Document Type

Capstone

Abstract

Human trafficking is defined as the recruitment, harboring, transfer, transporting, and receipt of a person using force or manipulation. Sex trafficking refers to engagement in sexual activity against one's will followed by a lifestyle of physical and mental abuse. There are numerous social determinants that impact the health and wellbeing of youth. Due to a lack of community awareness regarding the risk factors associated with human trafficking, vulnerable youth are submissive to occupational injustice activities. The aim of this qualitative study is to educate Present Age Ministries (PAM) on the role and effectiveness of occupational therapy (OT) to gain approval for a level I OT fieldwork opportunity. Occupational therapy is an innovation treatment approach to help survivors of human trafficking recover from past traumas while slowly transitioning into a meaningful and healthy lifestyle. PAM hosted two community awareness events regarding human trafficking and two informal interviews were conducted with their staff followed by two remote communication interviews with two OT practitioners to form a needs assessment to support the idea of incorporating OT into PAM program structure. A fieldwork manual was created to guide future level 1 OT students in assessing and treating victims and survivors using the appropriate OT practice framework to ensure sustained success. The findings of this study revealed that PAM has limited knowledge regarding the role of OT in combatting human trafficking. PAM will improve their health equity lens through collaboration with OT by assessing and treating social determinants of health associated with human trafficking.

Publication Date

4-2019

Download

Share

COinS