Projects
Evaluations
An Evaluation of the Turn Your Life Around (TYLA) Prostitution Diversion Program
Faculty Investigators: Fawn Ngo, Ph.D.; Mateus Renno Santos, Ph.D.; Joan Reid, Ph.D.
Research Assistants: Emily Walker, doctoral student, University of South Florida; Rebecca Ruiz, doctoral student, University of California-Irvine; Emily Walsh, undergraduate student, University of South Florida
Community Partner: Selah Freedom
Research Purpose: This evaluation assesses the effectiveness of Turn Your Life Around (TYLA), a program that seeks to address the core issues surrounding prostitution and sex trafficking. The overarching goal of TYLA is to identify individuals/victims who are being sexually trafficked and provide them with needed resources and strategies to leave the sex trade industry. TYLA is a coalition between Selah Freedom (a non-governmental organization (NGO) whose mission is to end sex trafficking and exploitation),First Step (a non-profit organization providing comprehensive mental health and substance abuse programs for adults and children), the Sarasota and Bradenton Police Departments, the State Attorney’s Office of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, and the Public Defender Office aims at eradicating human trafficking and sexual exploitation. TYLA was implemented in Sarasota in 2013 and extended to Bradenton in 2018. Since its inception, TYLA has not been formally evaluated. The research team will explore components of TYLA that are performing optimally and thus, should be expanded and replicated in future initiatives. The research team will also examine the key individual and program factors that influence participant outcomes as well as determine whether and to what extent the changes among the participants can be attributed to TYLA and TYLA program activities.
Comprehensive Evaluation of a Local Anti-Sex Trafficking Organization
Faculty Investigators: Jessica Grosholz, Ph.D., Sandra Stone, Ph.D., Brian Turnbull, Ph.D., Fawn Ngo, Ph.D.
Community Partner: Selah Freedom
Research Purpose: Results from the evaluation will help determine effectiveness of services, inform
continuous improvement strategies, improve overall agency operations, and contribute
to the establishment of Selah Freedom as a national model, especially their
residential program.
Evaluation of O.P.T.I.O.N. Court
Faculty Investigators: Joan Reid, Ph.D., LMHC; Mateus Renno Santos, Ph.D.; Fawn Ngo, Ph.D., Tiffany Chenneville, Ph.D.
Research Assistants: Emily Walker, doctoral student, University of South Florida; Klejdis Bilali, doctoral student, University of South Florida, Kaci Crook, M.A.
Community Partner: Hillsborough County OPTION Court, Judge Robert Bauman
Funding: USF Interdisciplinary Research Grant
Research Purpose: OPTION Court (Offering Potentially Trafficked Individuals Options Now) is a specialized court that supports juvenile/child victims of human trafficking. The Honorable Judge Bauman, who supervises OPTION court, requested this evaluation to provide information to the court, its collaborators, and the community regarding successes and challenges of the court as well as its impact.
Fighting Human Trafficking Housing Program Evaluation
Faculty Investigators: Shelly Wagers, Ph.D.
Research Assistants: Arturo Garcia, doctoral student, University of South Florida; Marissa Del Vecchio, doctoral student, University of South Florida; Cecilia Pannone, undergraduate student, University of South Florida
Community Partner: United Way of Pasco County
Research Purpose: To conduct an evaluation of United Way of Pasco County's Fighting Human Trafficking Program, particularly their transitional housing in order to determine metrics of success for participants of the program.
Field Testing of a Family Reunification Program for Girls Exploited in Human Trafficking
Faculty Investigators: Colby Valentine, Ph.D.; Joan Reid, Ph.D., LMHC
Research Assistants: Bressia Borja, graduate student, University of South Florida; Klejdis Bilali, doctoral student, University of South Florida
Community Partner: Florida Department of Children & Families; Images of Glory, Inc.
Funding: USF, Women in Leadership & Philanthropy, Dr. Kathleen Moore Excellence Award
Research Purpose: The project is an evaluation and field testing of an innovative program, Journey Homeward, that facilitates and supports family reunification for girls who have been exploited in sex trafficking. Successful family reunification is a critical step for girls exiting exploitive environments and will prevent repeat exploitation in sex trafficking. The project will be guided by the Florida Department of Children and Families as well as Images of Glory, Inc. Images of Glory was the first licensed and certified Human Sex Trafficking House in the Central Florida area. Journey Homeward is a series of sessions for the reunification or reintegration of families, after the devastating trauma of a beloved member being swept into human trafficking. Through these sessions, family members are educated about the trauma their teen has experienced, how this trauma has changed them, and how important it is not to expect their teen to return to the person they once were prior to their trauma.
Sign up for the Journey Homeward Program here!