PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify aftercare services for domestic minor of sex trafficking (DMST) survivors provided by U.S. residential treatment centers.
DESIGN: A qualitative research study was conducted with aftercare program personnel from five U.S. residential treatment centers for DMST survivors.
METHODS: Interviews were conducted with staff from five different residential treatment centers providing services exclusively to domestic minor sex trafficking survivors.
FINDINGS: Participants described the range of services offered to address survivors' posttrafficking needs. Participants' responses assisted in expanding an existing care model to include education re-entry, family reunification, family reconciliation, and emergency substance use services.
CONCLUSIONS: This study led to the refinement of an aftercare service delivery model and laid the foundation to develop best practice guidelines for providing aftercare services to DMST survivors. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Sex trafficking is a global health problem affecting our youth today. Nurses have a vital role in combatting sex trafficking by raising awareness about the problem and restoring the lives of sex trafficking victims by implementing innovative care programs.