David Okech

Human trafficking: Improving victim identification and service provision

The trafficking of humans is a serious issue. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) is the main legislative effort in the US that addresses this problem. Based on social work values, the article provides an assessment of the TVPA and suggests that service provision and victim identification need to be strengthened to better serve human trafficking victims. Global trends, efforts, and limitations in reducing trafficking are discussed. Specific interventions by social workers in victim identification and service provision are presented.

The Effects of Economic Pressure on the Resilience and Strengths of Individuals Living in Extreme Poverty

Economic pressure has negative effects on families living in poverty that require much resilience and strength to cope. Although the strengths perspective upholds many human service values, literature on how it can be used to build resilience of these families is scarce. This exploratory study reports on the relationship between the constructs of economic pressure and resilience among N = 194 individuals living in extreme poverty. The authors found a significant relationship between economic pressure and resilience, with higher economic pressure being associated with less resilience. However, family income was not a significant factor between economic pressure and resilience. Discussion is directed toward practice, policy, and research in enhancing the resilience and strengths of families living in extreme poverty.

Parental Self-Efficacy and Joining a Savings Program for Children’s Education

Objectives: Using baseline survey data, the study examined self-efficacy of 381 lower-income parents who had opportunities to build financial assets for their children by opening college savings accounts in a human service agency. Methods: Of the study sample, 62% of the parents decided to open accounts while 38% did not. Structural equation modeling for multiple group models was performed. Results: There were few demographic differences between the groups. The measurement model was invariant across parents who decided or did not decide to open accounts, fitting the data for both account openers and nonopeners, χ2(450, n = 381) = 804.60, p < .001, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = .070(.063—.073), Non-Normed Fit Index [NNFI] = 0.93, Comparative Fit Index [CFI] = 0.93). Conclusions: Results lend some support to institutional perspective on saving. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Evaluating the Effects of Child Savings Accounts Program Participation on Parental Well-Being.

Objectives: Using baseline and second wave data, the study evaluated the impact of child savings accounts participation on parenting stress, personal mastery, and economic strain with N = 381 lower income parents who decided to join and those who did not join in a child development savings account program. Methods: Structural equation modeling for multiple group and time models was performed. Results: The degree of parenting stress at the first measurement occasion (M = 2.02, standard deviation [SD] = 0.34) was significantly different, Δχ2(2, n = 381) = 28.30, p <.001, (at the .017 level; Bonferroni correction) from the second measurement occasion (M = 1.93, SD = 0.34); however, the effect size was in the small-to-medium range (d = .25). Conclusions: Participation in such programs does not negatively affect the well-being of parents. Implications are directed toward practice, policy, and research.

Reporting Multiple-Group Mean and Covariance Structure across Occasions with Structural Equation Modeling.

Objectives: Using baseline and second wave data, the study evaluated the measurement and structural properties of parenting stress, personal mastery, and economic strain with N = 381 lower income parents who decided to join and those who did not join in a child development savings account program. Methods: Structural equation modeling mean and covariance structures was performed across groups and occasion was performed. Results: Measurement invariance was established across groups and across occasions. However, parenting stress differed across occasions. Conclusions: SEM methods are useful in testing theories as well as comparing manifest and latent structures of constructs across groups and occasions.

Seventeen years of human trafficking research in social work: a review of the literature

ABSTRACT The trafficking of persons around the world is a serious violation of human rights and manifestation of social injustice. It disproportionately affects women and children worldwide. Given the values of the social work profession and the prevalence of trafficking, it is essential to understand the current literature on human trafficking in social work journals. Using the PRISMA method, this systematic review (n = 94 articles) of human trafficking in social work journals found the following: more focus on sex trafficking than other forms of trafficking; a lack of a clear conceptualization and definition on the entire spectrum of trafficking; a lack of evidence-informed empirical research to inform programs, practice, and policy; and a dearth of recommendations for social work education. Specific implications for social work policy, research, practice, and education are highlighted and discussed.

The Influence of Financial Factors on Motivation to Save among Poor Individuals

This cross-sectional study of N = 194 low-income individuals compared socio-demographic and finance-related factors between those who reported having a motivation to save and those who did not report having some motivation to save. Theories and factors related to saving are reviewed. Logistic regression tests found that paying rent with cash, using voluntary income tax assistance to prepare taxes, and witnessing parents save money through financial institutions were positively associated with the likelihood of having a motivation to save. Overall, the study supports the significance of financial socialization and institutional mechanisms of saving. Discussions are directed toward efforts to help lower income families save.

Implications of human trafficking in Asia: a scoping review of aftercare initiatives centered on economic development

ABSTRACT The trafficking of persons is one of the most egregious violations of human rights in modern society. Given the disproportionate effects across demographic categories of age and gender, as well as concentrated impacts within the developing world, there is a strong need for research and literature on program effectiveness and appropriate aftercare efforts for those persons whose lives and livelihoods have been impacted by trafficking. The purpose of this article is to provide a scoping review of what is known about effectively helping survivors of human trafficking experiencing lack of economic opportunity and the implications for practice and future research regarding the absence of literature. From over 14,000 initial search results, this article focuses on those initiatives (N = 16) that support economic development of the individual or family after being trafficked. Implications arising from the review for trafficking policy, areas for further research, and implications for practitioners are highlighted and discussed.

“One Size Does Not Fit All:” A Proposed Ecological Model for Human Trafficking Intervention

ABSTRACT The problem of human trafficking continues to be one of the vilest human rights abuse and manifestation of social injustice around the world. A lot of antitrafficking efforts have been put in place. However, there is still a lot of emphasis on the criminal aspect of the problem. This has meant that human and practical aspects of the problem have not received sufficient attention, including assessing the problem, victims, and perpetrators in their environments. The ecological perspective helps practitioners, researchers, and policy makers to better understand the problem. This article uses the main concepts in this theory to frame the problem. Discussions are directed toward understanding the different aspects of the problem from an ecological perspective.

Financial capability and sociodemographic factors among survivors of human trafficking

ABSTRACT Improving the economic well-being of the girls and women is a key to reducing re-trafficking and in providing stability that survivors can use to rebuild their lives. The study looks at how various sociodemographic traits affected the financial capability of n = 144 women and girls who received intervention at a residential care facility in Ghana, West Africa. Three domain of financial capability are assessed in this, i.e., financial risk, financial planning, and financial saving. A scaled likelihood ratio test (chi-square difference test) was used to evaluate the significance of each direct covariate effect(%). Each of the overall goodness-of-fit indices suggested that the initial CFA model fit the data well, χ2 (19, N = 144) = 31.45, p = 0.04, RMSEA = 0.067 (90% CI: 0.017–0.108), TLI = 0.923, CFI = 0.948. Older women reported lower levels of financial savings than younger women. We found that women with secondary school education or higher reported significantly higher financial risk than women with less education. Women with children reported lower levels of financial saving than women without children. Married women indicated significantly more financial saving than single women. There was a significant negative effect of time spent in trafficking conditions on financial saving, indicating the highest average level of financial savings at intervention and decreased thereafter. Programs and policies in resource-scarce contexts that aim to assist trafficking survivors must go beyond providing psychosocial counseling and focus also on economic development opportunities.