AI-Enhanced Rural CSEC Training for Healthcare Providers to Identify and Report Exploitation
Official title: CSEC Rural: An AI Enhanced Skills Training for Healthcare Providers for Identification and Reporting of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth in Rural Areas
Funded at Dfusion, INC. · NIH-11409004 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A short, patient-friendly description of an AI-powered training tool to help rural healthcare providers spot and report commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dfusion, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scotts Valley, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $708,588 |
| NIH project number | 1R44HD122568-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11409004 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Providers and staff working with children and youth in rural communities who may encounter CSEC.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefits are unlikely for patients not involved in rural healthcare settings or not at risk of CSEC exposure.
What this research studies
This project develops an AI-augmented training program for clinicians and other frontline workers in rural areas to recognize signs of CSEC and improve reporting. It will provide practical, scenario-based guidance and data collection methods tailored to rural settings, where cases may look different from urban environments. The goal is to empower providers to identify at-risk youths, ask the right questions, and connect families with help while ensuring patient safety and privacy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the training could help rural healthcare teams detect CSEC earlier and connect victims with support services.
How similar studies have gone: Previous urban-focused CSEC training programs have shown improvements in recognition and reporting; adapting to rural contexts is novel and promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Dfusion, INC.
Scotts Valley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuhn, Tamara J. — Dfusion, INC.
- Study coordinator: Kuhn, Tamara J.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.