The Faculty of Community Services at Toronto Metropolitan University is launching a new, intensive leadership education program in Child Sex Trafficking and Online Child Sexual Exploitation (CST and OCSE) — the first and only of its kind.
Human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry worldwide, second only to the illegal drug trade. CST and OCSE are rapidly growing and evolving threats to the safety and wellbeing of children — with serious implications.
If you occupy a strategic role in healthcare, education, social services, law enforcement or the legal profession, this leadership education program will equip you to expand your organization’s capacity to respond to the risks, harms and complex needs of victims and survivors in meaningful and effective ways.
By bringing together the experience, knowledge and expertise of survivors, leading researchers and community partners, the program will prepare you to build proactive strategies that address CST and OCSE across organizations, sectors and borders.
Cross-sectoral
Survivor-informed
Interprofessional
At a Glance
16 weeks
January to April 2025
Weekly online sessions + monthly hybrid workshops
Registration Fee
$5,000 (CAD) + HST
Community Partners
Includes experts from the RCMP, SickKids, Toronto Police Services and more
While people at any organizational level might interface with issues of child sex trafficking or online child sexual exploitation, this program is specifically designed for professionals in leadership positions.
You’re a leader in a sector that interfaces with child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation:
- child protection
- education
- healthcare
- hospitality
- human services
- legal
- law enforcement
- journalism
- digital technology
- religion/faith
You’re a leader in your organization, and you:
- formulate policies, responses and guidelines
- direct/develop programs to inform, educate and train staff
- oversee those who handle incidents or interact with victims and/or survivors
You’re a healthcare professional who desires optimized understanding and practice in order to intervene/advocate for clients
National and International Participants are Welcome
Child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation are global crimes that cross borders and require international awareness and collaboration.
Local, national and international participants are welcome. Hybrid arrangements are available for those outside Toronto.
The knowledge you’ll gain is comprehensive and advanced — and it’s designed for action.
Expect these key outcomes:
- Gain a transdisciplinary and multi-level (local, national, international) understanding of child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation (CST and OCSE).
- Be equipped to translate strategies into policy and practice standards in the context of your own professional situation and organization.
- Use lived experiences and survivor-informed approaches to help inform organizational strategies and responses.
- Understand how the most impacted communities (Black, Indigenous, racialized and disability) interface with CST and OCSE.
- Become aware of professional activities related to CST and OCSE — and how coordinated collaboration can help fight these crimes.
- Use jurisdictional and professional nuances to create multidisciplinary/interprofessional approaches to strategy and program development.
The 16-week, intensive program combines online, in-person and hybrid delivery. It relies heavily on interactive, problem-based learning.
16 weekly sessions (online)
- Online sessions are two hours in length
- Sessions include presentations, guest speakers, discussions, videos, group work, real-world case studies, survivor experiences
- Each week, facilitators will present background and perspectives on a specific theme/situation, and you’ll work in groups to tackle a specific problem
4 monthly workshops (hybrid)
- Hybrid attendance available for national/international participants
- Topics include adaptive leadership, collaborative leadership, risk analysis and leadership, and leading and managing change
- Explore the interdisciplinary, national and global context of CST and OCSE; interprofessional/cross-sectoral roles and responsibilities; strategic planning and program development; and leadership in the digital revolution
Contact
Jennifer Martin, Associate Dean, Scholarly, Research and Creative Activity, Faculty of Community Services