GenerateHope: a comprehensive treatment model for sex-trafficked women

ABSTRACT

GenerateHope (GH) is a San Diego-based 501c3 nonprofit organization providing fully integrated, comprehensive rehabilitation services to adult female survivors of sex trafficking. While best practices for working with survivors of sex trafficking are slowly emerging, to date, there have been few publications on this subject and little data on either short- or long-term outcomes from the many and varied programs nationwide. This paper examines the GH residential program and provides early outcome results for residents living at the GH program between six and 12 months. GH has integrated the types of assistance requested by sex-trafficking victims with clinical insights into trauma therapy, in turn establishing a live-in residence with a 30-hour per week schedule that includes academics, psychotherapy, and adjunct therapies. In this study, GH used three assessments to measure improvements in residents’ overall well-being: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist – Civilian Version (PCL-C), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Analysis of the three assessments showed dramatic improvements in the overall participant well-being: Symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) decreased significantly, and self-esteem improved significantly. Findings suggest a program that is replicable, scalable, and transferable to other settings and geographies. This paper also describes ongoing challenges in program implementation and highlights areas where further research is needed.

KEYWORDS:

• Sex trafficking
• rehabilitation
• treatment