Evaluating the Effectiveness of Survivor-Led Mentorship Programming for Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Victims

• In Event: Evaluation Strategies for Programs that Identify and Serve Victims of Human Trafficking

Abstract

Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is an increasingly urgent problem for criminal
justice systems in the United States. Despite the staggering individual and societal consequences
of DMST, evidence-based prevention and intervention programs are profoundly lacking. Of the limited number of DMST service programs, few have been evaluated, and fewer still
have been subjected to outcome evaluations (instead of process evaluations). Utilizing preliminary data from a longitudinal evaluation of a theory-based, evidence-informed DMST program, My Life My Choice (MLMC) we examine whether the programs have a positive impact, identify which elements of the programs are most essential to youth, qualitatively explore the needs of DMST youth who are exiting exploitation, and evaluate the cost effectiveness of programming. Special attention is devoted to the ethical and methodological challenges of conducting research with domestic minor sex trafficking victims.

Authors

• Jennifer Paruk, Boston University School of Public Health

• Katie Bright, Northeastern University

• Emily F. Rothman, Boston University

• Amy Farrell, Northeastern University