Friday, November 22, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Thursday, December 3, 2015
New Program Helps Hawaii’s Young Male Victims of Sex Trafficking
By News Release @ 6:26 PM :: 6305 Views :: Family, Law Enforcement

New Program Helps Hawaii’s Young Male Victims of Sex Trafficking           

News Release from ChildrensAllianceHawaii.org

(Honolulu, Hawaii) December 3, 2015 – According to the U.S. Department of Justice, there are an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 children trafficked for sexual exploitation in the United States each year. More than half of these victims are underage, with the average age of entry into prostitution being 12 years old. Because Hawaii is booming with international business and tourism, it has become a prime target for sex traffickers. In response to this issue, The Children’s Alliance of Hawaii (CAH) recently launched Ho`omaka for Boys, a new program that advocates for and empowers sexually abused male children and adolescents ages 9 to 21 living on Oahu.

“Resilience is a central point in Ho’omaka for Boys given that based on best practices and resiliency theory, it assists sexually abused youth who are struggling with life circumstances and direction,” said C. Kent Coarsey, CAH President and Executive Director. “The goal is to help nurture and transform these children and adolescents into resilient and empowered youth.”

Ho’omaka matches male victims of sexual abuse or sex trafficking with a professional mentor for at least 12 months. Mentors and mentees meet weekly for one or two hour scheduled sessions, with the amount and length of sessions adjustable to fit individual needs. After developing a healthy, trustful and caring relationship with their mentors, these boys and young men will learn and practice how to make well-informed decisions, create quality relationships with adults and peers and set personal goals.

Building a trusting relationship between mentor and mentee is especially important because, as noted in a 2008 study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice titled “The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in New York City,” many sexually abused boys and young men don’t see themselves as children or as victims, which makes it difficult to get them to seek assistance from service providers. The study also points out the societal stigmas, or perceived stigmas, associated with male prostitution and homosexuality are hurdles in male victims seeking treatment.

Mentoring sessions are activity-based and are chosen to match a mentee’s interests, strengths, and/or goals. Activities include but are not limited to: hiking, studying, going to the beach, fishing, playing sports and volunteering. In addition, mentoring sessions will include topic structured discussions on short-term and long-term goal-setting, healthy relationships, healthy sexuality, teen pregnancy/STD prevention and assertive communication.

The expected and favorable short-term outcome of Ho’omaka is that 60 percent of participants who attend at least 16 sessions will experience increased self-efficacy and self-esteem. They will be able to identify personal strengths and have formulated and initiated a personal plan. For 80 percent of participants who attend at least 24 sessions, the hope is that they experience an increase in resiliency.

As for the long-term outcome, CAH hopes mentoring sexually abused male children and adolescents will enhance the continuity of an integrated system of comprehensive services, protecting victims by reducing the negative effects of past sexual abuse as well as reducing the risk of further abuse.

CAH collaborates with many local organizations and individuals for client referrals, case management, advocacy and program funding. Ho’omaka received grants from the City & County of Honolulu, Aloha United Way Impact Funding, Atherton Family Foundation, Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation, Ganote Investment Family Trust and First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu.

---30---

The Children's Alliance of Hawaii positively impacts the lives of children who have been sexually abused in our community through successful partnerships and programs designed to leave a lasting legacy of healing, encouragement and optimism. For over 25 years, the Children’s Alliance of Hawaii has provided care and support with the belief that each child is resilient, creative, courageous and strong and deserves every opportunity to thrive to their fullest potential. To learn more or find out how you can help, visit ChildrensAllianceHawaii.org or Facebook.com/TheChildrensAllianceOfHawaii.

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii