The Importance of Fostering Trust in Service Delivery With Child and Youth Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

The commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) of children occurs when individuals under the age of 18 years exchange sex/sexual acts for goods, services, drugs, or money. Current research suggests that many survivors of CSE had contact with a variety of professionals during their victimization experiences; however, many child CSE survivors are wary of those working with them in professional roles, including those seeking to engage them in regular care. The current study used qualitative interviews with professionals working with children who have experienced CSE to explore their strategies for facilitating trust. Qualitative data were collected from 80 diverse professionals from 11 different cities across the United States. Grounded theory analysis revealed three main themes regarding the facilitation of trust building: (a) clear communication, (b) humanization of experience, and (c) boundaries/limits. Findings from the current study offer practical implications for professionals, such as nurses, who are interested in facilitating rapport with children who have experienced CSE victimization in the interest of primary and tertiary prevention. Future research should focus on survivor perspectives to explore how professional's approaches are experienced by the populations they purport to serve.