Sex Trafficking Indicators and Predictors: An Analysis of 1,264 Case Files of Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Atlanta
Courtney Furlong, MS, MEd, LPC, CRC | September 21 | 9:45-10:45 am
Topic: Research | Knowledge Level: Intermediate
To develop a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, case files (N = 1,264) from the Out of Darkness’s Safe Home program of Frontline Response in Atlanta, Georgia were analyzed. Key considerations included cycling, age of entry and exit, length of exploitation, number of arrests, educational achievement, experience and age of childhood sexual abuse, mental health diagnoses (specifically, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, neurodevelopmental disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia spectrum disorder), number of children, and placement outcomes. Regression analyses (e.g., linear, binomial, or zero-inflated Poisson) were conducted based on preliminary analyses of the means and distributions of the outcome variables. Results from the investigation will inform services, interventions, and policy and support survivors in their promising futures. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the lived experiences of survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, identify potential barriers to getting out and staying out of exploitation, and discuss the implications of the findings.
Presentation Objectives:
· Develop a better understanding of the lived experiences of survivors of commercial sexual exploitation
· Identify potential barriers to exiting commercial sexual exploitation
· Consider practical implications that may serve to support survivors and promote promising outcomes