Skip to main content

Creating Sanctuary: Trauma-Informed Change for Survivors of Sex Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Book cover The Palgrave International Handbook of Human Trafficking

Abstract

The Sanctuary Model® is an evidence-supported, trauma-informed, and trauma-responsive organizational culture approach to addressing the needs of individuals who have been exposed to overwhelming and usually repeated and sustained exposure to maltreatment, violence, and systematic dehumanization. Victims of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation have experienced profound moral injury, and repair must be a fundamental component of healing. The objective of introducing an organizational culture approach is to enable a program, a system, or even an entire community to organize itself around a shared vision, knowledge foundation, set of values, language, and practice in service of creating a total service delivery environment to counter the complex effects of traumatic exposure. As a result of the scarcity of literature pertaining to evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment for survivors of sex trafficking, and the potentiality of a trauma-informed organizational and systems intervention to reduce stigma and promote healing, this chapter will describe the Sanctuary Model, outline the four major pillars of the model, and discuss its application for enhancing the system of care for survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 549.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 699.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ahn R, Alpert EJ, Purcell G, Konstantopoulos WM, McGahan A, Cafferty E, Eckardt M, Conn KL, Cappetta K, Burke TF (2013) Human trafficking Review of educational resources for health professionals. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 44:283–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagley C, Young L (1987) Juvenile prostitution and child sexual abuse: A controlled study. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health 6: 5–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blaustein ME, Kinniburg KM (2010) Treating traumatic stress in children and adolescents: How to foster resilience through attachment, self-regulation, and competency. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloom S L (2011) The Sanctuary Model. Retrieved October 18, 2011, from http://www.sanctuaryweb.com/trauma-informedsystems.php

  • Bloom S L (2018) The Sanctuary Model and Sex Trafficking: Creating Moral Systems to Counteract Exploitation and Dehumanization. In Nichols A J, Edmond T, Heil C, Social Work Practice with Survivors of Sex Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloitre M, Stolbach BC, Herman JL, van der Kolk B, Pynoos R, Wang J, Petkova E (2008) A developmental approach to complex PTSD: Childhood and adult cumulative trauma as predictors of symptom complexity. Journal of Traumatic Stress 22: 399–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Copeland WE, Keeler G, Angold A, Costello EJ (2007) Traumatic events and posttraumatic stress in childhood. Archives General Psychiatry 64: 577–584.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Countryman- Roswurm K, DiLollo A (2016) Survivor: A narrative therapy approach for use with sex trafficked women and girls. Women and Therapy 40:55–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Courtois CA (2004) Complex trauma, complex reactions: Assessment and treatment. Journal of Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 41: 412–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Covington SS (2008) Women and addiction: A trauma-informed approach. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 5: 377–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Decker MR, McCauley HL, Phuengsamran D, Janyam S, Silverman JG (2011) Sex trafficking, sexual risk, sexually transmitted infections reproductive health among female sex workers in Thailand. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 65:334–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliot DE, Bjelajac P, Fallot RD, Markoff LS, Glover Reed B (2005) Trauma-informed or trauma-denied: Principles and implementation of trauma-informed services for women. Journal of Community Psychology 33: 461–477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esaki N, Benamati J, Yanosy S, Middleton J, Hopson L, Hummer V, Bloom S (2013) The Sanctuary Model®: Theoretical framework. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services 94:87–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fallot RD and Harris M (2009) Creating cultures of trauma-informed care (CCTIC): A self assessment and planning protocol. Retrieved from: https://www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/icmh/documents/CCTICSelf-AssessmentandPlanningProtocol0709.pdf

