Rethink Resources

In the latest news items - this week has definitely left me with a lot to reflect on.

First though, I was in Chicago on Tuesday to present as a part of the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network day long training on ‘Safety Planning for Real People.’ Afterwards, as trainers, we were reflecting on how participants responded to the workshop. The workshop endeavored to push participants from traditional domestic violence movement responses like shelter and filing criminal charges to exploring the realities of the prison industrial complex, harm reduction, and more social justice based responses to intimate partner violence.

Putting communities of color, LGBTQ and immigrant communities, youth and homeless folks (and recognizing the intersections between all of our layered identities and experiences) at the center of our work really changes what the best response to violence would be. But it’s really hard to let go of the traditional model of success as shelter placement or arrest/conviction and challenge each other and places we work at to think differently.

I think sometimes that workshop participants freeze up a bit when they are asked to be really reflective and responsive, as opposed to calmly and quietly taking in information. This could also be a reflection of who we, as trainers, are used to talking with - as a youth worker I’m used to loud, interactive audiences.

On the news front, residents in Bowie, Maryland formed a task force to respond to youth involvement in the sex trade and Arizona is one of the many states reviewing and changing laws in regard to minors involved in the sex trade. Many states are finding their laws or penalties for offering money to a juvenile for sex or arranging for youth to have sex for money are inadequate. I’d add they’d need to see how those laws (current and planned) are enforced.

On a related note, I read this week in my local paper Phoenix has experienced a population boom of almost 700,000 people in the last 7 years – clearly contributing to the escalating numbers of youth involved in the sex trade and it must completely shock a communities’ ability to respond to social service needs.

Also in my local paper, a report from Milwaukee’s foster care system (required as a part of a lawsuit settlement a few years ago) document some successes but still far too many youth are moved around so much and some 175 youth ran off from the facilities while they waited for placement.

A couple of news items on criminal charges point to the connection between violence and predatory adults. I’m reflecting on a few thoughts about this and other ideas and it’s on my list of future posts (anyone who knows me knows how much I like keeping lists).

Lawmakers aim to reign in child prostitution (Arizona) Wednesday, March 21, 2007 The figures are disturbing. Phoenix police are actively investigating 50 known pimps, but last year only one pimp was convicted at trial and is serving time. No Johns were able to be prosecuted for child prostitution.

Father and son charged in slaying of teenager (Canada) Tuesday, March 20, 2007 RCMP ask for help tracing truckers that had ‘relationships’ with young runaways. A father and son who both call themselves Blue have been charged with the murder of 14-year-old Chelsey Acorn, a runaway…

Foster care gets mixed reviews (Milwaukee) Tuesday, March 20, 2007 A new report says the Milwaukee program has shown improvements, among them a drop in cases of physical abuse, as well as flaws, such as frequent changes of homes for hundreds of children, particularly younger ones

Man Charged With Sex Slavery (Connecticut) Tuesday, March 20, 2007 Federal authorities have indicted a New York man, charging him with kidnapping young women - including a 12-year old - and forcing them to work 12 hours a day performing sex acts at private parties and in seedy barrooms, including two notorious strip clubs in the Bridgeport area.

Bowie residents fight sex trafficking (Maryland) Tuesday, March 20, 2007 Task force formed after volunteer coach was charged with sexual abuse involving a Bowie High School student…(A)fter a 14-year-old Bowie High School student allegedly had sex with a volunteer football coach last year and became a prostitute.