Training Salon Professionals to Address Intimate Partner Violence and Sex Trafficking: Results from a Mixed-Methods...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Work
• Criminology

Background:

• Sex trafficking and intimate partner violence (IPV) are prevalent and often under-identified public health issues.
• Salon professionals are uniquely positioned to identify victims due to frequent client interactions.
• A gap exists in training for salon professionals to effectively intervene in cases of sex trafficking and IPV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop, pilot, and evaluate an online training program for salon professionals on identifying and responding to sex trafficking and IPV.
• To assess the impact of the training on participants' knowledge and confidence levels.
• To explore the practical application of the training in real-world settings.

Main Methods:

• An online training program was developed and delivered to eight salon professionals in Indiana.
• Pre- and post-training assessments measured knowledge of sex trafficking and IPV.
• Confidence in identifying IPV victims was assessed using a validated scale.
• Qualitative interviews explored participants' experiences and application of the training.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated significant increases in knowledge of sex trafficking and IPV (r=0.93).
• Confidence in identifying victims of IPV significantly increased (r=0.84).
• Interviews indicated successful application of training content, enhanced workplace safety, and advocacy for broader implementation.

Conclusions:

• The online training program is an effective, evidence-based model for equipping salon professionals to identify and respond to sex trafficking and IPV.
• The findings support the integration of such training into professional development and licensure standards.
• This model can guide future policy and educational initiatives to combat sex trafficking and IPV nationwide.