HEAL Hour: Understanding the Health and Healthcare Experiences of Survivors of Child Sexual Exploitation

Presenter: Dr. Amy Farrell and Amelia Wagner (Northeastern University)

In Dialogue With: Nani Cuadrado, MSPAS, PA-C, HEAL Trafficking Director of Education
Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 PM ET (90 minutes)
Where: Virtual (via Zoom)
Cost: Free and open to all

This 90-minute session bridges research and practice by examining the health and healthcare experiences of survivors of child sexual exploitation (CSEC). Dr. Farrell will share findings from her recent research, followed by a dialogue with Nani to draw out practical strategies for healthcare providers. Together, they’ll explore:

• The physical and mental health impacts of CSEC.

• How survivors access healthcare services and the barriers they face.

• Trauma-informed approaches providers can implement to build trust, safety, and better outcomes in clinical and community settings.

About our guests: Dr. Amy Farrell is a Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northeastern University and Co-Director of the Violence and Justice Research Lab. She is nationally recognized for her research on how the criminal justice system identifies, investigates, and prosecutes human trafficking cases, and has testified before the U.S. Congress on these issues.

Amelia Wagner is a fourth-year Ph.D. Candidate in Criminology and Justice Policy at Northeastern University. Her research focuses on understanding health disparities in underserved populations and among victimized youth, as well as examining barriers to treating vulnerable and marginalized groups both in the United States and abroad. Her dissertation examines healthcare access and experiences of discrimination among LGBTQIA+ youth who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation, to inform policy and practice to improve equitable access to trauma-informed care.