Domestic minor sex trafficking is a complex form of oppression and child maltreatment affecting children and adolescents on both the domestic and transnational levels. In the United States, the statistical account of minors who are affected by commercial sex trafficking varies because of the hidden nature of this criminal activity. Symptoms of trauma can result from such factors as forced subjugation, separation from family, and sexual acts with multiple perpetrators. Treatment relevant to this population is necessary for posttrafficking adaptation to society. In this article, we discuss the possible effects of domestic minor sex trafficking, implications for intervention, and directions for future research.
CarnesP. (1997). The betrayal bond: Breaking free of exploitive relationships. Deerfield, FL: Health Communications.
4.
ClawsonH. J.DutchN. M.WilliamsonE. (2008). National symposium on the health needs of human trafficking: Background document. Washington, DC: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
5.
ClawsonH. J.LayneM.SmallK. (2006). Estimating human trafficking into the United States: Development of a methodology. Project report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved fromhttps://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/215475.pdf
6.
ClawsonH. J.SalomonA.GraceL. G. (2008). Treating the hidden wounds: Trauma treatment and mental health recovery for victims of human trafficking. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Retrieved fromhttp://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/07/humantrafficking/Treating/ib.htm
7.
CloitreM.StolbachB.HermanJ.KolkB.PynoosR.WangJ.PetkovaE. (2009). A developmental approach to complex PTSD: Childhood and adult cumulative trauma as predictors of symptom complexity. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 22, 399–408. doi:10.1002/jts.20444
8.
CourtoisC. (2008). Complex trauma, complex reactions: Assessment and treatment. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, S(1), 86–100. doi:10.1037/1942-9681.S.1.86
9.
DeblingerE.MannarinoA. P.CohenJ. A.RunyonM. K.SteerR. A. (2011). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children: Impact of the trauma narrative and treatment length. Depression & Anxiety (1091–4269), 28, 67–75. doi:10.1002/da.20744
10.
EganR.HawkesG. L. (2008). Endangered girls and incendiary objects: Unpacking the discourse on sexualization. Sexuality & Culture, 12, 291–311. doi:10.1007/s12119-008-9036-8
11.
ElliotD.BjelajacP.FallotR.MarkoffL.ReedB. (2005). Trauma-informed or trauma- denied: Principles and implementation of trauma-informed services for women. Journal of Community Psychology, 33, 461–477.
HermanJ. (1992). Complex PTSD: A syndrome in survivors of prolonged and repeated trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 5, 377–391.
14.
HoangB. (2011). International sex trafficking: Justice and the Christian counselor. Christian Counseling Today, 18, 49–50.
15.
International Organization for Adolescents, Center for the Human Rights for Children, Loyola University Chicago. (2011). Building child welfare response to child trafficking handbook. Chicago, IL: Author.
KalergisK. (2009). A passionate practice: Addressing the needs of commercially sexually exploited teenagers. Affilia, 24, 315–324.
18.
KotrlaK. (2010). Domestic minor sex trafficking in the United States. Social Work, 55, 181–187.
19.
LillywhiteR.SkidmoreP. (2006). Boys are not sexually exploited? A challenge to practitioners. Child Abuse Review, 15, 351–361. doi:10.1002/car.952
20.
LloydR. (2011). Girls like us: Fighting for a world where girls are not for sale, an activist finds her calling and heals herself. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
21.
MacyR. J.JohnsN. (2011). Aftercare services for international sex trafficking survivors: Informing U.S. service and program development in an emerging practice area. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 12, 87–98. doi:10.1177/1524838010390709
22.
MaxmenJ. S.WardN. G.KilgusM. (2009). Essential psychopathology and its treatment (3rd ed.). New York, NY: W. W. Norton.
23.
MitchellK. J.FinkelhorD.WolakJ. (2010). Conceptualizing juvenile prostitution as child maltreatment: Findings from the National Juvenile Prostitution Study. Child Maltreatment, 15, 18–36. doi:10.1177/1077559509349443
24.
PalmerN. (2010). The essential role of social work in addressing victims and survivors of trafficking. ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law, 17, 43–56.
25.
Polaris Project. (2011). Comprehensive human trafficking assessment. Washington DC: Author.
26.
RaffertyY. (2008). The impact of trafficking on children: Psychological and social policy perspectives. Child Development Perspectives, 2, 13–18.
27.
RandA. (2009). It can’t happen in my backyard: The commercial sexual exploitation of girls in the United States. Child & Youth Services, 31, 138–156. doi:10.1080/0145935X.2009.524480
28.
ReidJ. A. (2011). An exploratory model of girl’s vulnerability to commercial sexual exploitation in prostitution. Child Maltreatment, 16, 146–157. doi:10.1177/1077559511404700
29.
Salvation Army. (2006). Anti-trafficking training manual. Alexandria, VA: Author.
SimkhadaP. (2008). Life histories and survival strategies amongst sexually trafficked girls in Nepal. Children and Society, 22, 235–248. doi:10.1111/j.1099-0860.2008.00154.x
32.
Soroptimist International of the Americas. (2008). Slavery’s new face: Sex trafficking of women and girls. Retrieved fromwww.soroptimist.org/stoptrafficking.html
33.
StottsE. L.RameyL. (2009). Human trafficking: A call for counselor awareness and action. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, 48, 36–47.
34.
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, P.L. No. 106-386 § A, 114 Stat. 1466 (2000).
35.
TwillS. E.GreenD. M.TraylorA. (2010). A descriptive study on sexually exploited children in residential treatment. Child & Youth Care Forum, 39, 187–199. doi:10.1007/s10566-010-9098-2
WilliamsonC.PriorM. (2009). Domestic minor sex trafficking: A network of underground players in the Midwest. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 2, 1–16. doi: 10.1080/19361520802702191
40.
WilliamsonE.DutchN. M.ClawsonH. J. (2008). Evidence-based mental health treatment for victims of human trafficking. Washington, DC: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
