Identifying Sexual and Labor Exploitation among Sheltered Youth Experiencing Homelessness: A Comparison of Screening...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Social Work

Background:

• Human trafficking is a growing public health issue, disproportionately affecting vulnerable youth.
• Adolescents and young adults experiencing housing instability or homelessness are at high risk.
• Current healthcare assessments often fail to identify trafficking due to lack of specific screening and low disclosure rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of a standard psychosocial assessment tool versus a human trafficking-specific tool in identifying trafficking among homeless youth.
• To understand the barriers homeless youth face in disclosing experiences of human trafficking within healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study design was employed.
• Involved 129 youth experiencing homelessness.
• Compared identification rates using a standard psychosocial assessment versus a human trafficking-specific assessment tool.

Main Results:

• The human trafficking-specific tool was more effective in identifying youth experiencing sexual and labor exploitation.
• The specialized tool also better identified risk factors associated with human trafficking.
• Identified barriers to disclosure include system mistrust, fear of police involvement, reluctance to engage with mental healthcare, and stigma.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers should implement specialized screening tools for human trafficking when working with homeless youth.
• Improved screening can reduce missed opportunities for prevention and treatment in this high-risk population.
• Addressing barriers to disclosure is crucial for effective identification and support.