Child trafficking has been reported in all 50 states and affects more than 2 million children each year (Guardian Group, 2021). Involvement in human trafficking at a young age induces trauma that has a lasting effect on the victim’s personality and coping skills. A review of literature confirmed a need for more support of the use of occupational therapy with sex trafficking survivors. Despite support for the implementation of occupational therapy in similar trauma populations like domestic violence, homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder, and disaster survivors, there is limited literature supporting the use of OT with human trafficking survivors (Gorman & Hatkevich, 2016). This occupational therapy capstone project focuses on program and policy development at an anti-human trafficking organization called Selah Freedom. Selah Freedom is a nonprofit organization with a mission to end sex trafficking and bring freedom to individuals that have been exploited (Selah Freedom, 2021). The pre-existing curriculum, created by Selah Freedom’s curriculum specialist, already emulated a focus on meaningful occupation in most areas of life, which allowed the student to generate more specific original curriculums and resources. The resulting products of this project include a nutrition curriculum, education reference tool, intern manual and checklist, and a mentor training library.
| Date of Award | Apr 23 2021 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Madeleine Childers (Supervisor) & Debra Keim (Advisor) |
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