This study examines the relationships between exposure to violence in the community, school, and family with dating violence attitudes and behaviors among 175 urban African American youth. Age, gender, state support and experiences with neglect, school violence, and community violence were the most significant predictors of acceptance of dating violence. Experiences with community violence and age were important predictors of dating violence perpetration and victimization. Findings highlight the importance of planning prevention programs that address variables affecting attitudes and behaviors of high-risk youth who have already been exposed to multiple types of violence.
Large gaps exist in our knowledge about the effectiveness of sex trafficking training. This study surveyed knowledge and training regarding sex trafficking among service providers (N = 66; i.e., social workers, law enforcement offers, and medical providers) in one Midwestern state. The study aimed to: (a) determine the goodness-of-fit between respondents' agency criteria for victim identification and established trafficking definitions, (b) assess training desired and received, and (c) examine group differences in knowledge and training by profession and position. Results suggest confusion exists in defining sex trafficking among aftercare providers despite nearly all respondents indicating they had received training on definition, identification, and vulnerability. Training gaps regarding service coordination, case development, and the legal, mental health, and medical needs of victims remain.
The current study tested the postdictive validity of the Vulnerability Index (VI), an instrument used to assess medical vulnerability among people who are homeless. It also examined the relationship between hospitalization records and self-reported health status. The VI is based on self-reports of hospital utilization and chronic health conditions. Data were collected over a one-year period from individuals receiving homeless services in a southwestern city (N = 97, 53.3% male, 57.7% African American). Vulnerability Index scores and three subcomponents of the measure (chronic health conditions, substance use, and mental health problems) were regressed on official reports of past-year hospitalizations, controlling for gender and race, using four separate regression models. Official hospitalization records significantly predicted overall VI scores, but they did not predict the subcomponents of the measure. Results show that, within the current sample, official hospital records are predictive of overall VI scores and are correlated with self-reported hospitalization. The lack of relationship between hospital records and subcomponents of the VI may indicate an underutilization of health care for those with serious health conditions.
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