2005 MCHB Conference Webcasts - Conference on Sexual Exploitation of Teens

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services held a national conference on issues related to protecting teens from sexual exploitation by older partners. The conference took place on March 23-24, 2005 in Alexandria, VA.

Protecting teens from sexual exploitation by older partners is an issue of great importance to the Department for many reasons. Teens in sexually exploitive relationships are at risk for negative outcomes including unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, violence and social and behavioral difficulties in school and the community. Furthermore, their older partners are in danger of violating state laws with potentially serious legal consequences.

The goals for the conference included:

Providing a forum in which government officials, national youth-focused organizations and service providers can engage in multi-disciplinary, multi-perspective discussions about protecting teens from exploitive relationships with older partners;
Gaining a better understanding from existing research about exploitive relationships between teens and their older sexual partners and to explore data and research gaps that, when improved, can lead to better prevention and protective interventions;
Discussing current programs and laws designed to protect teens, including reporting sexual assault and sexual exploitation of teens and management of these cases; and
Building collaboration and communication among law enforcement, health, education and social services providers relating to helping teens resist and reject exploitive relationships.


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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services held a national conference on issues related to protecting teens from sexual exploitation by older partners. The conference took place on March 23-24, 2005 in Alexandria, VA. Protecting teens from sexual exploitation by older partners is an issue of great importance to the Department for many reasons. Teens in sexually exploitive relationships are at risk for negative outcomes including unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, violence and social and behavioral difficulties in school and the community. Furthermore, their older partners are in danger of violating state laws with potentially serious legal consequences. The goals for the conference included: Providing a forum in which government officials, national youth-focused organizations and service providers can engage in multi-disciplinary, multi-perspective discussions about protecting teens from exploitive relationships with older partners; Gaining a better understanding from existing research about exploitive relationships between teens and their older sexual partners and to explore data and research gaps that, when improved, can lead to better prevention and protective interventions; Discussing current programs and laws designed to protect teens, including reporting sexual assault and sexual exploitation of teens and management of these cases; and Building collaboration and communication among law enforcement, health, education and social services providers relating to helping teens resist and reject exploitive relationships.
This web site was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau through contract number 240-02-0003. Conference recording and Internet development provided by The Center for the Advancement of Distance Education.