Field Center Multi-city Study on Child Trafficking Among Homeless Youth
The Field Center recently completed a 3-city study as part of an initiative by Covenant House International to conduct the largest-ever study of the incidence of trafficking among homeless youth, encompassing approximately 1,000 youth across 13 cities. The Field Center interviewed close to 300 homeless youth in Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, DC to learn about the prevalence of child trafficking, and the history of child maltreatment, out of home placement, and resilience factors among those who were sex trafficked or engaged in the sex trade to survive. Of those interviewed, 17% were victims of sex trafficking and 14% engaged in “survival sex” to meet their basic needs.