Occupational Therapy - 2015

18 Societal Statement on the Role of Occupational Therapy with Survivors of Human Sex Trafficking in the United States I As part of a specialized course, OTD 8340 Wellness and Health Promotion in Occupational Therapy, students from the Nova Southeastern University Entry Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, drafted a Societal Statement on the role of occupational therapy with survivors of human sex trafficking in the United States. The students explored the issue of domestic human sex trafficking from an occupational perspective, under the guid- ance of their professor, Mirtha Montejo Whaley, PhD, OTR/L. As of the publication of this journal, the document is under review by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Chelsea Bryant, Lillian Freeman, Meghan Granata, Annie He-Strocchio, Hillarie Hough, Shree Patel, Ashley Sted- man, Stephanie Sylvia, and My-Lynn Tran We are submitting this Societal Statement to AOTA, in hopes of promoting knowledge about this issue, and encouraging our association to support our role in the wellness and health promotion of individuals affected by human sex trafficking . Occupational therapy has much to contribute to the reintegration of survivors of, and prevention of human sex trafficking in collabora- tion with community groups and agencies. The first step is to raise awareness of this issue and to educate therapists as to our roles in assisting survivors of hu- man trafficking to reclaim their lives, roles, and occu- pations. Definition In 2004 human trafficking was defined as “the recruit- ment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons” (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2004, p. 42). Today, human trafficking is known as a “modern-day form of slavery,” through illegal for profit trade of people using force and manipulation (Department of Homeland Security, 2013). Human trafficking, in the form of sex slavery, requires individ- uals to perform sexual activities against their will while remaining in a life of physical or psychological captivity. These sexual activities include “pornography, stripping, escort services, and other sexual services” (Kotrla, 2010, p.182). Statistics In the United States, the average age of children enter- ing the sex trade by force or other means is between 12-14 years (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010). Ac- cording to the Polaris Project website (2014), over the past six years, sex trafficking hotline calls have increased by 400 percent. It is estimated that 100,000 children are involved in the sex trade in the United States each year (Polaris Project, 2014). Statistics and findings from the literature indicate there is an upward trend in the number of children becoming involved in the sex trafficking industry. Risk Factors Risk factors for children and youth falling victim to sex trafficking, include but are not limited to: running away from home; prior drug/substance abuse by indi- vidual or others in the home; prior multiform abuse (sexual, mental, emotional, and physical); low socio- economic status; decreased level of education; neglect, and/or domestic violence in the home (Greenbaum, 2014; Hickle, Roe-Sepowitz, 2014; Todres & Clayton, 2014; Zimmerman et al., 2003). Sex Trafficking, Development, Occupational Depriva- tion, and Social Justice Individuals who are sex trafficked are likely to experi- ence a loss of the roles and occupations associated with their ages and typical developmental stages. Ac- cording to Crepeau, Cohn, and Boyt-Schell (2009), occupational deprivation occurs when individuals are subjected to conditions “in which people’s needs for meaningful and health-promoting occupations go unmet or are systematically denied” (p.1162). Not only do victims of sex trafficking experience occupational deprivation, but over the months and years that they OCCUPATION: A Medium of Inquiry for Students, Faculty & Other Practitioners Advocating for Health through Occupational Studies November 2015, Volume 1, Number 1