Submit a Manuscript to the Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse

For a Special Issue on
The Intersection of Child Sexual Abuse and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)

Goals and Content:

Children who have been sexually abused are at increased risk for other forms of sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking.  Some of the reasons include lack of protection from caretakers; fear of asking for help; lack of trust of adults; fear that no one will believe them; shame; self-blame; confusion; and, for older children, the attempt to escape one form of victimization (sexual abuse) leading them into unsafe conditions that increase their vulnerability and risk. In addition, child victims of sexual abuse may be removed from their homes and placed into foster care, which may increase their risk of further sexual exploitation.  This special issue aims to provide a compilation of research documenting the risks, incidence, dynamics, and outcomes of dual victimization of children from child sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation to better inform the provider. This knowledge aims to bring awareness and knowledge to expand/revise screening tools, observational and interviewing skills, and treatment protocols.  Prevention programs may also need to be redesigned to include information about both types of victimization rather than compartmentalizing into separate components.  The Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (JCSA) announces a call for abstracts describing proposed papers on the following topics or related issues.

Suggested Topics include but are not limited to:

• Familial perpetration of child sexual abuse and sex trafficking
• Increased risk of sex trafficking victimization for child sexual abuse victims in foster care
• The role of law enforcement in detecting dual victimization from child sexual abuse and sex trafficking
• The role of child advocacy centers in detecting dual victimization from child sexual abuse and sex trafficking
• The role of mental and physical healthcare providers in detecting dual victimization from child sexual abuse and sex trafficking
• Treatment challenges for clients who are victims of child sexual abuse and sex trafficking
• Outcomes for children who are victims of child sexual abuse and sex trafficking
• The importance of implementing trauma-informed responses to victims of child sexual abuse and sex trafficking
• Legal issues for victims of child sexual abuse and sex trafficking

Proposed Target Audiences:

Researchers, Mental health practitioners, Healthcare providers, Advocates, Child protective services investigators and social workers, other child services providers (including prevention) -- public agencies and NGOs, Law enforcement and legal professionals, Educators (Administrators and Teachers), Local, State and National anti-trafficking Commissions, Task Forces, Offices, etc.

Submission Instructions:

Abstracts for consideration should be submitted by March 1st, 2023, [email protected] to: Journal Submission Committee. Please cc: [email protected] on all correspondence. Submission of an abstract represents a commitment to prepare a paper if accepted. Abstracts should be no more than 500 words and describe which of the topics above is being addressed and the basic ideas of the proposed paper.

Abstracts and final papers should follow instructions for authors on the journal homepage, including APA 7^th Edition formatting. Manuscripts approved for inclusion should be submitted directly to the journal.

Abstracts should be submitted via [email protected] to:

Abstracts (500 words) due- March 1st, 2023

Review of proposals and notification of acceptances – April 1st, 2023

Submissions of accepted articles – May 15, 2023

Requirements Abstracts and final papers should include the following:

• Abstract or detailed summary (i.e., 500-700 words) sent to [email protected] with contact information and affiliation for all authors.
• Two copies of the Abstract, including: one copy with Author information and contacts and one without Author details (anonymous).
• A statement that the work will be an Original Article (not published elsewhere, not submitted concurrently)
• Manuscript Type - review of research, research-based, practice-based, policy-based prevention-based, or ideas and innovations based on experience gained in the field
• APA 7th Ed. Format including Times New Roman 12-point font, double spaced, references with in-text citations. The abstract should describe an estimate of the final paper’s length.  Final papers should be from 10 to no more than 35 pages (double-spaced), including tables/figures/references/abstract, and should include keywords.
• Cover Letter - stating this is original work, not submitted to other journals while under review. If research, state they have IRB approval (noting which IRB approved)

Abstracts for consideration should be submitted by March 1st, 2023, [email protected] to: Journal Submission Committee. Please cc: [email protected] on all correspondence. Submission of an abstract represents a commitment to prepare a paper if accepted.

Abstracts and final papers should follow instructions for authors on the journal homepage, including APA 7^th Edition formatting. Manuscripts approved for inclusion should be submitted directly to the journal.

Abstracts should be submitted via [email protected] to:

Abstracts (500 words) due- March 1st, 2023

Review of proposals and notification of acceptances – April 1st, 2023

Submissions of accepted articles – May 15, 2023

Requirements Abstracts and final papers should include the following:

• Abstract or detailed summary (i.e., 500-700 words) sent to [email protected] with contact information and affiliation for all authors.
• Two copies of the Abstract, including: one copy with Author information and contacts and one without Author details (anonymous).
• A statement that the work will be an Original Article (not published elsewhere, not submitted concurrently)
• Manuscript Type - review of research, research-based, practice-based, policy-based prevention-based, or ideas and innovations based on experience gained in the field
• APA 7th Ed. Format including Times New Roman 12-point font, double spaced, references with in-text citations. The abstract should describe an estimate of the final paper’s length.  Final papers should be from 10 to no more than 35 pages (double-spaced), including tables/figures/references/abstract, and should include keywords.
• Cover Letter - stating this is original work, not submitted to other journals while under review. If research, state they have IRB approval (noting which IRB approved)

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article