This study focuses on organizations that address the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) and the likelihood of placing an emphasis on CSEC as important in relation to the organizations’ perceived influences on caseloads and the consistencies/inconsistencies with literature in this area. Statistical modeling using logistic regression, comparisons with the literature, and changeable/non-changeable influences on CSEC based on a small wins orientation are used to explore this area. The theoretical and conceptual framework is drawn from the CSEC research and the organizational priority setting literature. To study organizations, data from Estes and Weiner’s (2003) investigation into CSEC are analyzed, as it draws attention to not only the victims of sexual exploitation but also to the organizations themselves and how they perceive their CSEC caseload. While half of the organizations included in this analysis provide training on CSEC, very few possess a working definition of or manual on handling CSEC cases. The significance of providing training is maintained throughout all analyses, though a pattern cannot be established along theoretical lines with regards to reporting certain variables as influencing the number of CSEC cases the organization receives and the likelihood of reporting an emphasis on CSEC. An alternative explanation that focuses on a different aspect of organizational priority setting is proposed that may account for these findings.
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