My Life My Choice and Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts have merged their respective expertise in commercial sexual exploitation of children and sexuality education to create an evidence-, trauma-, and survivor-informed one-day training designed to help a wide range of youth service providers use intentional and inclusive language to begin conversations with young people about sex and sexuality that reflects the realities of their lives. one.oregon.gov, 800-699-9075, Find help in your area How was this curriculum developed? Jennifer has a bachelors degree in English from City College of New York. Commercial sexual exploitation is an egregious form of child abuse. They will hear from young people impacted by CSEC, as well as experts in the fields of congregate care, CSEC, and law enforcement. The My Life My Choice Survivor Mentor Model pairs trained, adult survivors of the commercial sex industry with children who have experienced exploitation or are at very high risk for commercial sexual exploitation. My Life My Choice (MLMC), a Boston, Massachusetts-based program of the Justice Resource Institute, is a survivor-led non-profit organization fighting to end commercial sexual exploitation of children. Continued support, consultation, and technical assistance from My Life My Choice staff. Audrey(she/her) is the Co-Executive Director of My Life My Choice and a local and national leader in the anti-exploitation field. Ken Klein, Vice President of Northeast Housing and Emergency Services at Valley Youth House, Bethlehem, PA. Receive updates and news from My Life My Choice. This is the first and only study of its kind. Nikki is a dynamic trainer, consultant, and advocate working on behalf of trauma-impacted youth. October 18- 19, 2023. Designed to help a wide range of youth service providers use intentional and inclusive language to begin conversations with young people about sex and sexuality that reflects the realities of their lives. In that time, we have amassed extensive experience and knowledge and pioneered best practices for prevention. Effective prevention encompasses changes in attitudes, knowledge, and skills. As My Life My Choice enters its 21st year, our resolve is as fierce as ever. My Life My Choice provides strategic consultation and technical assistance to organizations looking to develop or sustain practices and policies which support CSEC prevention and/or survivor-led programming, such as our Survivor Mentor Model. With the help of the brilliant radio and podcast producer, Stephen Smith, our very own Audrey Morrissey, Co-Executive Director of My Life My Choice, spent time in 2022 sitting down with survivors and allies on our staff to have candid conversations about what the commercial sexual exploitations of children (CSEC) looks like today and what can be done to finally put an end to it. Preventing Sexual Exploitation Among Adolescent Girls: The My Life My Choice Curriculum was developed in 2002 in response to the death of a young woman who killed by her exploiter while living in a group home. [24] Leadership Corps members engage in a variety of activities including serving on an advisory committee to the SEEN Coalition and the Boston Police Department, meeting with Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III to discuss the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, and creating materials for My Life My Choice to improve their work. My Life My Choice is a program of the Justice Resource Institute 2021 My Life My Choice. She has more than 14 years of professional experience working with, and on behalf of, trauma-impacted youth and young adults. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies For service providers, law enforcement, and youth-serving professionals, trainings aimto increase victim identification, improve provider response to exploited youth, and build a well-trained safety net for the most marginalized youth. This session occurs during the My Life My Choice Prevention Curriculum Training at the end of day one. [16][17] Additionally, in 2009 My Life My Choice became a part of the Justice Resource Institute. The results speak for themselves. Participants share current practices and experiences among providers from across the country. