer advocates. They varied in age, ethnicity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and geographic location. They reviewed multiple draft concepts and final mockups so that youth who read these messages would think about their own situation, identify harm, and confidently reach out, when ready.
Results
Prioritized outreach materials include posters, an outreach card explaining Safe Harbor, and hygiene kits that provide contact information. Twelve posters reach various programs, demographics, and regions throughout the state. Grantees will receive posters as fillable pdfs so contact information is regionally specific. Advocates in Hmong, Somali, Hispanic, and Native communities will review materials for translation or customization. We are also considering indoor media (bathroom ads) in places that youth frequent.
Conclusions & Significance to the Field
This project involved strategic use of partnerships and engagement of directly affected populations to increase MDH’s ability to reach vulnerable youth and prevent sexual exploitation. By strengthening existing connections and engaging youth, we enhanced our grantees’ ability to provide relevant messages about Safe Harbor, increased awareness of existing services, empowered youth to recognize their own expertise, and ensured effectiveness of the outreach materials.
Presenters
Beatriz Menanteau, JD, Minnesota Department of Health
Biography
Beatriz Menanteau, JD, is a human rights and public health attorney. Beatriz recently joined the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) as a Supervisor to their Sexual Violence Prevention Program and anti-human trafficking Safe Harbor Program. At MDH, she oversees efforts to change systems that perpetuate sexual violence and exploitation, and ensure appropriate system-wide responses to victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Previously with The Advocates for Human Rights, Beatriz worked locally and internationally to apply international human rights standards to advocate for the human rights of women and girls around the world. Beatriz helped develop and pass Minnesota’s Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Youth Act and she advocated for amendments to Minnesota’s sex trafficking law to increase penalties for perpetrators. She has trained systems professionals to ensure effective implementation of the law, and numerous professional and community groups about human trafficking and sexual violence. Beatriz has advocated at the United Nations against gender-based violence, coordinated international workshops on domestic violence legal reform and representation of victims, and conducted international fact-finding missions on the implementation of domestic violence laws. Prior to joining The Advocates, Beatriz practiced general corporate litigation at a large Minneapolis based law firm, and obtained judicial clerkships with two federal Magistrate Judges. She is committed to pursuing social justice, human rights, and health equity for all.