Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Research Articles

Qualitative Multiple Case Study Analysis about Elopement from Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST)

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) is the fastest growing crime globally. Vulnerable adolescents are primary targets of sex traffickers. DMST delays adolescent development following their treatment during and environmental conditions while in The Life. This qualitative study reveals elopement decisions are fraught with barriers to elope and seeking safety. The research uncovered a non-linear process that affects their development, as yet described in the conceptual models: The War MAZE© and Conquering the War MAZE©. These new insights help healthcare providers identify readiness to elope and elopement victory by recognizing the adolescent’s barriers to elopement. The results explain DMST elopement from a developmental perspective by analyzing qualitative data from survivor voices, which supports gender equity and empowerment of women. The findings inform healthcare providers in planning inclusive trauma-informed care approaches and unbiased research designed to safeguard DMST survivors during their recovery processes.

Sleep Disturbances and Hygiene of Adolescent Female Survivors of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking

This cross-sectional quantitative study investigated the sleep hygiene and disturbances of adolescent female survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) compared to an online sample of community-dwelling adolescent females. Community-dwelling adolescent females (aged 13-17 years, n=61) and survivors of DMST housed in residental care (aged 12-17 years, n=19) completed the Children's Report of Sleep Patterns (adolescent version). Descriptive statistics on sleep health in both samples were computed and compared using chi-square and t-tests. Among the survivors of DMST, the majority reported insufficient sleep duration, okay-to-poor sleep quality, waking thirsty, and frequent nightmares. Compared with community-dwelling adolescents, survivors of DMST had more symptoms of insomnia, sleepiness, nightmares, and waking thirsty (p < .05). Sleep disturbances among adolescent female survivors of DMST may be more prevalent than in community-dwelling adolescent females. Further empirical research on appropriate assessment and trauma-informed treatment of sleep in this population is needed.

Clinical Psychosocial Risk Factors for Sex Trafficking Involvement Among Adolescent Girls

PurposeThis study assessed the characteristics that place adolescent girls at greatest risk for sex trafficking involvement. It was hypothesized that girls with a greater history of risk behaviors, unstable home environments, child maltreatment, and increased psychiatric complexity would be more likely to be involved in domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). MethodsRetrospective chart review of two cohorts of adolescent girls, one with known DMST history, and an age-matched cohort without DMST history, was conducted. Patients came from a Child Abuse clinic and primary care clinic within a single large urban children's hospital in the Northeast United States. Multivariate clustering analysis identified two groups of patients within the sample, one sharing “low risk” traits, and one with “high risk” traits. A variable for “psychiatric complexity” and its relationship to DMST risk was assessed. Hypothesis tests of mediation were conducted. Results44 DMST patients and 181 Primary Care patients were included in the final sample, who were then grouped into two clusters based on conceptualized “risk” characteristics. Hypothesis testing supported evidence that patients in the “high risk” group tended toward higher psychiatric complexity (p = .0016) and greater likelihood of DMST involvement (p = .0328). Patients with increased psychiatric complexity also tended towards DMST involvement, regardless of “risk” cluster (p < .0001). DiscussionThis study demonstrates the relationship between social characteristics, psychiatric problems, and DMST involvement. We demonstrated that adolescents with increased psychiatric complexity tend towards greater risk of DMST. These findings demonstrate the important relationship between psychiatric complexity and sexual victimization.

Understanding and Intervening with Survivors of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: An Application of Social Cognition Theory

Understanding and Intervening with Survivors of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: An Application of Social Cognition Theory

The ethics and urgency of identifying domestic minor sex trafficking victims in clinical settings

A critical opportunity for identifying children experiencing domestic minor sex trafficking exists in healthcare settings. This quantitative study documented the disconnect between youth seeking help and interventions offered by healthcare providers. Ninety-one sex youth exploited through sex trafficking answered questions detailing their experiences of seeking medical treatment for injuries associated with selling or trading sex. Healthcare providers who were aware that injuries were sustained due to sex trafficking did not always alert legal or mandated reporting authorities. This analysis identified violations of the four pillars of ethical healthcare. This investigation revealed lost opportunities to intervene on behalf of youth suffering trauma and abuse from sex trafficking highlighting the necessity for a formal protocol in healthcare settings to effectively intervene.

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: Applying a Trauma-Informed Approach in Healthcare Settings.

The original Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386) defined human trafficking as (A) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age; or (B) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. (§ 103[8][A–B]) This legislation established that any minor used in a commercial sex act is a victim of trafficking, regardless of whether their actions were allegedly voluntary (Finklea et al., 2015; Institute of Medicine [IOM] & National Research Council [NRC], 2014). Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is the commercial sexual exploitation of U.S. children and youth. DMST victims experience a range of harmful sequelae, as seen in Table 1 (Ark of Hope, 2019; Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2017; Sapiro et al., 2016; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2014; Shared Hope International, 2020; U.S. Department of Justice, 2020).

Laypersons’ recognition of and attribution of blame in situations involving domestic minor sex trafficking

ABSTRACT Successful identification of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) remains challenging. Laypersons could play a significant role in identifying victims, but only if laypersons recognize trafficking situations as such and do not incorrectly attribute responsibility to victims. In the current study, we examined laypersons’ perceptions of situations highly suggestive of DMST. Participants (N = 320), recruited from an internet-based crowd-sourcing platform, read a vignette describing a highly suspicious situation involving a minor and adult in a hotel room with cash on the minor’s person. Participants answered questions about what they thought was happening and about their general knowledge of trafficking. The vignette systematically varied the age (13, 15, 17 years) and gender (boy, girl) of the victim to include the most common ages and genders of known DMST victims. Overall, just over half (61%) of participants recognized that a crime occurred, more often with younger (70%) than older (55%) minors. Participants tended to place some responsibility on older minors for their situation, as did participants who exhibited lower levels of general knowledge of trafficking. Overall, the results reveal substantial limitations in laypersons’ understanding of DMST, including who is responsible, highlighting the need for targeted educational campaigns to improve that understanding.

Addressing Racism in the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking of Black Girls: The Role of Public Health Critical Race Praxis.

Addressing Racism in the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking of Black Girls: The Role of Public Health Critical Race Praxis.

Do You See Us?

This paper examines the literature on domestic minor sex trafficking. We draw on a critical race feminist lens, with particular attention to intersectionality and assemblage, to review research on conditions that exacerbate and decrease girls’ vulnerability to sex trafficking to emphasize why schools must systematically engage in sex trafficking prevention. We argue that school communities are positioned to address the intersectional and exacerbating conditions that make students, particularly Black girls, more vulnerable to this form of modern-day slavery. Rather than reinforce narratives that often criminalize and devalue survivors, the purpose of this article is to create a dialogue about how schools can be intentional in fighting sex trafficking in their communities. We provide specific recommendations for schools to place girls’ voices at the center of this prevention work and build knowledge within the school faculty to sustain this work, work that is both feminist and anti-racist, to equip students to become competent, confident, and empowered leaders.

Effectiveness of TF‐CBT with sex trafficking victims in a secure post‐adjudication facility

AbstractThis study evaluated the course and degree of treatment effect for trauma‐focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF‐CBT) for decreasing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among adjudicated girls who are victims of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). We also aimed to understand the perceptions of the treatment while recovering from trauma symptoms and the lived experience of DMST victims engaging in TF‐CBT while living in the post‐adjudication facility. Participants were three adolescents who self‐identified as Hispanic. Results of a mixed‐method research design with multiple baselines indicated TF‐CBT was efficacious with two out of three of the girls in reducing PTSD symptoms. Qualitative data yielded five themes depicting the concurrent phases of treatment experience: protest, suppression, brokenness, stability, and breakthrough. All three girls gave voice to their experience participating in treatment and their experience engaging in treatment while living in a secure post‐adjudication juvenile facility. Implications for use of TF‐CBT with victims of DMST are provided.

The Associations Between Gang Membership and Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: Findings From a Nationally Representative Study.

