Incorporating Lived Experience Experts in Commercial Sexual Exploitation Research: Lessons Learned and Suggestions for Future Collaborations

Sarah M. Godoy, MSW; Christine Bellatorre, MAICS; Angela Calliope; Fenix McClay; Crystal Bennett, LMSW & Jessa Crisp, MA, LPC, NCC | September 20 | 3:15-4:15 pm

Topic: Research, Experience | Knowledge Level: Advanced

Research studies traditionally use a top-down approach that excludes community members from decision-making processes. In contrast, community-based participatory research is a collaborative approach focused on dismantling traditional inequities by conducting research that engages, shares power with, and benefits communities of interest. Therefore, this community-engaged approach can help mitigate risk of misinterpretation and misrepresentation of findings. This study sought to use a community-based participatory research approach to investigate the life histories of adults who experienced commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) prior to the age 11. Together, the lead researcher and lived experience experts, part of a community advisory board, will share how they partnered in conducting this study. Research participants will provide their perceptions of the research process and perspectives on how this approach exceeded their expectations. This presentation will provide real world examples of how community-engaged research approaches can assuage ethical concerns and reduce risk of harm and re-traumatization when investigating issues related to CSE. This presentation will identify the bidirectional benefits of community-engaged research and address ways that collaborators can simultaneously care for their physical and emotional selves. Further, this presentation will elucidate the lessons learned through this process and offer suggestions on how to make community-engaged research viable, mutually beneficial, and sustainable.

Presentation Objectives:

• Describe characteristics of community based participatory research and how it relates to research on CSE

• Identify the role and value of integrating lived experience into research processes

• Analyze the benefits of using community based participatory research in CSE research and the impact it can have on researchers and community members

About the Presenters

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Sarah M. Godoy, MSW

Sarah Godoy (she/her) is a doctoral candidate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This fall, she will transition into an assistant professor role at the Silver School of Social Work at New York University (NYU). Her work aims to explore strategies to prevent and stop the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adults.

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Christine Bellatorre, MAICS

Christine Bellatorre (she/her) is the founder of You Belong and a subject matter expert for the Human Trafficking Collective. She holds a Masters of Intercultural Studies with Children at Risk. She is a national expert on familial trafficking and trauma informed care. She aims to provide training and specialized care for survivors of familial trafficking.

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Angela Calliope

Angela Calliope (she/her) is a MindBodyEnergy Coach, writer, and speaker. She provides self-directed consent-based coaching. She has several books in development. She creates trauma informed tools for the anti-trafficking movement utilizing peer research to improve care and response for survivors.

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Fenix McClay

Fenix McClay (they/them) is the founder of Mosaic Consulting Co LLC. As a lived experience expert, they focus on harm reduction in the anti-human trafficking sector through training, program evaluation, and professional consulting services. They have three years training in professional counseling and have worked for ten years within the social services sector.

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Crystal Bennett, LMSW

Crystal Bennett (she/her) is an educator, an advocate, a survivor, and a self-proclaimed thriver! For the past 25 years, she has been driven by her personal experiences of trauma to elevate and amplify the voices of individuals and communities in order to promote healing and opportunities to move from surviving to thriving.

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Jessa Crisp, MA, LPC, NCC

Jessa Crisp (she/they) is a lived experience expert, former CEO of BridgeHope, and provides trauma-informed consultation to government agencies. Jessa both writes and speaks on the complex trauma survivors of human trafficking experience; advocating for humanity to be brought into the healing process.

2024Anna SchrammSeptember 20, 2024Sarah Godoy; Christine Bellatorre; Angela Calliope; Fenix McClay; Crystal Bennett & Jessa Crisp20:3:15