  • Fisher J (1999) The work of stabilization in trauma treatment. Paper presented at the Trauma Lecture Series.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gatz M, Brown V, Hennigan K, Rechberger E, O’Keefe M, Rose T, Bjelajac P (2007) Effectiveness of an integrated, trauma-informed approach to treating women with co-occurring disorders and histories of trauma: The Los Angeles site experience. Journal of Community Psychology 35:863–878.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greene J M, Ennett S T, Ringwalt C L (1999) Prevalence and correlates of survival sex among runaway and homeless youth. American Journal of Public Health 89:1406–1409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halcon L L and Lifson A R (2004) Prevalence and predictors of sexual risks among homeless youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 33:71–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harney P A (2007) Resilience processes in context: Contributions and implications of Bronfenbrenner’s person-process-context model. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma 14:73–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hemmings S, Jakobowitz S, Abas M, Bick D, Howard LM, Stanley N, Zimmerman C, Oram S (2016) Responding to the health needs of survivors of human trafficking: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research 16:1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hom KA, Woods SJ (2013) Trauma and its aftermath for commercially sexually exploited women as told by front-line service providers. Issues in Mental Health Nursing 35:75–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopper EK (2017) Trauma-informed psychological assessment of human trafficking survivors. Women and Therapy 40:12–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hossain M, Zimmerman C, Abas M, Light M, Watts C (2010) The relationship of trauma to mental disorders among trafficked and sexually exploited girls and women. American Journal of Public Health 100 2442–2449.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ko SJ, Ford JD, Kassam-Adams N, Berkowitz SJ, Wilson C, Wong M (2008) Creating trauma-informed systems: Child welfare, education, first responders, health care, juvenile justice. Professional Psychology 39:396–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Konstantopoulos WM, Ahn R, Alpert EJ, Cafferty E, McGahan A, Williams TP, Palmer Castor J, Purcell G, Burke TF (2013) An international comparative public health analysis of sex trafficking of women and girls in eight cities: Achieving a more effective health sector response. Journal of Urban Health 90:1194–1204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larkin H, Beckos B A, Shields J J (2012) Mobilizing resilience and recovery in response to adverse childhood experiences (ACE): A restorative integral support (RIS) case study. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community 40:335–346. https://doi.org/10.1080/10852352.2012.707466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Middleton J, Gattis M, Frey L, Roe-Sepowitz D (2018) Youth Experiences Survey (YES): Exploring the scope and complexity of sex trafficking in a sample of youth experiencing homelessness. Journal of Social Service Research 44:1–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller NA, Najavits LM (2012) Creating trauma-informed correctional care: A balance of goals and environment. European Journal of Psychotraumatology 3:1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muftic, LR, Finn MA (2013) Health outcomes among women trafficked for sex in the United States: A closer look. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 28:1859–1885.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Child Traumatic Stress Network (2008, August) Sanctuary Model: General information. Trauma-Informed Interventions. Retrieved from http://www.nctsnet.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/promising_practices/Sanctuary_General.pdf

  • Rekart M L (2006) Sex-work harm reduction. The Lancet 366:2123–2134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivard J C, Bloom S L, McCorkle D, Abramovitz R. (2005) Preliminary results of a study examining the implementation and effects of a trauma recovery framework for youths in residential treatment. Therapeutic Community: The International Journal for Therapeutic and Supportive Organizations 26:83–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe-Sepowitz, D. E. (2012) Juvenile Entry Into Prostitution: The Role of Emotional Abuse.Violence Against Women 18:561–579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saakvitne KW, Gamble SJ, Pearlman LA, Lev BT (2000) Risking connection: A training curriculum for working with survivors of childhood abuse. Lutherville, MD: Sidran.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAMHSA (n.d.) Trauma-informed care and alternatives to seclusion and restraint Retrieved from: https://www.samhsa.gov/nctic/trauma-interventions

  • Stein B D, Sorbero M, Kogan J, Greenberg L (2011) Assessing the implementation of a residential facility organizational change model: Pennsylvania’s implementation of the Sanctuary Model. Retrieved from http://www.ccbh.com/aboutus/news/articles/SanctuaryModel.php

  • Twill SE, Green DM, Traylor A (2010) A descriptive study on sexually exploited children in residential treatment. Child Youth Care Forum 39: 187–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of State (2016). 2016 Trafficking in Persons Report. Retrieved from https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/258876.pdf

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer Middleton .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer International Publishing AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Middleton, J., McDonald, A. (2020). Creating Sanctuary: Trauma-Informed Change for Survivors of Sex Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation. In: Winterdyk, J., Jones, J. (eds) The Palgrave International Handbook of Human Trafficking. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63058-8_35

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics