Ending the Game: An Interven2on Curriculum for Survivors of Commercial Sexual

Exploita2on

RACHEL THOMAS, M.EDHT RADAR CONFERENCE, PLNU

FEBRUARY 4, 2017

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Ending the Game (ETG)• EndingTheGame(ETG)isdesignedtoeducateandempowercommercialsextraffickingvic

Promising FindingsHollyHaLon-Bowers,PhD,UniversityofNebraska-LincolnCarrieSmalley,MS,andSusanBrooks,MSW,UniversityofCaliforniaDavis,NorthernCaliforniaTrainingAcademy

Methodology

• Pre-curriculumandpost-curriculumsurveysfilledoutbypar?cipantsandETGfacilitators/educators

• Serviceprovidersconsistedmainlyof“EndingtheGame”facilitators.

• Surveyswerecompletedbypar?cipantsfrom7differentprogramslocatedin6ci

Survey Methodology• Pre-test,beginningofthe10weekcurriculum,par?cipantscompleteLikerttypescaleusingasurveydevelopedbythecreatorsofETG,Post-testaZer12weeks•  Surveyasksques?onsabout:

•  Self-worth•  ALachmenttotheirtrafficker•  Risk-takingbehavior•  Sexuala_tudesandbeliefs•  Hopesforthefuture•  Atpost-testopen-endedques?onscollectedforfeedbackaboutthecurriculum

• Facilitatorobserva?onsofthepar?cipantsatpre-testandpost-test(beforepar?cipa?ngandaZerpar?cipa?nginthe10weekcurriculum)

Icanhaveagoodlifewithoutmy“trafficker”oroutof“thelife”.

YES!

StronglyAgree

YesAgree

NoDisagree

NO!StronglyDisagree

Idon’thaveatrafficker/live“thelife”

IwishIwaswithmy“trafficker”and/orbackin“thelife”rightnow.

YES!

StronglyAgree

YesAgree

NoDisagree

NO!StronglyDisagree

Idon’thaveatrafficker/live“thelife”

ExampleQues

Pre/Post Surveys Collected

35Par?cipantMatchingPre/PostSurveys

17FacilitatorMatchingPre/PostSurveys

Ethnicity/Race

Black/AA,47%

Hispanic/La

Emerging Findings• Significantfindingswhencomparingpar?cipantpre-andpost-testsurveys(p

A Closer Look at the Par2cipants Comple2ng ETG: Facilitator Feedback Surveys

Results from Examining ETG Facilitator Surveys

• Facilitatorscompleteda5open-endedques?onsurveyatpreandpostcurriculumforeachpar?cipant.

5Themes

Iden?fica?onandunderstandingoftheirvic?miza?on

Self-Esteem

Havingfuturegoalsandplan

Asser?venessandabilitytoact

IndependentlyofInfluences

Loyaltyto“thelife”ortotheirtrafficker

Illustra2ve Quotes LoyaltytotheLifeortotheTrafficker◦  “Shegrewupwithbrotherswhotraffickedwomen,behaviorwasnormalized.Muchmoreinsightnow,lessloyalto"thelife",increasedloyaltytoselfandhergoals.”

◦  “AsthiscoursewentonstudentbecamemoreawarethatshewasavicBm…iniBallyshedidn'tseeherselfasavicBmbecauseshegrewupinahomewhere"thelife"wasnormal.”

Self-EsteemandPlansfortheFuture◦  “Amazingturnaround,connectedwithotherssisterswithgreatambiBontosucceedinlife.ThiswasnotamandatedobligaBonforher.Shehasadesiretobethebest"me"thereis.”

Asser

ETG Facilitator Perceptions • 17 participants from pre to post

19-20 2survivors

21-25 8survivors

26-30 1survivors

31-39 3survivors40--50 1survivors

51andolder

2survivors

AgesGENDER

16 Female and 1 Transgender

Black/AfricanAmerican,12

Hispanic/La

Facilitator perceptions of changes in 17 participants from pre to post

Identification as Victim •  At pre-test, 7 participants did not fully

self-identify or understand being a victim of commercial sexual exploitation •  At post-test all of these

participants identified and better understood their victimization.

Loyalty to “The Life” •  At pre-test, 50% of 14 participants

were noted to be loyal to “The Life” or their trafficker. •  At post-test, 0% were noted to

be loyal to “The Life”, 13% were “less” loyal to their trafficker

Self-Esteem & Assertiveness •  73% of 15 participants were noted to

have low or poor self-esteem at pre- test •  100% (all 15 participants) had high

or good/average self-esteem at post-test.

•  100% had either good or growing assertiveness skills at post.

Future Plans & Goals •  Before ETG, 50% of 13 participants

did not have future goals or positive outlook about the future. •  After the curriculum, all of these

participants either had goals for the future or had a more positive outlook about their future.

Before ETG After ETG “Studentcarriesalotofshame,lowself-esteem,veryquiet.”

“Student’sself-esteemhasimprovedovertheweeks,shenolongercameinwithahoodieontocoverherface.”

“Wasloyalforyearstogainhermother’slove,whowashertrafficker.”

“…shehasmadegreatstridestobecomeself-sufficientandhasputdistancebetweenthem.”

“Theclientisrecentlycomingtotermswithacknowledgingthatsheisavic?mofsexualexploita?on.Thereare?messheblamesherself.”

“Fullyabletoiden?fyasvic?mofhumantrafficking,understandsthewaysinwhichshewascoerced.”

• 98%saidthatETGmadethemlookattheirtraffickeror“thelife”differently

• 100%saidpar?cipa?nginETGwasworththeir

Par2cipant Comments AYer Comple2ng ETG

Ilovethefacilitatorsbecausetheyunderstoodus.Theyshowedalotofcompassion.–51yearold

I’vegrownsomuch.I'msoproudofmyself.Ijustcan'twaittoseewhat'snext.IfeellikeI'mbeinghealedintheinside.ThingsthatlearnedandIwouldhaveforgot.-22yearold

Ithelpedmechangemymindsetonpros

Promising Findings• Recogni