The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48697

Laura Mintz¹, Claudine O'Leary², and Crystal Barnes². (1) Chicago Department of Public Health, 530 E. 31st St., Chicago, IL 60616, (312) 689-2973, Mintz_Laura@cdph.org, (2) Young Women's Empowerment Project, 6600 N. Sheridan, Chicago, IL 60626

Girls and young women impacted by the sex trade and street economies are a hidden population in need of public health services. Extensive research has been completed about the breadth of the sex trade and street economies, but most research has been done on women over the age of 18. Additionally, very little information exists that examines what an effective practice with girls and young women involved in the sex trade and street economies looks like. Often, service providers are not able to identify the young women and girls that they work with as potentially impacted by the sex trade—if they are capable of identifying these young women, are not able to work with girls and young women in a respectful, effective, or helpful way. In this session, participants will be given a framework to understand the complex dynamics of the lives of young women and girls impacted by the sex trade and street economies. Participants will learn about the effective outreach tactics of the Young Women’s Empowerment Project; a harm-reduction based project for girls impacted by the sex trade and street economies. Participants will be able to identify structural and institutional barriers that prevent young women and girls impacted by the sex trade and street economies from leaving the sex trade. Participants will recognize ways that public health workers and institutions can become more responsive to the needs of this hidden population.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the complex dynamics of effective work with young women and girls impacted by the sex trade/street economies.
• Identify five structural/insitutional barriers that prevent young women impacted by the sex trade from leaving the sex trade or accessing public health services.
• Recognize six ways that public health workers can effectively respond to the needs of young women and girls impacted by the sex trade/street economies.

Keywords: Sex Workers, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Young Women's Empowerment Project, Chicago Illinois
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am a volunteer on the project.