Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Department
Occupational Therapy
First Advisor
Breann Lamborn
Abstract
Purpose: In 2021, the U.S. reported 10,360 human trafficking cases, of which 7,499 or 72% were explicitly identified as instances of sex trafficking (National Human Trafficking Hotline, 2021). Sex trafficking is “a form of modern-day slavery in which individuals perform commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion” (National Human Trafficking Hotline, n.d., para. 1). Due to survivors of sex trafficking being exposed to dehumanizing and traumatic events, this may impact the ability to participate and engage in daily activities related to an individual's executive functioning and life skills. The purpose of this scholarly project was to analyze the impact that sex trafficking has on occupational performance, assess the executive functioning needs of the population, and translate these needs to create a product that will aid in the population’s recovery to increase overall health, well-being, and quality of life.
Methods: A comprehensive literature review needs assessment was conducted to determine how occupational therapists and mental health practitioners are able to address executive functioning deficits in survivors of sex trafficking. The creation of the product was guided by the personenvironment- occupation-performance (PEOP) model, which analyzed the fit between the person, environment, and occupation and how these factors influence performance in meaningful occupations (Bass et al., 2017).
Results: The product The Executive Functioning Toolkit: The Key to Enhanced Performance was developed to enhance executive functioning skills and occupational performance among survivors of sex trafficking. This toolkit is designed to be a guide on comprehending executive functioning skills and recognizing common deficits through a trauma-informed lens, while also outlining appropriate assessments, interventions, and educational resources to support executive functioning skill development for survivors of sex trafficking.
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Riley P., "Improving Occupational Performance for Survivors of Sex Trafficking: An Executive Functioning Program" (2024). Occupational Therapy Capstones. 598.
https://commons.und.edu/ot-grad/598