Summer 2020Newsletter
Research Highlights
The quarterly HT-RADAR newsletter content has shifted and will now supply quarterly research briefs that are timely, dependable and of high-quality related to the past, present and future trends and opportunities in the field of human trafficking academic research.
Please refer to the HT-RADAR Monthly Updates for information about what is occurring in the anti-trafficking community, webinars, conferences, and funding opportunities.
Mental Health Service Needs of Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth: Voices of Survivors and Stakeholders
Youth who experience commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) have complex mental health needs. This study describes what CSE survivors and stakeholders who work with them desire in mental health services. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 CSE survivors 16-20 years old, and 15 community experts on CSE (n = 25). Thematic analyses indicated CSE survivors value mental health services including individual therapy and coping skills, and they wanted providers who are nonjudgmental, and exhibit some level of understanding of CSE. Community stakeholders described skills important for CSE survivors to gain from mental health services including recognition of patterns of victimization, self-worth, and emotion regulation. Both stakeholders and CSE youth desired services that give survivors some control over their treatment and recovery utilizing a trauma-informed approach.
Experiences of Racism and Racial Tensions Among African American Women Impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Practice: A Qualitative Study
Barriers faced by Black women when navigating commercial sexual exploitation (CSE)-related services remain understudied. This qualitative study explores (a) Black women’s experiences of racism when accessing services in CSE-related organizations and (b) the existence and manifestation of racial tensions in practice. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 adult women who traded sex as adults and 20 CSE-related service providers. Findings suggest that Black women perceive preferential treatment given to White women. Racial tensions between women accessing programs were identified, as well as a promising practice of intergroup dialogue groups addressing racism, privilege, and oppression. Implications are discussed.
https://journals.sagepub.com/
Gerassi, L. B., Colegrove, A., & McPherson, D. K. (2019). Addressing race, racism, and commercial sexual exploitation in practice through an action-based research partnership. Action research, 17(2), 220-236.
Cultural Oppression and Human Trafficking: Exploring the Role of Racism and Ethnic Bias
Human trafficking is maintained within a context of intersecting forms of oppression. Cultural oppression, including racism and ethnic bias, creates additional risk for human trafficking and generates unique challenges for prevention and intervention. There are, however, cultural strengths that survivors of human trafficking have that may be utilized to aid their recovery process as well as psychotherapeutic interventions. In addition to traditionally recognized legal and economic strategies, ending human trafficking requires engagement in interrupting the factors that increase vulnerability to human trafficking, including racism and ethnic bias. By combating oppression, abolitionists can work to create a society that is committed to ending slavery. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)
https://psycnet.apa.org/
Bryant-Davis, T., & Tummala-Narra, P. (2018). Cultural oppression and human trafficking: Exploring the role of racism and ethnic bias. In N. M. Sidun & D. L. Hume (Eds.), A feminist perspective on human trafficking of women and girls: Characteristics, commonalities and complexities (p. 146–163). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Training Residents on Understanding Trafficked Humans (TRUTH)
Trafficked persons frequently seek healthcare, but many go unrecognized. Most residency programs provide little to no education on the topic. In this pilot study, our objective was to demonstrate that human trafficking education improves residents’ knowledge, confidence, and attitudes concerning care of trafficked persons. Residents took part in a 1-hour didactic training on human trafficking. Knowledge, attitudes, and confidence were assessed in a paired pre- and post-survey with multiple-choice questions to evaluate knowledge and Likert scale questions to determine self-reported attitudes and confidence. One-hundred-four resident physicians from eight programs completed the study. Following the intervention, mean knowledge scores increased from 1.50 out of 5 correct to 4.63 out of 5 correct (p < .01). Each tested attitude and skill variable also increased significantly between pre- and post- intervention scores (p < .05). Following the intervention, 96–98% of participants answered ‘agree’ with 4 of the 5 attitude questions (p < .05). Further, 72–88% of respondents answered favorably to questions on confidence (p < .05). Physicians receiving education on the identification of trafficked persons, trauma-informed care, and community resource management report increased knowledge of potential trafficking indicators and increased confidence in identifying and providing care to trafficked persons. Improving the ability of healthcare professionals to identify trafficked persons, provide them with appropriate healthcare, and refer them to appropriate community resources in a trauma-informed manner contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
https://www.tandfonline.com/
Vincent Lo , Duane Bland , Xylona Bibal , Bahman Chavoshan , Willard Chung , Pamela M. Davis , Gregory R. Lewis , Terrie Mendelson , Heidi Millard , Benjamin Oldach , La Donna R. Porter , John Paik-Tesch , V. Jordan Greenbaum & Ronald Chambers (2020): Training Residents on Understanding Trafficked Humans (TRUTH), Journal of Human Trafficking, DOI: 10.1080/23322705.2020.1794746
Multidisciplinary Human Trafficking Education: Inpatient and Outpatient Healthcare Settings
B. M. Nordstrom
ABSTRACT
Background: While it is common for trafficked persons (TPs) to access healthcare, few health professionals have had training and lack confidence in their ability to respond effectively. Additionally, healthcare does not have evidenced-based education or policy for responding to TP. This study evaluated knowledge and confidence in responding to TPs among multidisciplinary participants from outpatient and inpatient settings. Methods: A revised version of the Provider, Responses, Treatment, and Care for Trafficked People (PROTECT) instrument was used. An additional question was added to record previous contact with trafficked persons. The first phase of data collection (n = 237) occurred pre and post education. The second phase of data collection (n = 106) was completed three months after implementation of a response policy and procedure. Results: Phase one results are statistically significant with a sharp increase in the number of participants who reported caring for a TP. Knowledge and confidence levels were also significantly impacted. The second phase did not show a significant change in confidence. However, six knowledge questions related to identifying potential cases of HT were significantly different, showing a decrease in knowledge over time. Discussion: This study documents the benefits of education based on Health, Education, Advocacy, Linkage (HEAL) Trafficking’s recommendations. Follow-up survey shows that without ongoing education or awareness activity, key knowledge areas decline. Therefore, while policy and awareness education are important, health professionals need ongoing education as well as incentive to utilize the response policy and procedure.
https://www.tandfonline.com/
B. M. Nordstrom (2020) Multidisciplinary Human Trafficking Education: Inpatient and Outpatient Healthcare Settings, Journal of Human Trafficking, DOI: 10.1080/23322705.2020.1775049