Bounds Dawn T, Otwell Caitlin H, Melendez Adrian, Karnik Niranjan S, Julion Wrenetha A
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Section of Population Behavioral Health, College of Nursing, Community, Systems, & Mental Health Nursing, Rush University Medical Center, 1645 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60612 USA.
2Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Section of Population Behavioral Health, Rush University Medical Center, 1645 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60612 USA.
Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2020 Feb 18;14:8. doi: 10.1186/s13034-020-00314-w. eCollection 2020.
Sexually exploited youth are disconnected from societal tethers and need support systems, which makes them some of the most vulnerable of youth. This heightened level of vulnerability increases their risk for violence, abuse, ongoing sexual exploitation and all its sequelae. The purpose of this study was to examine an evidence-based intervention called STRIVE (support to reunite, involve and value each other) that has been a successful family re-engagement strategy with newly homeless youth. We sought to explore its contextual relevance for youth with risk factors for sexual exploitation and identify necessary adaptations to reduce risk factors for sexual exploitation. We deliberately took an intersectional approach in conducting this study.
Six community-based focus groups were conducted with youth at risk for sexual exploitation and their service providers. Each group was recorded, transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed.
Results from 29 youth and 11 providers indicate that there are unique considerations that must be taken into account while working with youth at risk for sexual exploitation to ensure effective service delivery and/or ethical research. Emergent themes included: by building rapport and acknowledging experiences of structural violence, which balances youth's need for advocacy/support with their caregivers' need for validation/understanding, and by assessing risks and safety planning.
Focus groups are an effective methodology when working with traditionally disempowered populations particularly in gaining a range of perspectives to meet unique needs/preferences. Youth at risk for commercial sexual exploitation needs require strengths-based, individualized, multi-systemic approaches.
遭受性剥削的青少年与社会联系脱节，需要支持系统，这使他们成为最易受伤害的青少年群体之一。这种更高程度的脆弱性增加了他们遭受暴力、虐待、持续性性剥削及其所有后遗症的风险。本研究的目的是检验一种名为“努力（支持团聚、相互参与和重视）”的循证干预措施，该措施是一种成功的针对新无家可归青少年的家庭重新融入策略。我们试图探索其与有性剥削风险因素的青少年的情境相关性，并确定必要的调整措施以降低性剥削风险因素。我们在开展本研究时特意采用了交叉性方法。
与有性剥削风险的青少年及其服务提供者进行了6次基于社区的焦点小组访谈。每个小组都进行了录音、转录、编码和主题分析。
29名青少年和11名服务提供者的结果表明，在为有性剥削风险的青少年提供服务以确保有效服务提供和/或进行符合伦理的研究时，必须考虑一些独特的因素。新出现的主题包括：通过建立融洽关系并承认结构性暴力的经历，这平衡了青少年对宣传/支持的需求与他们的照顾者对认可/理解的需求，以及通过评估风险和制定安全计划。
焦点小组访谈是与传统上被剥夺权力的人群合作时的一种有效方法，特别是在获取一系列观点以满足独特需求/偏好方面。有商业性剥削风险的青少年需要基于优势、个性化、多系统的方法。