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! One-Day Training in Collaboration with Planned Parenthood, Two-Day Facilitator Certification Training. VYH selected for National My Life My Choice Prevention Solution OUR FIGHTWhy it MattersStand with SurvivorsOur Impact, OUR WORKThe Big PictureSurvivor EmpowermentPreventionTraining + AdvocacyResources + Webinars, ABOUT US- How We Began- Our Values- Our Team- Financial Integrity- Advisory Board of Directors, 209 Columbus Avenue, Suite 301Boston, MA 02116857-991-1159mlmcinfo@jri.org. The My Life My Choice Prevention Curriculum is a 10-session curriculum designed for youth at disproportionate risk of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) and aims to shift their knowledge, attitudes and behavior to reduce the risk of exploitation or to prevent re-victimization. FOIA Kristin Corkum, Assistant Clinical Director, Cohannet Academy. Learn Training Calendar My Life My Choice Empowering youth the My Life My Choice Curriculum Developed in 2002, our curriculum is: Survivor-informed and research based Designed for secondary and tertiary preventionaiming to reach the most vulnerable girls Currently being evaluated through a National Institute of Justice grant SHIFTS IN PRACTICE & POLICY Rothman EF, Preis SR, Bright K, Paruk J, Bair-Merritt M, Farrell A. The first comprehensive exploitation prevention curriculum in the nation, ournationally-acclaimed and evidence-based ten-session exploitation prevention curriculum equips disproportionately vulnerable young people between the ages of 12 and 18 with the tools and knowledge needed to protect themselves from exploiters, thus reducing their risk of commercial sexual exploitation. [7][14] The survivor mentorship program maintains a long term focus of recovery always maintaining contact and support for the youth they serve. Evaluation of a Multi-Session Group Designed to Prevent Commercial The strength and grit of each survivor inspires and drives our mission forward every day. Although additional evaluation using a comparison group and long-term follow up would increase confidence that observed changes are attributable to the group instead of other factors, results suggest that the MLMC curriculum may be effective in reducing the risk of CSE and improving other conditions for youth who are at-disproportionate-risk of CSE. My Life My Choice Exploitation Prevention Curriculum: The My Life My Choice Prevention Solution Fellowship will be awarded to five congregate care programs in the US serving female-identified youth age 12-18. Background and Context An estimated 150,000300,000 youth in the US are at high risk of sexual exploitation every year. My Life My Choice is one of 150 local nonprofits that will share in $30 million through Cummings Foundations major annual grants program. Throughout Eastern Massachusetts, My Life My Choice providessurvivor mentoring, intensive case management, mental health services, and group work to young people of all genders who have experienced exploitation. The My Life My Choice Curriculum. Nikki has been co-facilitating My Life My Choice Exploitation Groups for adolescent girls for ten years, training on behalf of My Life My Choice for eight years and joined the My Life My Choice team full-time in 2015. My Life My Choice has designed curriculum materials for I AM LITTLE RED, to give at-risk children the skills and tools to stay on their own paths. Eligible organizations must: Commit to all five multilevel trainings, consultation, and three All-Partner meetings; Demonstrate an existing investment in combating the issue of CSEC in their programs; Demonstrate a plan for sustaining the practices, policies, and CSEC prevention programming of the Prevention Solution Model beyond the Fellowship period; Be a residential/congregate care program serving female-identified youth age 12-18. The My Life My Choice curriculum includes ten-session prevention groups for girls ages 12 to 18. Become a Certified Facilitator for the My Life My Choice Prevention Curriculum, an evaluated and nationallyacclaimed exploitation prevention curriculum aimed at changing adolescent girls' perceptions of the commercial sex industry, building self-esteem and personal empowerment. Rachel is very dedicated to helping the individuals she works with and is committed to improving the lives of children and families. Cambridge Family and Children's Services, Cambridge, MA, The Home for Little Wanderers, Plymouth, MA, Center for Human Development, Springfield, MA, St. Marys Center for Women and Children, Dorchester, MA, Resource Residential Treatment Facility; Indianapolis, IN, Carolina Youth Development Center; North Charleston, SC, Northland Family Help Center; Flagstaff, AZ. For over 20 years, Rachel has been working in the field of human services assisting families with accessing and navigating services. It is our daily fight our strategic and urgent endeavor. We offer a variety of engagement opportunities for learning that aim to build informed and engaged communities as they work to understand and/or address CSEC, both within Massachusetts and across the country. This training gives providers tools to develop trauma informed clinical programming for exploited youth and provides a space to practice utilizing skills learned through role play, group discussion and small group work. Please tell us about the site where you are employed