17 - Three Perspectives on How to Empower Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation as Subject Matter Experts

Abstract Information: How can we conduct meaningful evaluations with vulnerable communities that have been historically unheard and underrepresented? In order to address their safety and well-being, individuals experiencing commercial sexual exploitation are often required to navigate complex barriers and challenges to access help. When designing an evaluation of victim service programs, it is critical to intentionally explore methods that can empower individuals who are at the center of these programs.

Since 2020, CASH has worked with the Institute for Social Research at Sacramento State (ISR) and the CASH Survivor Council (an advisory group of subject-matter experts with lived experience) to evaluate CASH services and program outcomes. ISR and CASH worked collaboratively to amplify and incorporate the voices and expertise of CASH’s Survivor Council and CASH clients through multiple methods, including: a collaborative logic model workshop, client focus groups, and an interactive sense-making session of the evaluation results. These methods strengthened the evaluation findings, contributed to a productive working relationship, and purposely created moments for professional growth and empowerment for all participants.

This panel will bring together representatives from CASH, the ISR evaluation team, and the CASH Survivor Council to engage attendees in a discussion covering:

1) Unique considerations of evaluating victim services programming focused on harm-mitigation, and steps to integrate people with lived experience into the process.

2) Recommendations for reaching and intentionally engaging survivors of commercial sexual exploitation throughout the evaluation process.

3) Trauma-informed considerations for engaging in community-based evaluation with highly vulnerable populations, from the perspective of individuals with lived experiences.

These varied perspectives will shed light on how to effectively amplify the voices of commercial sexual exploitation survivors as subject matter experts in an evaluation. Panelists will focus on how survivors can be empowered to participate in key decision-making processes and provide crucial insights on evaluating programs that work with individuals who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation.