Making an ImPACT

Evaluation of the Not a Number Program to Prevent Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Youth in Minnesota

The Project

Researchers from the University of New Hampshire, University of Minnesota, and the University of Texas, Arlington have received funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to evaluate the Not a Number trafficking prevention program. The goal of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of this program in preventing commercial sexual exploitation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Not a Number Curriculum?

What is this study?

What is required of participating sites?

What are we offering agencies who partner with us?

How are we collecting data from youth?

Not a Number is an interactive child trafficking and exploitation prevention curriculum by Love146 that is designed provide youth with information and skills to help keep them safe. Youth learn to identify and utilize healthy support systems. The curriculum includes 5 modules:

An Introduction to Human Trafficking and Exploitation
Society and Culture
Red Flags and Relationships
Vulnerability and Resilience
Reducing Risky Behavior and Getting Help

The study is a quasi-experimental design where we will be measuring changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to trafficking risk and comparing differences for youth who participate in the NAN program and those who do not.

Data collection is currently in process, and we are looking for sites that are interested in implementing the NAN program and helping us invite youth to participate in the study.

The study plan was developed using a community-based participatory research approach with input from:

Youth, agencies, families, and individuals with lived experience in MN
Our MN-based Research Advisory Board

Help inviting 10+ youth into the study, ages 12-18, who regularly attend your program

Physical space (location) to host the Not a Number sessions

Youth who can participate in a survey in an ongoing capacity, via cell phone or frequently used email address

The study will provide a Not a Number facilitator to the site for the study.
A stipend of $1200 for each site involved in the study as a thank you for your help with the study.
An opportunity for up to two staff members to become certified NAN facilitators if they wish during the study timeframe.

Youth 12-18 can be enrolled in the study if they have signed parental consent and they are interested in participating.
Youth will be provided with a link to an online survey that they can take by phone or at a computer (through an email link)
Four surveys will be offered to youth who have enrolled in the study: A baseline survey and 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up surveys.
Youth participants will be offered a $20 gift card each time they complete a survey.
Youth participation in any of the surveys is completely voluntary and multiple protections are in place to protect youth privacy.