Experts in the fight against the sexual exploitation of minors said there is a gap in highlighting how young men are targeted and new research said many Minnesota survivors are not getting the help they need to heal from their trauma.

A report from the group Protect All Children from Trafficking showed only 15% of sexually exploited boys received any form of specialized services compared to 65% of girls.

Lori Cohen, CEO of the group, said rates of human trafficking cases are higher for girls but added boys still need an adequate level of follow-up support. She explained it starts with how key figures in the community are trained to spot these cases.

"The tendency still is to look for that and identify it among girls and not among boys," Cohen pointed out.

The report found along with systemic barriers, there are masculine stereotypes fostering shame for a male to disclose they have been sexually exploited. Cohen acknowledged Minnesota is a leader in the child protection space but the authors said uneven implementation of the state's Safe Harbor law criminalizes boys who are victimized rather than supporting them.

In the school setting, Cohen stressed classroom disruptions can be a warning sign but feels boys are often treated differently when behavioral issues arise.

"A boy might be seen as acting up in school," Cohen observed. "Instead of having access to services that a girl who was acting up in school might get -- a social worker, a guidance counselor -- boys tend to be punished."

She added if it leads to an expulsion, the boy might encounter housing instability, putting them at greater risk of being exploited.

Researchers said safe, stable housing is an essential prevention tool but must include wraparound services like mental health care and job training. Even though the report looked at Minnesota data, Cohen feels the results resonate globally.


get more stories like this via email

Young people convicted of crimes in Pueblo can now avoid serious and long-lasting consequences when they are unable to pay fines or victim restitution.

Chanell Hasty, program manager with the National League of Cities - which created the Courts Addressing Fines and Fees, or CAFFE program - said when young people cannot pay a fee, it goes into collections. That can make it much harder for them to become financially independent, contributing members of the community.

"Jobs today, they require that you have decent credit scores to get a job, so they may not be able to get a job. They may not be able to get housing because of a damaged credit score," she said. "It's just a negative economic spiral for this young person."

Unpaid fines and fees can quickly snowball, leading to increased fines, driver's license suspensions or even jail time. Through CAFFE, defendants can sign up for Pueblo's Financial Empowerment Center, get one-on-one financial literacy tutoring, get their court fines or fees reduced, and pay them off through community service. Pueblo is one of 14 cities selected to participate in the program, which is also open to adult offenders.

Struggling families are often left on the hook to pay victim restitution costs, which can push the entire family deeper into poverty. Without programs such as CAFFE, Hasty said crime victims who have real medical bills to pay may never get the money they need.

"So a program like this allows for the victim to actually get financial restitution to pay whatever bills that result from the crime," she continued.

Research by the San Francisco Financial Justice Project found that crime survivors generally receive little, if any, restitution.

One year after restitution was ordered, only 2% was paid, and more than 90% remained unpaid after five years. Municipal fines and fees also disproportionately burden low-income residents, especially residents of color.


get more stories like this via email

Indiana's youth are facing a growing mental health crisis, and officials say urgent action is needed. Nearly half of high school students in the state report experiencing depression, and suicide attempts among youth continue to increase.

Tami Silverman, president and CEO of Indiana Youth Institute highlights the struggles teens face in silence, as well as the challenges families encounter in accessing the necessary support and resources.

"Nearly half - 47% - of the students reported experiencing depression within the last year. And so, that's been pretty consistent over the past couple years, but still that's a tremendous number," she said.

In 2023, nearly one in four students planned suicide, and more than 15% attempted it. Female and LGBTQ+ students report higher rates of mental health challenges compared to their peers, reflecting significant disparities.

Barriers to accessing care worsen the situation, with two-thirds of Indiana youth who experience major depression not receiving treatment. The shortage of mental health providers across the state further limits access. Silverman called on schools and community organizations to play a pivotal role by training staff to identify mental health issues early and implementing peer mentorship programs.

"For young people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression recognizing and embracing those glimmers - those positive moments - can help provide even brief respite from some of their stress or anxiety," she continued.

Silverman also emphasized the importance of promoting mental health literacy to reduce stigma and improve access to care. By addressing challenges, Indiana can create an environment where all youth receive the support they need to thrive," she said.


get more stories like this via email

A national voting rights group supports a push to lower the voting age in California and other states to 16 for state and local elections.

The Vote16 USA campaign, is sponsored by Generation Citizen, a movement to get young voters involved in the political system and change their world for the better.

LaJuan Allen, Vote16 USA director for the group, said research showed the earlier students get involved, the more likely they will be lifetime voters.

"The earlier we start, the more likely we are to develop lifelong voters in folks that are civically engaged," Allen pointed out. "The data backs this up. The studies back this up. If you vote in one election, you're much more likely to vote in another. And if we start that early, that percentage goes up."

Allen noted California already has an early preregistration system and this November, Alameda County will allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections in Oakland and Berkley. Other states with youth voter programs include New Jersey, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Maryland.

A study by the YouthTruth Civic Empowerment Project found high school age students want to be politically involved but lack the necessary civics skills. Allen stressed the Vote16 USA project has found large numbers of youths are already involved is social movements with an eye toward improving their future.

"Young people are leading a lot of the movements that we see across our country today," Allen observed. "We think about climate justice reform. We think about education policy. We think about common sense gun violence prevention. It is young people that are at the forefront of these issues."

The last time the voting age was changed was a half-century ago when the 26th Amendment was ratified in 1971, lowering the national age from 21 to 18. Allen added they are pushing individual states and cities to make the change rather than trying to amend the Constitution.


get more stories like this via email