Assessing early identification, access to services, service system effectiveness and community collaboration for sexually trafficked Asian immigrants in San Francisco

Human trafficking for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation is an emerging issue for the public health community at large and for health and social service providers in particular. Because of its ethnic diversity, geographic location, laws around prostitution and sex work, and the existence of intricate and long-established trafficking networks, San Francisco is one of the top destinations for traffickers to conduct business. Many sexually trafficked individuals in San Francisco are Asian immigrants from countries where socioeconomic conditions contribute to this cycle of supply and demand. Additionally, providing health and social services is challenging because trafficked individuals are mostly identified after the criminal justice system intervenes. We interviewed eighteen key informants who provide health, legal, spiritual, educational, and social services in San Francisco. They answered questions about the identification of sexually trafficked Asian immigrants, access to services, service system effectiveness, and community collaboration. Findings indicate that only a few organizations in San Francisco worked with sexually trafficked Asian immigrants, but these few took a pro-active approach of engaging clients. These organizations also offer support, shelter and access to community resources. However, most providers do not knowingly serve this population and expressed interest in expanded collaborations, trainings, and information. These results provide groundbreaking information that will help develop new community-based partnerships, health education activities promoting access to health and social services, and non-criminalized safe spaces that address the stigma associated with sexual trafficking.