The STOPLight

Reaching Out to Prostitutes

Reaching Out to Prostitutes
by Jean Flores, Copyright 1986
SBN 0-945227-00-0
Brasica Publishing, P.O. Box 761,
Rockford, Illinois 61105

Jean Flores is the founder of Magdalene Ministries, a search-out/reach-out program for street prostitutes. In response to requests from around the country after appearing on the Phil Donahue Show, she wrote this book to assist others in starting an outreach program.

The soft-bound manual is laid out and organized to be a workbook with space for notes on each page. There are questions the reader can address when customizing a program for their specific city or area. While acknowledging that both boys and girls are involved in prostitution, Flores uses feminine pronouns throughout because the majority of people she has worked with have been female.

The focus of chapter one is education about how people get into prostitution, why they remain, and who the victims are. It then summarizes to provide a background or foundation of information on which to build an outreach program.

Chapter two describes in depth how to reach out to and assist those who want to get out of prostitution. Details about support and services to help survivors rebuild their lives are provided. These include building self-esteem, removing negative labels, fostering a positive self-image, assisting with personal grooming, and encouraging new friendships.

Also addressed in chapter two are tips for parent support group facilitators. These include helping families be

aware of possible signs that may indicate their child’s involvement in prostitution. It lists signs that may indicate to an outreach worker that the person they are talking to may be actively involved in some form of prostitution.

Details about how to set up and operate an outreach program are outlined in chapter three. It begins by asking the question, "what is your motivation for starting this program?" After defining a vision statement, the next step is to consider the personal consequences that may result from being involved on the street. Legal structure, funding, record keeping, public relations, networking with other agencies, staffing and training are all included.

Chapter four provides specific instruction for workers on the streets. It offers guidelines for street worker self-evaluation, safety and listening to hear both what is said and what is left unsaid.

An appendix has suggested forms a program director may find useful in record keeping, hiring and planning. The glossary defines terms one may hear on the street.

Reaching Out to Prostitutes provides a rudimentary outline of some aspects of setting up and running an outreach program. It would be most useful as a supplemental resource rather than a primary plan. In depth understanding of prostitution and youth on the streets is not included and would be an essential prerequisite for anyone considering starting an outreach program.

by Joan Hendrickson, editor