Mixed-Gender Shelter-Based Service for Child Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSEC) in Italy: A Case Study

ABSTRACT

Using a single case study, the article presents an innovative model of aftercare service for commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC), child abuse victims, and court-involved youth based in the Veneto region of Italy. Data included: (a) two interviews of the Executive Director of the shelter; (b) one first-hand observation of the shelter; and (c) input from program volunteers and staff who reviewed an early draft of the manuscript. This important public health problem is defined using this case study to describe the rationale for using an innovative mixed-gender, mixed-caseload rehabilitation model. The research questions of interest were: (a) What is the mixed-gender, mixed-caseload model of shelter-based service provision to CSEC and other youth in need of rehabilitative programming?; (b) What was the rationale for using this approach?; and (c) What have been the successes and challenges of changing to a mixed-gender, mixed-caseload shelter model? This study is exploratory and the actual model has not yet been evaluated, so it would be premature to suggest that there are clear clinical implications from this case study. For future researchers, aspects of the service provision model may be of clinical interest to other European providers and providers in other nations. Mixed-gender shelter models for youth in need of services may be worth considering, trying, and evaluating.

KEYWORDS:

• Commercial sexual exploitation of children
• gender-based violence
• human trafficking
• Italy
• sex trafficking, victim services