Adolescent gang membership has been proposed as a risk factor that creates individual-level vulnerability for domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) and/or a context in which DMST may occur. This study investigates the gang membership-DMST association using data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a nationally representative sample of adolescents in the United States (n = 12,605). Bivariate results found gang-involved minors had 4.39 greater odds of experiencing DMST compared to non-gang-involved peers. Multivariable results found gang membership, violence victimization, delinquency, and certain demographic characteristics to be significantly associated with DMST. These findings emphasize the need to consider the context in an adolescent's life beyond DMST when designing policies and programs, and highlight the need for additional research into the gang membership-DMST association.

Provider challenges in responding to retrafficking of juvenile justice-involved domestic minor sex trafficking survivors

BackgroundDomestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) survivors are disproportionately involved in the juvenile justice system, but frequently run away and experience retrafficking. However, little research explores how practitioners who work with juvenile justice-involved DMST survivors address such dynamics. ObjectiveThis study examines challenges related to chronic runaway behaviors and related retrafficking of juvenile justice-involved DMST survivors from the perspective of practitioners.Participants and Setting.35 in-depth interviews were conducted with social service and justice system practitioners working with DMST survivors in a Midwestern metropolitan area. MethodsInductive analysis of the transcribed interviews involved a multi-phase, independent co-coding process conducted by three members of the research team, including selective coding, open coding, and taxonomic analysis to identify recurring themes and subthemes. Core themes that focused on challenges experienced by practitioners working with minors who chronically ran away and returned to a trafficking situation were further developed. ResultsPractitioners reported that their ability to provide care to minors returning to trafficking situations was limited because of their informal authority in the juvenile justice system, inaccessibility of residential therapeutic care and drug treatment, and punitive measures directed toward parents seeking assistance from Children's Division. Provider narratives indicated that without effective interventions, minors typically exit a retrafficking situation only after experiencing emotional distress, extreme violence, pregnancy or birth, or contracting an STI. ConclusionsNon-punitive responses to address chronic runaway behaviors and retrafficking of minors in the justice system include: placement with foster families trained in dynamics of sex trafficking, trauma, and runaway behaviors; safety planning including risk assessments and providing resource information about drop in centers and healthcare; revising hotlining procedures for concerned parents; and increasing minors' access to trauma-informed residential care, therapeutic care, and substance use treatment by legislatively expanding healthcare coverage under Safe Harbor laws.

“We Can Work across Agencies to Build a Powerful, Statewide Response”: Considering the Public Health Department’s Response to Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking

ABSTRACT This study explored public health department employees’ perceptions of, and experiences with, identifying and serving victims of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). A sample of 47 health department employees completed a mixed method web-based survey about victim identification, DMST myths, and assets and barriers to serving DMST victims. Less than one-third of participants reported that their organizations had a screening tool to identify victims, and another third were unsure if their organization did or did not. Few participants were confident that they could identify DMST victims. Several barriers to serving DMST victims exist, including issues in identification, resource shortages, and a failure to acknowledge the systemic issues that contribute to the complex nature of DMST. Participants identified strong collaborations with anti-trafficking organizations and state legislation that supported Safe Harbor policies as assets in their anti-trafficking work. The present study supports several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5.2 and SDG 8.7). When public health department employees are educated about domestic minor sex trafficking, have the tools to identify victims, and the resources to serve them, they can more effectively limit further victimization and ultimately work toward preventing minors from being exploited in the first place.

Development of a Multi-Session Curriculum Addressing Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking for High-Risk Male Youth

ABSTRACT Males, in particular adolescents and young adults, have been increasingly recognized as involved in domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). However, there are very sparse resources and organizations that provide prevention, identification, and interventions for boys and young men who are involved in or at-risk for DMST involvement. The objective was to develop and assess an educational curriculum to prevent adolescent male involvement in DMST through a three-pronged educational approach: as victims of sexual exploitation; receiving financial benefit as exploiters; as buyers of sex. Through quality improvement cycles, changes were made to enhance the curriculum by utilizing the outcome measures of participant questionnaires and feedback from a steering committee of clinical experts. Male youth at the state’s juvenile detention center were asked to participate in pilot groups, as they were identified as a high-risk population of adolescents to become involved. The curriculum was modified by adding sessions, including additional community guest speakers, and providing a more holistic educational experience that involves trafficking prevention from both a victimization and perpetration standpoint. Our goal is to expand this educational opportunity to be utilized in multiple settings (e.g., schools, hospitals) across the country.

