Sex Trafficking Training for Social Workers
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SEX TRAFFICKING TRAINING FOR SOCIAL WORKERS A Project Presented to the faculty of the Division of Social Work California State University, Sacramento Submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK by Kristy S. Coleman SPRING 2018 © 2018 Kristy S. Coleman ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii SEX TRAFFICKING TRAINING FOR SOCIAL WORKERS A Project by Kristy S. Coleman Approved by: __________________________________, Committee Chair Jennifer Price Wolf, PhD ____________________________ Date iii Student: Kristy S. Coleman I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the University format manual, and that this project is suitable for shelving in the Library and credit is to be awarded for the project. __________________________, Graduate Program Director ___________________ Serge C. Lee, PhD Date Division of Social Work iv Abstract of SEX TRAFFICKING TRAINING FOR SOCIAL WORKERS by Kristy S. Coleman This project involved the creation of a 60-minute training session for entry-level social workers to test the impact, according to them, on their level of preparedness to either prevent or intervene with survivors/potential victims of human trafficking. A multi- source research approach was taken to gather information from not only from academic sources, but also other relevant and credible sources—ranging from government to academic, journalist to pimp-published, experienced social workers to sex trafficking survivors, rap music to documentary videos—that would enrich the presented understanding of sex trafficking: how to combat it, prevent it, and help victims become survivors. The training curriculum presented: 1) a succinct introduction to the complex reality of sex trafficking; 2) the advantageous positioning of Child Welfare Systems to protect and to intervene; 3) the mindset and techniques of pimp subculture; 4) typical effects of pimp trafficking to include “Stockholm Syndrome,” “trauma bond,” or “thought-reform,” and “dissociative” symptoms; and 6) guidance on identifying and intervening on behalf of sex trafficking victims. The results of the bivariate test, using a pre- and post-test before and after the 60-minute training, showed that the students v experienced a significant self-perceived increase in understanding the problem of sex trafficking, as well as, an understanding of how to intervene for victims of sex trafficking. _______________________, Committee Chair Jennifer Price Wolf, Ph.D. _______________________ Date vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project would not have been as successful without the support and/or sharing of information and skills by many people. I will fail to remember them all, but a few stand out for their help and inspiration. Elle Snow whose training on sex trafficking exposed me to ideas I had not encountered before and to threads I had to follow. Through her knowledge, advocacy, and passion her trainings reach a rare quality. Elle supported me with information beyond her inspirational training. Cynthia Peterson, Executive Director of Community Violence Solutions, supported me by offering a long phone conversation in which she tireless and patiently helped me to understand the many levels of what transpires during the process of supporting a sex trafficking survivor. Many other sources were included, but Cynthia stepped up to help during a period when I was having trouble getting people with expert experience to talk with me. Melissa Farley’s book Prostitution, Trafficking, and Traumatic Stress was a gold mind. In addition, Farley answered my phone call and email. If this project training falls short, the fault is mine not theirs. Many thanks to Nancy Glover who emerged an unexpected source of encouragement as well as a tremendous editor, who proved as fast as she is talented. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................. vii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................ x List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 Method ........................................................................................................................ 2 Problem Statement ...................................................................................................... 2 Scope of the Problem ................................................................................................... 6 Child Welfare .............................................................................................................. 9 The media .................................................................................................................. 10 Pimp Subculture ....................................................................................................... 11 Hypothesis ................................................................................................................. 12 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................. 14 Literature Review Method .......................................................................................... 14 The Language of Engagement .................................................................................... 17 Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficking .......................................................................... 18 Sex Trafficking and the Child Welfare System’s Proximity ...................................... 23 Cultural Influences: A Case of Social Dissociation ................................................... 28 Pimp Subculture: Sex Trafficker Tactics and Effects ................................................ 40 Comparing Pimp Techniques to Cult Mind Control .................................................. 63 Dissociation ............................................................................................................... 72 viii Intervention ................................................................................................................. 76 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 93 Moving Forward, Reflecting Back ............................................................................. 94 3. METHODS ....................................................................................................................... 98 Study Design............................................................................................................... 98 Sampling ................................................................................................................... 101 Data Collection Procedures ...................................................................................... 101 Data Instrument ........................................................................................................ 103 Variables ................................................................................................................... 103 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................ 104 4. RESULTS ....................................................................................................................... 106 Demographics ........................................................................................................... 106 Quantitative Variables .............................................................................................. 107 Qualitative: Question #10 ......................................................................................... 110 5. DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................. 112 Appendix A. Handout: Things You Can Do ..................................................................... 117 Appendix B. Pre- and Post-Test Questions ........................................................................ 118 References............................................................................................................................. 120 ix LIST OF TABLES Tables Page 1. Table 1: Number of Correct Answers...................... .………………………………. 109 x LIST OF FIGURES Figures Page 1. Figure 1: The Phases of Sex Trafficking………………………….…………………. 22 2. Figure 2: Examples of branding tattoos ........................................................................ 80 3. Figure 3: Stages of Change ........................................................................................... 91 4. Figure 4: Chart of Question #1 Answers……….…….….…………………………. 107 5. Figure 5: Chart of Question #9 Answers……………………………………………. 109 xi 1 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION This research project proposes to operationalize a pilot study that will test social work student participants’ own perceptions of whether the “Sex Trafficking Training for Social Workers” 60-minute training improves their ability to prevent and to intervene with sex trafficking survivors/victims. The research question is: “What is the impact of a 60- minute training session for entry-level social workers, according