A Secondary Quantitative Content Analysis of Service Provisions at youthSpark’s Voices Program for Youth at Risk or Experiencing Commercial Sexual Exploitation Open Access
Parikh, Ashi (Summer 2022)
Abstract
The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is an increasing concern around the world. There are detrimental health implications of CSEC that can having lasting impacts if left undetected and untreated. Youth-serving community organizations have a unique opportunity to provide community support to youth. There is a need to better understand the effectiveness of the approaches used by youth-serving organizations for preventing and responding to CSEC. The purpose of this special studies project is to identify and understand key services offered by youthSpark, a youth-serving community-based organization in Atlanta, Georgia, for exploited and at-risk youth girls in their Voices program.
A secondary quantitative content analysis of field notes from youthSpark’s case managers was utilized to identify key service provisions offered and understand barriers and facilitators for accessing services. The data consisted of field notes of 113 Voices participants between December 2017-June 2021. The field notes were examined for communication interactions with youth, Voices and workshop sessions participation, court accompaniment, coordination efforts with other service providers, information and referral for external resources, and crisis event experiences.
Case managers at youthSpark provide intensive follow-up and a range of wrap-around services to identify and address youth’s needs. Additionally, they help survivors navigate through complex systems by serving as a vital main point of contact between the youth and the other service providers. Efforts to support and build a collaborative response are depicted through coordination interactions with various service providers and information and referral for external resources. Finally, the findings show how youth and their families experienced crisis events outside of their initial reason for seeking services at youthSpark.
The findings provide significant insight for the impact of case management and the utility of case management processes as an intervention to meet the needs of commercially sexually exploited youth and their families. Additionally, the research provides insight on key services provided by a youth-serving organization in Atlanta, Georgia. Case management should be evaluated as a strategy used by organizations to better understand what patterns of services and models of case management are most beneficial for survivors of CSEC.
Table of Contents
Definitions and Acronyms
Introduction 1
Introduction and Rationale 1
Problem Statement 2
Purpose Statement 2
Objectives and Aims 2
Significance 3
Literature Review 4
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the United States 4
Risk Factors for the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children 5
Impact of Commercial Sexual Exploitation on Survivors 9
The Role of Victim and Support Services 12
Research on Approaches to Service Provisions for Survivors 15
The Scope of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Georgia 18
Conclusion 19
Methods 21
Design and Outcomes 21
Setting 21
Participants 22
Instrument and Measures 22
Procedure 23
Analysis 25
Results 28
Communication Interactions 28
Voices Program and Workshops 29
Coordination Interactions with External Agencies 30
Information and Referral for External Resources 33
Crisis Event Experiences 35
Discussion 39
Case Management as a Vital Tool 39
Multisectoral and Interagency Collaboration 42
Information and Referral to External Resources 45
Crisis Event Experiences 46
Limitations and Strengths 47
Public Health Implications 49
Conclusion and Future Research Directions 51
References 55
About this Master's Thesis
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