Little research exists on previous educational attainment, present educational status, and future educational aspirations of adolescent survivors of sex trafficking. Even though education is highlighted as a “factor needed for success” for survivors, there is a paucity of information. Twelve current residents were included in this study; data came from intake surveys on past education, current educational achievement data, and interviews on current and future educational aspirations. Research questions included: 1) What were their past educational experiences? 2) What are their educational needs? 3) What are their small and big goals? and 4) What is their vision of success? The findings focus on the risk factors, current educational successes and challenges, and tensions in their future goal setting. Upon intake, most residents had multiple educational risk factors, and several residents also exhibited disruptive behaviors in their schooling history. Implications for practice include a need for targeted remedial education and individualized learning plans to help these adolescents catch up academically. Moreover, the presence of disruptive behaviors highlights the necessity of incorporating behavioral and psychological support within educational programs. Trauma-informed educational practices and mental health services could be essential components in helping these students engage positively with their education. By amplifying the voices and experiences of these residents, social workers, educators, and researchers need to prioritize the transformative power of educational attainment and aspirations in future studies of adolescent trafficking survivors and in developing successful residential programs.
Kimberly Hogan is an assistant professor at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Social Work. In 2022, she co-founded the USM Center for Human Trafficking Research and Training (CHRT). Her research work spans the prevention, detection, identification, and treatment of minor and adult sex trafficking victims.
Sunny Wells, Assistant Professor of Secondary Education at the University of Southern Mississippi, focuses on critical citizenship and educational empowerment. A faculty affiliate of USM’s Center for Human Trafficking Research and Training, her research spans secondary and higher education, as well as residential settings for sexually trafficked youth, aiming to inform practical applications.
Gretchen Goode is an assistant professor of education at the University of Southern Mississippi. A faculty affiliate of USM’s Center for Human Trafficking Research and Training, Dr. Goode intertwines feminist, sociocultural, and posthuman theories to investigate literacy learning in a residential facility for juvenile survivors of trafficking.
Rebecca Lavigne is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi and faculty affiliate of USM's Center for Human Trafficking Research and Training. Dr. Lavigne is committed to inclusivity in education, advocating for diverse perspectives, and promoting the increased value of equitable practices in academic and social settings.
Tommie Killen, a Hattiesburg, Mississippi local, is currently working on her PhD in Research, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment at the University of Southern Mississippi and also works as a graduate assistant. Ms. Killen recently obtained her Master of Science from the University of Southern Mississippi in Fall of 2023.