Aftercare Services for International Sex Trafficking Survivors: Informing U.S. Service and Program Development in an Emerging Practice Area

Abstract:
International sex trafficking into the United States appears to be a serious and growing problem, although the evidence regarding prevalence, risk, and consequences is incomplete. Nonetheless, human service providers are increasingly being asked to offer services to sex trafficking survivors. Consequently, providers need information to guide services and program development in this emerging practice area. To address this knowledge need, we systematically reviewed and synthesized 20 documents addressing the needs of and services for international survivors of sex trafficking into the United States. The main finding from the review shows the importance of a continuum of aftercare services to address survivors’ changing needs as they move from initial freedom to recovery and independence. Based on our synthesis of the reviewed literature, we present a service delivery framework to guide providers’ development of services for survivors.

My opinion:
This article discusses about aftercare services for human trafficking survivors. Almost all sex trafficking survivors experienced physical violence. Research has also shown that the trafficking perpetrators subject their victims to poor nutrition, dangerous working conditions, and increased exposure to infectious disease. The mental health effects of sex trafficking are substantial and include depression, anxiety, panic attacks, post traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, and suicide. Therefore, based on the survivors needs, they developed strategies of what kind of services that every non governmental organization can apply. The strategies consist of immediate needs, ongoing needs, and long term needs.

They focused on international sex trafficking so they include language services and immigration advocacy. My program focused on domestic trafficking so there are smaller chance of trafficking victims need this kind of services. But the comprehensive strategies on this journal is applicable for my program.

Reference:
http://tva.sagepub.com/content/early/2010/12/04/1524838010390709.full.pdf+html