Evidencing Safe Harbor: Findings from the Multi-Cycle Evaluation of Minnesota’s Statewide Anti-Trafficking Initiative
Caroline Palmer, JD; Jory Catalpa, PhD; Lindsay Turner, JD & Melissa Serafin, MA | September 24 | 3:15-4:15 PM
Topic: Research | Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Since 2015, the Minnesota Department of Health and Wilder Research have leveraged a unique partnership to conduct biennial evaluations of Safe Harbor, a statewide initiative to address sex and labor trafficking of youth. Currently in its fourth cycle, evaluation questions have included: 1) What are the impacts of Safe Harbor? 2) What challenges impede the success of Safe Harbor? and 3) To what extent is Safe Harbor culturally appropriate for youth of all backgrounds? There is a lack of empirical research on identifying, serving, and preventing youth trafficking, particularly methods that are culturally appropriate. However, at least 5,000 Minnesota youth report engaging in transactional sex (Minnesota Student Survey, 2019). To address this gap, several methodologies have been used, including surveys and interviews with youth and stakeholders and analysis of client data. Findings include: 1) Safe Harbor provides services that would otherwise be unavailable, 2) Safe Harbor draws on youth, grantee, and state strengths to positively impact youth, and 3) systemic challenges and service, training, and information gaps limit Safe Harbor’s impact. Data collection for the fourth cycle is on-going and focuses on the cultural appropriateness of services; these findings will be presented. Recommendations include: 1) address missing or inconsistent services, 2) enhance evaluation efforts, and 3) improve prevention efforts. There may be additional recommendations related to cultural appropriateness. This presentation also showcases how an iterative evaluation approach and a unique partnership between a state public health department and a community-based research organization has improved Safe Harbor and increased its impact.
Presentation Objectives:
· Provide an overview of the evaluation, including main questions, methodology, and findings
· Describe recommendations based on the evaluation
· Describe a unique partnership between a state public health department and a community-based research organization that could be replicated