Street Violence (exchange/ Street Violence (exchange/ Survival sex)Survival sex)

Street Violence (exchange/ Survival Street Violence (exchange/ Survival sex)sex)

Jeff Johnson, MSWJeff Johnson, MSWCo- Facilitated by DoreenCo- Facilitated by Doreen1a.- Survival sex was defined as 1a.- Survival sex was defined as

having ever traded sex for money, having ever traded sex for money, gifts, drugs, shelter, or other needsgifts, drugs, shelter, or other needs

28% of street youths and 10% of youths have 28% of street youths and 10% of youths have reported having participated in survival sex, reported having participated in survival sex, which was associated with age, days away which was associated with age, days away from home, victimization, criminal behaviors, from home, victimization, criminal behaviors, substance use, suicide attempts, sexually substance use, suicide attempts, sexually transmitted disease, and pregnancy. transmitted disease, and pregnancy. Unprotected sexual Activities were common.Unprotected sexual Activities were common.

15% to 20% who had exchanged sex reported 15% to 20% who had exchanged sex reported they had ever been told they have HIV or they had ever been told they have HIV or another sexually transmitted infection (STI).another sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Overall, 32.3% of women, 27.1% of Overall, 32.3% of women, 27.1% of men, and 38.1% of transgendered men, and 38.1% of transgendered persons reported a history of either persons reported a history of either sexual or physical assault in the sexual or physical assault in the previous year; 9.4% of women, 1.4% previous year; 9.4% of women, 1.4% of men, and 11.9% of transgendered of men, and 11.9% of transgendered persons reported sexual assault, and persons reported sexual assault, and 30.6% of women, 26.6% of men, and 30.6% of women, 26.6% of men, and 33.3% of transgendered persons 33.3% of transgendered persons reported physical assault reported physical assault

In a recent survey the population In a recent survey the population surveyed engaged in sex drug surveyed engaged in sex drug exchange or survival sex. (78% exchange or survival sex. (78% currently needing housing and currently needing housing and shelter; 84% had been homeless, shelter; 84% had been homeless, and 75% using illegal substances.and 75% using illegal substances.

Seventy percent of the youths were Seventy percent of the youths were sexually active, average of 11.7 sexually active, average of 11.7 sexual partners ( past 30 days).sexual partners ( past 30 days).

Violence Violence

80% had been physically assaulted 80% had been physically assaulted 43% had been attacked by clients 43% had been attacked by clients 66% had been raped 66% had been raped 78% had been threatened with a 78% had been threatened with a

weapon weapon

Needs Assessment/ Services Needs Assessment/ Services

78% wanted “a home or a safe place”78% wanted “a home or a safe place”50% wanted peer counseling 50% wanted peer counseling 73% wanted job training 73% wanted job training 67% asked for drug and alcohol 67% asked for drug and alcohol

treatmenttreatment50% wanted self- defense training50% wanted self- defense training50% reported serious health problems50% reported serious health problems

Youth are becoming for the first time at Youth are becoming for the first time at a younger age, at an average age of 13 a younger age, at an average age of 13 and 14 years of age. “Out of home and 14 years of age. “Out of home placements” 41% reporting previous placements” 41% reporting previous placements in correctional facilities, placements in correctional facilities, 13% reporting previous placements in 13% reporting previous placements in treatment facilities for chemical or treatment facilities for chemical or alcohol dependency; a quarter of al alcohol dependency; a quarter of al homeless youth report that they have homeless youth report that they have engaged in survival sex to meet their engaged in survival sex to meet their basic needs. basic needs.

StreetWorks Collaborative employs a StreetWorks Collaborative employs a team of 30 outreach workers to meet team of 30 outreach workers to meet the immediate needs of homeless the immediate needs of homeless and runaway youth by providing food and runaway youth by providing food and other basic necessities, and to and other basic necessities, and to connect youth with housing and connect youth with housing and services which they might not other services which they might not other wise access.wise access.

Many street youths use drugs”to deal Many street youths use drugs”to deal with the emotional pain of being with the emotional pain of being sexually victimized at home and, sexually victimized at home and, once on the streets, by four to 10 once on the streets, by four to 10 customers’ a day,” Estes said.customers’ a day,” Estes said.

More than 70% of the women said they More than 70% of the women said they sought treatment because of their concern sought treatment because of their concern for children. 29% of the women reported that for children. 29% of the women reported that they needed childcare in order to participate they needed childcare in order to participate in treatment. 98% of the women subjects in treatment. 98% of the women subjects and experts selected services for children as and experts selected services for children as a critical component for addiction services.a critical component for addiction services.

Major motivation for women to seek drug Major motivation for women to seek drug treatment was concern for themselves (79%) treatment was concern for themselves (79%) and concern for children (72%). Both Groups and concern for children (72%). Both Groups occurred that family and child therapy were occurred that family and child therapy were important counseling modalities.important counseling modalities.

Education and training needsEducation and training needsParent training 81%Parent training 81%Vocational 73% Vocational 73% GED 60%GED 60%

Counseling modalities Counseling modalities Family and child counseling 73%Family and child counseling 73% Individual counseling 67% Individual counseling 67% Women groups 56%Women groups 56%Group Therapy 42%Group Therapy 42%Polydrug treatment 36%Polydrug treatment 36%

Barriers to treatmentBarriers to treatmentLack of access 71%Lack of access 71%Lack of childcare 59% Lack of childcare 59% Type of program 51%Type of program 51%Emotional state 39%Emotional state 39%Negative pressure from Friends, Negative pressure from Friends,

Family 31%Family 31%Fear of loosing child 29% Fear of loosing child 29%

Insensitive supervision and Insensitive supervision and coordinated term efforts correctional coordinated term efforts correctional interventions need to focus not only interventions need to focus not only on individual level factors but also on individual level factors but also social context that gave rise to their social context that gave rise to their problem behaviors in the first place. problem behaviors in the first place.