Young People and Sexual Exploitation
Hard to Reach and Hard to Hear

Explores the difficulties that arise in working with sexually exploited young people. This book challenges the uncritical acceptance of the child as victim, and suggests 'therapeutic outreach' as an approach to working with sexually exploited young people. It is intended for practitioners working with sexually exploited young people.

Jennifer Pearce draws on young people's voices and experiences to explore the difficulties that arise for researchers and for practitioners in working with sexually exploited young people. Presenting innovative ways of developing theory, policy, research and practice, she introduces child-centred theories of risk, agency, resilience and vulnerability. Challenging the uncritical acceptance of the child as victim, this book suggests 'therapeutic outreach' as an approach to working with sexually exploited young people, that can compliment child protection procedures, support practitioners in the field and enhance the young person's sense of autonomy and responsibility during their transition to adulthood. This book will be essential reading for social policy and social work students and academics with an interest in child and family work, child protection or youth work. It will also be of great use to practitioners working with sexually exploited young people.

Introduction
Part 1. Sexual exploitation: theoretical frameworks
1. Sexual exploitation: Child prostitution or child protection?
2. Current policy and practice: Achievements and limitations
3. The trafficking of children and young people: Implications for work with sexually exploited children and young people
4. Adolescents in violent partnerships (AVP): Child abuse and domestic violence?
Part 2. Interventions: practice issues in work with sexually exploited young people
5. Risk and resilience
6. Doing research in the field of sexual exploitation Chapter Seven: Young people\'s participation Chapter Eight: Therapeutic outreach
7. Young people\'s participation
8. Therapeutic outreach