Projects
Research
And Boys, Too!
Faculty Investigators: Sandra Stone, Ph.D.; Joan Reid, Ph.D., LMHC; Colby Valentine, Ph.D.
Research Assistants: Amanda Connella, M.A.; Nathan Gibson, undergraduate student
Community Partners: In process of identifying anti-human trafficking organizations providing services to boys and young men across the country.
Funding: Trailblazer Scholarship Program, 91社区 Sarasota-Manatee Campus
Research Purpose: To investigate the extent of human trafficking victimization of boys and young men, their experiences, and the services available to help them.
Context Matters? The Role of the Social and Ecological Context in Increasing Risk of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking
Faculty Investigators: Joan Reid, Ph.D., LMHC; Ieke de Vries, Ph.D.; Michael Baglivio, Ph.D.
Community Partner: 91社区 Department of Juvenile Justice
Research Purpose: The objective of this study is to identify which and how individual-level factors (e.g. history of childhood abuse), social dynamics (e.g. family setting and peer networks), and neighborhood features (e.g. concentrated disadvantage) are associated with risk to domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). In doing so, the proposed study addresses a critical gap in the DMST literature that has predominately considered individual-level risk factors for DMST.
Development of a Trauma Bonding Measure
Faculty Investigators: Joan Reid, Ph.D., LMHC; Tiffany Chenneville, Ph.D.
Funding: 2021 WLP Dr. Kathleen Moore Faculty Excellence Award (Recipient Joan A. Reid, USF
St. Petersburg campus)
Research Purpose: Despite empirical evidence of trauma bonding among survivors of sex trafficking, no measure of trauma bonding has been developed, tested, or standardized. The purpose of this study is to develop and field test measure of trauma bonding. Absent a reliable and standardized measure, it is not possible to assess trauma bonding among survivors of sex trafficking or evaluate treatment effectiveness.
Examining the Prevalence, Needs, and Perceptions of Services Among International Victims
of Labor Trafficking
Faculty Investigators: Fawn Ngo, Ph.D.
Profiling Recruitment Tactics of Sex Traffickers in the United States
Faculty Investigators: Joan Reid, Ph.D., LMHC
Research Assistants: Kaci Crook, M.A.; Sarah Gardy, doctoral student, University of 91社区; Klejdis Bilali, doctoral student, 91社区
Community Partner: Created Women
Research Purpose: The purpose of the study is to profile recruitment strategies of sex traffickers in the U.S. The information provided by social service providers which offers the victims' perspective, will assist in that effort by helping researchers better understand the complex dynamics involved in the recruitment process and will provide more depth to the official data that can be obtained by law enforcement and court records. The delineation of patterns of recruitment practices will assist in the development of better screening tools, easier identification of traffickers and potential/actual victims, and opportunities for earlier intervention to protect potential/actual victims and provide them with appropriate services as well as faster apprehension of traffickers.
Survey of Services and Limitations of Human Trafficking Service Providers
Faculty Investigators: Joan Reid, Ph.D., LMHC; Shelly Wagers, Ph.D., Kailey Carter M.A.
Community Partner: SAFE Alliance of Tampa Bay
Research Purpose: The SAFE Alliance in Tampa Bay began working on an asset map in June of 2022. After
creating this asset map, service providers in the alliance recognized that although
this provides critical information that can be beneficial when working with survivors
of human trafficking, there are still nuances that must be delineated to make connection
to services more efficient. Through collaboration, this survey will provide a detailed
list of the capabilities and limitations among service providers in the SAFE Alliance
of Tampa Bay, determine where the current gaps lie among those represented in the
alliance, as well as serve as a pilot survey to send to service providers to be included
in the BRIGHT project as it expands to other regions.