and intend to facilitate the My Life My Choice Prevention Curriculum. Jennifer is a member of the My Life My Choice national training team based out of New Jersey. The My Life My Choice Prevention Curriculum is a 10-session curriculum designed for youth at disproportionate risk of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) and aims to shift their knowledge, attitudes and behavior to reduce the risk of exploitation or to prevent re-victimization. Keywords: [11][24], My Life My Choice has a board of twelve members who possess knowledge about adolescent development, marketing, legal services, non-profit management, and government. Only then can we achieve sustained system-wide change. Our nationally renowned curriculum is a ten-session program created to develop and strengthen efforts to halt the disturbing wave of exploitation and trafficking in the United States. Membership to our Online Community provides ongoing support and contact with other facilitators across the country. We serve as a model for communities across the country set on changing not only lives, but the structural inequities that give rise to trafficking and sexual exploitation. Kyle holds masters degrees in social work and public health from Columbia University. Every day, young people are deceived, manipulated, coerced, and forced into the commercial sex industry. Introductions History of the Curriculum Slideshow 2589689 by. MeSH You will be notified of your application status within three business days of submission. In multivariable-adjusted models, participants reported fewer episodes of sexually explicit behavior at follow up as compared to baseline (relative risk [RR]: 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.37-0.72 at Follow-up 1, and 0.53, 95% CI: 0.35-0.82 at Follow-up 2). One-day Training in collaboration with Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. Evaluation of a Multi-Session Group Designed to Prevent Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors: The "My Life My Choice" Curriculum - Emily F. Rothman, Amy Farrell, Jennifer Paruk, Katherine Bright, Megan Bair-Merritt, Sarah R. Preis, 2021 MENU Browse Journals Resources Advanced Search IN THIS JOURNAL Journal Home Browse Journal Journal Info The Boston-based My Life My Choice (MLMC) program offers a multisession psychoeducation group to girls who are identified as "at-disproportionate-risk" for CSE victimization and trains other agencies throughout the U.S. to offer this curriculum. It is the first comprehensive, survivor-led curriculum in the US and has been used in 36 states. My Life My Choice groups can be offered weekly in schools, group homes, and other community settings. Find out more information on our curriculum. Rachel has been a part of the JRI team since January, 2000. Ashley received her masters degree in Social Work from Boston University in 2009 with specialization in group work. The Boston-based My Life My Choice (MLMC) program offers a multisession psychoeducation group to girls who are identified as "at-disproportionate-risk" for CSE victimization and trains other agencies throughout the U.S. to offer this curriculum. My Life My Choice | Justice Resource Institute - JRI PDF PREVENTING THE EXPLOITATION OF GIRLS: The My Life My Choice Curriculum HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help 2020 Dec;21(5):886-903. doi: 10.1177/1524838018801332. In addition to being part of the Massachusetts SANE Program for over 8 years, she has almost two decades of experience working with and advocating for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. BACKGROUND The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates at least 100,000 American children are victimized through commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) every year. [24][25] Additionally, My Life My Choice provides opportunities for the youth they mentor to participate in leadership and advocacy roles through the MLMC Leadership Corps. Two-day Facilitator Certification Training. THREE YEAR NIJ EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY EXPERT RESEARCHERS AT. The My Life My Choice Prevention Curriculum. