CHER serves as the evaluator for My Sister’s Keeper, a project that aims to address human trafficking in the City of Long Beach.
Globally, human-trafficking generates $32 billion a year in profit. The Long Beach Police Department has reported that the majority of human traffickers in the City are gang members. Although gangs have historically trafficked drugs to earn money, the trafficking of young women is becoming more prevalent, as this revenue stream will continue for as long as the young women are in captivity.
My Sister’s Keeper project goals are to decrease human trafficking cases in Long Beach through:
1) the arrest and prosecution of gang members involved in human trafficking and
2) wraparound services to assist and empower victims of human trafficking.
Project partners include Gems Uncovered, Long Beach Trauma and Recovery Center, and Goodwill Industries.
CHER has implemented a mixed methods approach to assess how project activities contribute to mental health, self-efficacy, and job skills development. Evaluation activities include pre- and post-surveys and individual interviews with program participants to learn about their experience in My Sister’s Keeper.
Interviews also provide deeper insight into the outcomes of interest, barriers to utilization of program services, and areas in which the project excels as well as suggestions for how the project can better meet participant needs.
The My Sister’s Keeper project continues to positively impact the lives of young women in the community through the unwavering encouragement, support and compassion of all staff involved. CHER has served as the evaluation team for the My Sister’s Keeper project since January 2016.
