How U Survive This Life Everyday

Matthew Taylor – Program Manager

Research – Under The Radar

Background:

Under the Radar researcher Dr. Sue McIntyre explored realities associated with the sexual exploitation of young men in Western Canada www.hindsightgroup.com

Total 157 young men interviewed in Western Canada

Under the Radar

Key discoveries:•Males enter younger and stay longer•Construct identities in order to achieve performance•Comparable history of sexual/physical abuse as women•Live under the radar of service providers

Highlights of Recommendations:

•Public acknowledgement of MSW/SE in Canada

•Outreach/support programs specific to MSW

•Promote harm reduction services

•MSW community consultations – have a voice

•Safe affordable and supportive housing options

It’s not what you think: Sexually exploited youth in British Columbia

Saewyc EM, MacKay LJ, Anderson J, and Drozda C. (2008)

University of British Columbia School of Nursing

1,845 youth who participated youth health surveys conducted by McCreary Centre Society in cities across British Columbia 2000-2006

Key Findings

• SEY may not recognize they are being exploited, or that it is a form of abuse

• Males just as likely to be sexually exploited as females

• LGTBQ youth more likely to have been sexually exploited than heterosexual peers

• More than 1 in 3 youth were exploited in exchange for shelter, up to 1 in 4 for transportation, and up to 1 in 5 for food or clothing

• Majority of sexually exploited youth hopeful for the future

Program History• Supported by ‘Under The Radar’ recommendations

• Co-founded spring 2007 by two experiential men

• Implemented by experiential individuals and their allies

• Only MSW program in B.C – 1 of 2 in Canada (REZO)

• Program of PEERS Vancouver 2007-2011

• Newest program of HIM – Health Initiative for Men 2012

Mission/Mandate

Outreach and support for male sex workers

OMSM/LGBTQ community

Street involved Youth who may be at-risk of exploitation

Our Funders

Currently funded by:

City of Vancouver

Vancouver Foundation

Vancouver Coastal Health

Key Partnerships

Sex worker supports

Youth services

Social services

Health Authorities

Enforcement agencies

Government Ministries

Outreach

• Meet clients where they’re at

• Harm Reduction

• Consistent/Non-judgmental support

• Community referrals i.e. housing, mental health, addiction

• Create a sense of community/improve health and safety

Program Description:

Support Work/Counselling

•Build relationships that foster trust and respect

•1:1 counseling

•Crisis intervention

•Resource and referral hub

•Life skills

•Goal setting/case management

Drop-in and Support Groups•Boys’R’Us program (VCH) outreach/support component

•Directions Dusk til Dawn Youth drop-in (FSGV) houses satellite street outreach component

•HUSTLE ‘N’ FLOW monthly health and wellness workshops

Accountability

Evaluation:

• maintaining accountability by directly involves participant voices and experiences in the ongoing development of the program

• increase our working knowledge men in the sex industry as well as street involved youth

• Add to existing knowledge in this area

http://hustlemotm.blogspot.com/

Community Allies

• Diverse representation of community stakeholders who share knowledge and experience related to the sex industry and populations that HUSTLE engages

• insight and expertise a valuable asset in helping to guide HUSTLE as we move forward in community and at HIM

According to the UK Network of Sex Work Projects, “The World Wide Web (www), chat rooms, social networking sites

and portals are the latest and most rapidly expanding medium through which sex is sold globally.” NSWP

Rationale:

•Most recent HUSTLE evaluation (2010) - 71% of our sample disclosed an active online presence relating to sex work (adult) and exchange of sexual services (youth)

•Visible decrease in presence of street-based sex work on male strolls/tracks

‘Netreach’

‘Netreach’

•Adult Sex Work - marked increases in the number of individuals involved in the sex industry who are members of virtual communities where they develop a presence through profiling, chat rooms and SNS in order to attract customers and sell sex

•Youth and Sexual Exploitation - online experimentation with identity, peer relations, risk taking and the creation of a virtual community where they feel safe, secure and supported by their peers but also may be vulnerable to predators and online exploitation

Communities

•LGBTQ – Many youth at-risk and adults who identify LGBTQ often engage in the exchange of sexual services in order to get their needs met

•MSW - Male sex workers who work independently in off-street venues i.e. bath houses, massage parlours or private residences

•MSM - Same-sex relationships between men where there are differences with respect to age, socio-economic status and stability

 Many of these exchanges and/or relationships begin online

Goals

Short-term

•Initiate relationships with MSW/MSM/Youth at-risk

•Reduce isolation by building relationships with other youth and MSW/MSM

•To increase public awareness of HUSTLE @ HIM

•Referrals and partnerships

•Health promotion

Goals

Long-term

Professional development training Statistical data/information gatheringinternet outreach policy/procedureExplore levels of MSW/MSM violence/youth sexual exploitation Highlight best practices and develop an internet outreach training guide

Long-term

•Professional development training

•Statistical data/information gathering

•internet outreach policy/procedure

•Explore levels of MSW/MSM violence/youth sexual exploitation

•Highlight best practices and develop an internet outreach training guide

Next steps:

HUSTLE is the newest program of HIM - Health Initiative for Men www.checkhimout.ca a gay men’s community based health organization dedicated to strengthening the health and well-being of gay men and other men who have sex with men (OMSM).  HIM’s approach includes physical, sexual, social and mental health programming, research and support. Through HIM, HUSTLE will continue to deliver a program relevant to male sex workers and youth and is excited about opportunities to develop new ways of engaging with other populations of OMSM, youth and individuals in our communities.

 

Think Again