We Can Work across Agencies to Build a Powerful, Statewide Response

Considering the Public Health Department’s Response to Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking

Dados Bibliográficos

ID7852136
AutoresK M Gonzalez-Pons (0000-0003-3841-6493, University of Utah, autor correspondente)
Ano2023
Volume9
Fascículo4
Páginas435-445
Data de publicação2023-10-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Human Trafficking (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2332-2705 • E-ISSN: 2332-2713
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/23322705.2021.1951535
OpenAlexW3198705493
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas31

This study explored public health department employees’ perceptions of, and experiences with, identifying and serving victims of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). A sample of 47 health department employees completed a mixed method web-based survey about victim identification, DMST myths, and assets and barriers to serving DMST victims. Less than one-third of participants reported that their organizations had a screening tool to identify victims, and another third were unsure if their organization did or did not. Few participants were confident that they could identify DMST victims. Several barriers to serving DMST victims exist, including issues in identification, resource shortages, and a failure to acknowledge the systemic issues that contribute to the complex nature of DMST. Participants identified strong collaborations with anti-trafficking organizations and state legislation that supported Safe Harbor policies as assets in their anti-trafficking work. The present study supports several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5.2 and SDG 8.7). When public health department employees are educated about domestic minor sex trafficking, have the tools to identify victims, and the resources to serve them, they can more effectively limit further victimization and ultimately work toward preventing minors from being exploited in the first place

Business · Criminology · Environmental health · Human trafficking · Injury prevention · Legislation · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Political science · Public health · Public relations · Sex trafficking · Suicide prevention · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology