Background

Specialty courts have emerged as a model of care for U.S. youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) to ensure comprehensive service provision. However, there is a lack of published research that documents the extent to which these programs achieve this goal.

Objective

We sought to understand a specialty juvenile justice court's role in identifying mental health and substance use treatment needs, providing linkages to services, and facilitating stability for youth with histories of CSE.

Participants and setting

We conducted an exhaustive court file review of the 364 participants in a U.S. based juvenile delinquency specialty court for youth affected by CSE. The observation period spanned 2012-2017.

Methods

The research team systematically transferred data from court files into a secure, electronic database. Descriptive statistics and Chisquared tests were calculated to explore potential associations.

Results

Participation in the specialty court for youth impacted by CSE suggests an increase in identification of mental health and substance use needs and linkages and referrals to mental health and substance use treatment services. In addition, there was increased stabilization as indicated by decreased substantiated child welfare allegations, fewer running away episodes, and placements and criminal involvement.

Conclusions

Specialty courts that incorporate a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed approach offer a promising intervention model for meeting the high treatment needs of youth impacted by CSE.

Objective

We gathered the perspectives of girls and young women affected by commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) to understand the acceptability and feasibility of mobile health (mHealth) for enhancing access and engagement in health and social services during judicial involvement.

Methods

We conducted four focus groups with 14 girls and young women (ages 14 to 21) with self-identified CSE histories.

Results

Participants perceived mHealth as viable for accessing and engaging providers, and health and social services, and navigating judicial systems. Participants expressed that mHealth tools increased self-efficacy and self-navigation of required services. Recommendations to improve mHealth functionality included push-notification appointment reminders, wellness and safety promotion, enhancement of provider communication, peer-to-peer support, and access to health education and community resources.

Conclusions

Findings provide insight for how mHealth may be leveraged to increase self-management skills, fulfill judicial obligations, and improve access and engagement in health and social services for CSE-affected girls and young women.