1. Patterns and Perceptions of Risk and Help-Seeking Amongst Sex Workers in Denver Misty Heil Dr. Susan Dewey Social Work/Women’s Studies PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECT Introduction Sex trafficking is defined as activity “in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion” (U.S. Congress 2000). “Sex work” is defined as the exchange of sexualized intimacy (including, but not limited to, intercourse) for money or something of value. The stigma and beliefs about sex workers has the potential to influence the public policy debate and thus influence the services available for safety and prevention. Sex workers are at a higher risk of violence, rape, STI’s, HIV/AIDS, exposure to addiction and other social problems which increases their need for services. Previously the research focus comes from the criminal justice and public health fields, due to the nature of the work. Consequently scholars are limited in understanding about sex worker’s lives and the social services that restrict help-seeking behavior. This research will be the first of its kind to document how beliefs about sex trafficking coincide or differ between law enforcement, social service providers and sex workers. Dr. Susan Dewey of the Women’s Studies Department University of Wyoming McNair Scholar Program Zackie Salmon, Susan Stoddard and Pilar Flores University of Wyoming Department of Social Work Purpose Statement With the broader goal of improving services for women engaged in sex work through informed advocacy, the objectives of this study will draw on law enforcement, social service workers and sex worker to assess; the similarities and differences in view of how sex workers conceptualize risk, strategies for risk avoidance, and their descriptions of needed, but currently unavailable, services. Methods Research Objectives Importance of the Study The proposed research to offer empirical evidence to be used to advance scholarship on sex work and public policy by providing research- based recommendations regarding ways that anti-trafficking legislation and public policy could better assist women who wish to leave sex work or who are victim/survivors of sex trafficking. This study will attempt to fill a gap in the literature pertaining to the understanding of sex worker’s lives and the social services that restrict help- seeking behavior. This harm reduction- driven project situates sex worker women as authorities of their own experiences, and will employ their voices and descriptions of their life situations as empirical evidence to offer recommendations for change in legal, social services, public policy and advance scholarship on sex work. Expected Results  Interviews and participant observation will be conducted at venue deemed appropriate by participants.  Participants will include a maximum of 66 predominantly male law enforcement officers, 66 predominantly female sex workers, and 66 male and female social service providers, between the ages of 18 to 60.  Semi-structured interviews will cover the following four topics: [1] occupational norms; [2] occupation-specific perceptions of force; [3] perceptions of occupational norms amongst the two other occupational groups; [4] personal experiences with occupation-specific perceptions of force.  Interview are not to last for more than one hour (60 minutes)  Participant observation will last the duration of one hour but will not to exceed five hours. Photo provided by All About Addiction.com Background photo provided by www.dipity.com Truck drivers wearing condoms decrease in HIV/AIDS cases among Truck Drivers decrease in HIV/AIDS in Sex Worker 10%3-6%5% 20%6-14%10-11% 30%10-21%16-18% 40%15-30%23-26% 50%21-40%31-35% 60%28-51%40-45% 70%38-63%51-58% 80%51-83%64-79% 90%70-100%80-100% Kassem, T. G., Roudenki, S., Tennebaum, S., Castillo-Chavex, C.,(2005). The role of transactional sex in the spread of HIV/AIDS: A modeling perspective. Tempe, AZ: Arizona State University, pg. 334. Sticker created by Nigel Brunsdon, available on www.redbubble.com This study is anticipated to reveal inconsistencies of ideal means of risk prevention amongst sex workers, law enforcement and social service workers. This study will provide the justice and social systems empirical evidence to analyze services provided, to better help victims of sex trafficking that are consistent with the overall themes of unavailable services put forth by sex workers.