Poster #164 - Promising Findings of the “Ending the Game” Trauma-Informed Curriculum for Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

• In Event: 3-003 - Poster Session 09
  In Poster Session: PS 09 Section - Prevention and Interventions

Integrative Statement

Commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) often involves violence, degradation, manipulation and sexual, physical, and emotional victimization. The resulting trauma is complex and may be characterized by the presence of traumatic bonding to a trafficker or CSE lifestyle, identity disturbance, shame, phobias, and a host of other mental health conditions. Currently available evidence-based treatments recommended for victims of CSE are often not trauma-specific and lack survivor-input. Additionally, the curricula that exist are often provided to minors only. To address these limitations, Ending the Game (ETG), a 10-week group psycho-educational curriculum targeted for minors and adults was created (see Table 1). ETG is a research-based, trauma-informed, and trauma-specific curriculum created by survivors of CSE with diverse expertise in education, mental health, and the law. ETG integrates the survivor-centered treatment model which has demonstrated effectiveness in previous studies with victims of CSE (Hotaling, Burris, Johnson, Bird, & Melbye, 2004). The current study shares preliminary findings of implementing ETG in small group settings. We also examined group differences in study outcomes among minor and adult participants.
Method
Participants were 62 women between the ages of 13 and 53 (Mage = 24 years); the majority identified as African-American (40.3%) and 65.1% resided in California. Participants’ self-reported ratings were compared at pre-assessment and at post-assessment using a Likert-scale survey with values ranging from one to four.
The survey items aimed to assess understanding of CSE as victimization and the role of manipulation in making choices. Participants also reported on their perceived level of agency, including ability to act independently of contextual influences, such as attitudes toward risk-taking behaviors, and perceived assertiveness. Items also examined attachment to a trafficker or CSE lifestyle, perceived support, self-esteem, and hopes for the future. In addition to the participants’ self-reported pre-post measures of CSE victimization, agency, self-esteem, and attachment to a trafficker or CSE lifestyle, facilitators completed semi-structured field notes about each participant, based on their observations of those constructs during the intervention/program. We triangulated the field notes with changes in the participants’ self-reported scores.
Results
Paired sample t-tests (see Table 2) revealed a significant increase in the number of participants who reported experiences of CSE victimization, and a significant increase in understanding manipulation by a person or outside influences. There was also a significant decrease in endorsing risky behaviors. In examining group differences between minors (17 years or younger, N = 19) and adults (18 years or older, N = 41), adult participants reported a significant increase in assertiveness and self-esteem, while minor participants exhibited a greater decrease in their emotional bond to a trafficker. The facilitators’ reports generally supported change reported by participants. Additionally, facilitators observed a positive trend in hopes and goals for the future.
There is promising evidence that ETG leads to positive outcomes for survivors of CSE. While there were differences in some items, the positive findings were found with both, minors and adults. Implications for programs, services and researchers working with this vulnerable population will be discussed.

Authors

• Maria Usacheva, UC Davis
  Presenting Author

• Carrie Smalley, UC Davis Extension
  Non-Presenting Author

• Holly Hatton-Bowers, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  Non-Presenting Author

• Rachel Thomas, Sowers Education Group
  Non-Presenting Author

• Nancy Hafer, UC Davis Extension
  Non-Presenting Author

• Phelps Carissa, Runaway Girl, Inc.
  Non-Presenting Author