Adolescent Experiences of Violence Victimizations Among Minors Who Exchange Sex/Experience Minor Sex Trafficking.

This work investigates the associations between experiences of domestic minor sex trafficking and adolescent interpersonal violence victimizations, including intimate partner violence (IPV) and community violence. Abuse and violence in childhood are commonly proposed as risk factors for domestic minor sex trafficking. However, less is known about how interpersonal violence victimizations in adolescence connect to domestic minor sex trafficking experiences. The poly-victimization framework provides a means to understand domestic minor sex trafficking as a type of violence amid a web of additional interconnected violence victimizations. Efforts to better understand the interpersonal violence experienced by survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking are valuable in contextualizing trafficking experiences for adolescents. Data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a population-based sample of adolescents in the United States (n = 12,605) were used to examine experiences of domestic minor sex trafficking for minor respondents, as measured through questions about exchanging sex for money or drugs. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the associations between domestic minor sex trafficking and IPV or community violence, while controlling for demographic variables and adolescent risk behaviors. Minors who experience community violence had significantly greater odds of having exchanged sex (aOR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.32 -2.64). However, IPV was not significantly associated with minors’ experiences of sex exchange (aOR: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.85 -1.54). Alcohol or drug use (aOR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.32 -2.65) and having run away (aOR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.53 -2.72) were also significantly associated with minor sex exchange. As experiences of domestic minor sex trafficking were significantly associated with community violence victimizations, prevention and intervention efforts targeting youth at high risk for or survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking should consider how community violence victimizations impact these adolescent populations, and programming/messaging should be adjusted to account for these additional violence victimizations.

(De)criminalization of Survivors of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: A Social Work Call to Action.

Survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) are failing to be identified and are frequently criminalized. Examining the linkages between DMST and the juvenile legal system is important, as many trafficked youths are only identified after entry into the child welfare or juvenile court system as a result of being arrested or detained on related delinquency charges. Due to legacies of structural violence, marginalized youths are reluctant to approach police officers for help. Therefore, social workers have an opportunity to identify, intervene, and advocate for trafficked youths. In this article, the author provides an overview of existing research related to the demographic profile of DMST, homelessness and survival sex, recruitment and entry, barriers to effective community response, and prevention and intervention strategies. This article represents a call to broaden our view of young people in the sex trade and supports the decriminalization of trafficked youths. Interventions and policies must be designed to fit their complex needs and experiences, resulting in empowerment, opportunity, and new beginnings.

Rigor and Respect: Recruitment Strategies for Engaging Vulnerable Populations in Research.

Engaging vulnerable populations in research is a critical focus for researchers seeking to find ways to improve safety and well-being for broader populations. Vulnerabilities often co-occur, meaning that individuals may experience vulnerabilities in multiple facets of their life (e.g., victim of abuse and mental health diagnoses). Unfortunately, many vulnerable populations remain underinvestigated due to difficulty reaching, engaging, and safely including such populations in research. While most researchers assert the importance of including vulnerable populations in research, few actively and successfully recruit them. Many vulnerable populations are understandably weary of research participation. Victims and survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) are one such vulnerable population, in that identification may incur substantial risk for DMST victim's physical safety and well-being. In addition, DMST victims and survivors often experience co-occurring vulnerabilities including substance use, histories of abuse, delinquency, and poor mental health. Accordingly, they are notoriously difficult to recruit for research participation. The current paper uses a detailed case example to describe the recruitment and retention strategies used by one researcher to promote DMST survivor research participation. A candid account of challenges, successes, and lessons learned is offered in service of building methodological techniques for recruitment that both honor participant experiences while championing methodological rigor. Findings detail the importance of trust and a trauma-informed approach to qualitative data collection and analysis. Authors include specific strategies to promote comfort and candor amid traumatic response in ways that may empower research participants. A detailed discussion of how such strategies may be adapted for vulnerable populations beyond DMST victims and survivors is provided.