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the Our holistic, battle-tested approach is grounded in survivor experiences of those who have lived the ugly realities of exploitation and come back fierce, wise, and strong. [23] The purpose of training professionals is to increase the identification rate and improve the response of providers to exploited youth. Abstract The My Life My Choice Prevention Solution Fellowship is awarded to five congregate care programs nationally and five in Massachusetts each year. My Life My Choice | LinkedIn Would you like email updates of new search results? Epub 2014 Nov 6. Or contact us if you are interested in partnering with us. Todays young people were born and raised in the digital age. Data collection tools and customized reports. Evaluation of a Multi-Session Group Designed to Prevent Commercial This is the first comprehensive exploitation prevention curriculum rigorously evaluated with evidence of decreased risk of CSEC. Published in 2021 http://www.mylifemychoice.org/ Printer-friendly version CONTACT US ABOUT THIS WEBSITE SITE MAP PRIVACY DISCLAIMER Victoria has been a proud member of the My Life My Choice national training team since 2017 and is based in New Jersey at the Child Wellness Institute (ChildWIN). Charel received her associate's degree from Roxbury Community College and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree from Framingham State University. and transmitted securely. This nationally acclaimed ten session curriculum, which provides concrete, well-researched methods for reaching vulnerable adolescent girls, was created in 2003. Jennifer has created curricula, mentored at-risk youth and independently consulted with numerous organizations to raise awareness and dispel myths surrounding trafficking. Become a Certified Facilitator for the My Life My Choice Prevention Curriculum, an evaluated and nationallyacclaimed exploitation prevention curriculum aimed at changing adolescent girls' perceptions of the commercial sex industry, building self-esteem and personal empowerment. Rachel has been a part of the JRI team since January, 2000. Become a Certified Facilitator for the My Life My Choice Prevention Curriculum, an evaluated and nationallyacclaimed exploitation prevention curriculum aimed at changing adolescent girls' perceptions of the commercial sex industry, building self-esteem and personal empowerment. [12][20] The upward growth of My Life My Choice can also be seen in their 2011 and 2014 award of the highly competitive United States Department of Justice "Mentoring for Child Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Domestic Sex Trafficking Initiative" grant. [9][27] Blake Lively during this documentary stated, "The most powerful thing is for women not just to be the beneficiaries of the change, but to be agents of it My Life My Choice is such a powerful organization because it utilizes survivors".[28]. Evaluation of a Multi-Session Group Designed to Prevent Commercial Massachusetts Home and Community Based Services, River Run Academy at Susan Wayne Day School, Developing Abilities Willow Tree Day Habilitation, Educational Opportunities for JRI Employees, Community Based Services Career Opportunities, Virtual Workshops and Consultation Series, Preventing the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Girls: A Training for Providers on Using the My Life My Choice Curriculum. Applications are accepted beginning in March. Curriculum Classroom Guide Lessons 1-10 Lesson 1: Chan ges Lesson 2: Who I am Lesson 3: Everybody Deserves Respect and Support Lesson 4: Advantages of Postponing Sexual Involvement (TL) Lesson 5: Media and Other Influences (TL) Lesson 6: Handling Peer Pressure and Setting Boundaries (TL) Lesson 7: Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships (TL) With this knowledge, the board members provide guidance and support to the MLMC senior staff. The course is designed to encourage sharing current practices and experiences with different providers from across the country. How you know Agenda. My Life My Choices nationally acclaimed and rigorously evaluated 10-session exploitation prevention curriculum is designed to change disproportionately vulnerable youths attitudes and perceptions of the commercial sex industry, as well as build the skills and internal resources necessary to reduce their risk, build self-esteem and increase a sense of personal empowerment. The .gov means its official. See these curricula on pages 2-4. We urge you not to include protected health information. Disclaimer. General 2 My Life My Choice Male Allies Standing Up is comprised of men from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds working together to shift perceptions and behaviors among their peers. 8600 Rockville Pike Receive updates and news from My Life My Choice. Ashley is an experienced trainer and expert on the commercial sexual exploitation of children. My Life My Choice is a program of the Justice Resource Institute 2021 My Life My Choice. She received her master's degree in Social Work from Boston University in 2021. PDF The My Life My Choice Exploitation Prevention Curriculum: Results From It is a holistic training experience fostering lasting programmatic change. Our Impact My Life My Choice Our skilled trainers, many of whom are survivor leaders, offer introductory and advanced trainings about the sex industry and its devastating impact. The Impact of Childhood Abuse on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.