Social Service Providers’ Use of Assessment Questions and Perceived Sex Trafficking Indicators: Findings from a Survey of Social Service Providers
Lara B. Gerassi, MSW, LCSW, PhD; Caro Cruys, MSW, LGSW; Nicole Hendry & Maria del Carmen Rosales | September 23 | 1:45-2:45 PM
Topic: Research, Direct Service | Knowledge Level: Beginner
Social service providers who are likely to encounter youth who engage in sex trading should be prepared to observe sex trafficking red flags and ask risk assessment questions. The goal of this research study was to understand whether and how social service providers observe sex trafficking indicators and screen for sex trafficking. A cross-sectional, web-based survey was disseminated to social service providers from organizations that are known to encounter youth at risk of sex trafficking: child welfare, youth justice, and non-profit social services (e.g., runaway youth, sexual violence). Participants (n=267) were asked to indicate whether they provided direct services to minors (n=245), adults (n=148), and families/foster families of minors (n=163). Participants were asked to determine the extent to which they asked clients sex trafficking risk assessment questions on a Likert scale, and how often they identified 45 sex trafficking indicators across 5 domains (e.g., behavioral health, physical health, client presentation, system involvement, social support/abuse). Assessment question means ranged from 1.4-2.5 (1=no clients, 5=all clients) across all questions and provider groups. The most commonly identified indicators across provider groups included behavioral health indicators (e.g., depressive symptoms, shame and guilt), history of child protective services, and weak ties/lack of social support. Least commonly identified indicators showed more variation between groups but generally included signs of torture, false IDs, and hotel involvement. Providers who work in systems that encounter youth who trade sex may not be consistently assessing for sex trafficking, even though they are consistently identifying sex trafficking indicators. Implications will be discussed.
Presentation Objectives:
· Provide overview of a study of social service providers in a region of a Midwestern State
· Describe this sample’s perceptions of sex trafficking risk assessment questions and indicators
· Discuss implications and recommendations from the research study