“Throw Dat Hat!”: Educational Experiences, Attainment, and Aspirations of Adolescent Female Trafficking Survivors in a Residential Facility

This study addresses the gap in research on the educational experiences of adolescent human trafficking survivors, with a focus on their past, present, and future educational experiences and goals. Its objective is to inform the best practices for educational programming within female adolescent res...

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Main Authors: Sunny Wells, Gretchen S. Goode, Kimberly A. Hogan, Rebecca Lavigne, Tommie Killen, Megan Simmons
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/11/561
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author Sunny Wells
Gretchen S. Goode
Kimberly A. Hogan
Rebecca Lavigne
Tommie Killen
Megan Simmons
author_facet Sunny Wells
Gretchen S. Goode
Kimberly A. Hogan
Rebecca Lavigne
Tommie Killen
Megan Simmons
author_sort Sunny Wells
collection DOAJ
description This study addresses the gap in research on the educational experiences of adolescent human trafficking survivors, with a focus on their past, present, and future educational experiences and goals. Its objective is to inform the best practices for educational programming within female adolescent residential care centers in the United States. Drawing on a subset of data from a broader mixed-methods case study conducted at the Allasso House residential facility, this research involved 11 current residents. The data sources included case files detailing their past educational experiences, assessments of their current educational achievements, and interviews exploring their future aspirations. The findings reveal key themes related to the residents past risk factors, current educational successes and barriers, and tensions in setting future goals. Most of the residents expressed a desire to attain high school equivalency, identifying financial stability as a primary motivation. They also aspired to form healthy families, while placing significant value on material success. Unlike studies that define success primarily through survival, sobriety, and the avoidance of re-trafficking, this research highlights the broader aspirations of these adolescents, emphasizing the critical role of education in general wellbeing, risk mitigation, and future success. This study underscores the importance of prioritizing educational attainment and long-term aspirations in future research and in the design of residential programs for adolescent survivors of trafficking.
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spelling doaj-art-4200dd6a5b7447a79ea80048bf984dc72025-08-20T01:54:08ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602024-10-01131156110.3390/socsci13110561“Throw Dat Hat!”: Educational Experiences, Attainment, and Aspirations of Adolescent Female Trafficking Survivors in a Residential FacilitySunny Wells0Gretchen S. Goode1Kimberly A. Hogan2Rebecca Lavigne3Tommie Killen4Megan Simmons5School of Education, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USASchool of Education, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USASchool of Social Work, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USASchool of Education, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USASchool of Education, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USALearning, Teaching and Literacies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USAThis study addresses the gap in research on the educational experiences of adolescent human trafficking survivors, with a focus on their past, present, and future educational experiences and goals. Its objective is to inform the best practices for educational programming within female adolescent residential care centers in the United States. Drawing on a subset of data from a broader mixed-methods case study conducted at the Allasso House residential facility, this research involved 11 current residents. The data sources included case files detailing their past educational experiences, assessments of their current educational achievements, and interviews exploring their future aspirations. The findings reveal key themes related to the residents past risk factors, current educational successes and barriers, and tensions in setting future goals. Most of the residents expressed a desire to attain high school equivalency, identifying financial stability as a primary motivation. They also aspired to form healthy families, while placing significant value on material success. Unlike studies that define success primarily through survival, sobriety, and the avoidance of re-trafficking, this research highlights the broader aspirations of these adolescents, emphasizing the critical role of education in general wellbeing, risk mitigation, and future success. This study underscores the importance of prioritizing educational attainment and long-term aspirations in future research and in the design of residential programs for adolescent survivors of trafficking.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/11/561adolescent traffickingeducational experienceseducational attainmentfuture aspirationssex trafficking
spellingShingle Sunny Wells
Gretchen S. Goode
Kimberly A. Hogan
Rebecca Lavigne
Tommie Killen
Megan Simmons
“Throw Dat Hat!”: Educational Experiences, Attainment, and Aspirations of Adolescent Female Trafficking Survivors in a Residential Facility
Social Sciences
adolescent trafficking
educational experiences
educational attainment
future aspirations
sex trafficking
title “Throw Dat Hat!”: Educational Experiences, Attainment, and Aspirations of Adolescent Female Trafficking Survivors in a Residential Facility
title_full “Throw Dat Hat!”: Educational Experiences, Attainment, and Aspirations of Adolescent Female Trafficking Survivors in a Residential Facility
title_fullStr “Throw Dat Hat!”: Educational Experiences, Attainment, and Aspirations of Adolescent Female Trafficking Survivors in a Residential Facility
title_full_unstemmed “Throw Dat Hat!”: Educational Experiences, Attainment, and Aspirations of Adolescent Female Trafficking Survivors in a Residential Facility
title_short “Throw Dat Hat!”: Educational Experiences, Attainment, and Aspirations of Adolescent Female Trafficking Survivors in a Residential Facility
title_sort throw dat hat educational experiences attainment and aspirations of adolescent female trafficking survivors in a residential facility
topic adolescent trafficking
educational experiences
educational attainment
future aspirations
sex trafficking
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/11/561
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