33392 Investigating the relationship between placement instability, mental health, behavioral and justice-related outcomes among sex-trafficked youth

ABSTRACT IMPACT: This public health work contributes to the development and implementation of best practices for working with sex trafficked youth who experience placement instability and justice involvement. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Youth removed from their home into foster care or a group home (i.e., placement instability) are vulnerable to sex trafficking. This study examines whether placement instability predicts mental health, behavioral and justice-related outcomes among sex-trafficked girls. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Placement instability occurs when children are temporarily or permanently removed from their home and placed in foster care or a group home. Domestic minor sex trafficking is exploitation and abuse of children for commercial sexual purposes in exchange for money or other goods/services. We hypothesize that sex trafficked girls who experience placement instability will report more mental health challenges, substance use, abuse history and justice involvement than those without placement instability. Data came from participant files in a specialty court program from 2012-2014 (N=184). Multiple sources contribute to the information contained court files; all data extracted by the research team come solely from the court files. Descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: All participants were (cis)female, 74% were African American, 96% US citizens, with average age of 16 years. Three-quarters of participants had a documented mental health challenge, such as depression and 88% reported substance use. Eighty-one percent of participants had been in a placement, with a group average of 4.5 placements. Girls with placement instability reported more mental health challenges (p&lt;.001), substance use (p&lt;.001), abuse (p&lt;.001), running away (p&lt;.001) and bench warrants (p&lt;.001) than girls without placement instability. Logistic regression estimated housing instability was positively associated with mental health challenge, substance use, running away, number of bench warrants, and number of citations. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Among girls who have been trafficked, placement instability places them at greater risk for personal and behavioral challenges, including increased justice involvement. Comprehensive trauma-informed services should be provided to the family to help mitigate issues in the home.

An Analysis of College Students’ Perceptions on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is modern-day slavery of children and the commercial sexual abuse of children through buying, selling, or trading their sexual services. DMST is a form of child abuse. The victim can be any person of nationality, age, socioeconomic status, or gender. In America, throughout college campuses, a lot of students are not informed of domestic minor sex trafficking. When thinking about domestic minor sex trafficking, most people do not think that this crime happens in our country, better yet our state of Arkansas.&#x0D; The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of college students attending the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on domestic minor sex trafficking in our country and in our state of Arkansas (a crime that is growing aggressively in the United States).&#x0D; Fifty participants who were students attending the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff participated in the study. Participants consisted of male and female students between the ages of 18 to 25 (N = 30 Females; N = 20 Males). Survey data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel software. Participants responded to ten yes or no descriptive questions about domestic minor sex trafficking (e.g., Questions like: have you heard about domestic minor sex trafficking; and do you think child sex trafficking is an organized crime).&#x0D; The data yielded both quantitative and qualitative results. Results showed that female students were more knowledgeable and were more aware of DMST than males. Implications for interventions will be discussed. Further research also is suggested.

Recognizing the Risk Factors, Signs, and Symptoms of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in Mental Health Clinical Practice.

The purpose of the current article is to educate psychiatric providers on domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). Psychiatric providers (e.g., psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, physician assistants, therapists, case managers) interact with victims of sex trafficking but may fail to recognize the signs of victimization and the risk factors associated with becoming a victim of DMST. This educational article offers an overview of the definitions of sex trafficking, and the risk factors, prevalence, and health consequences of DMST. It also summarizes what is known about how those at-risk for DMST and DMST victims interact with the mental health care system. Mental health professionals provide a crucial point of contact with these populations and must strive to prevent, identify, and respond to DMST and at-risk youths. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(11), 21-28.].