DOI: 10.3886/icpsr37628.v1
title: Estimating the Prevalence of Trafficking Among Homeless and Runaway Youth, Georgia, 2017-2018
title: Version 1

description: The 2018 Atlanta Youth Count (AYC18), a follow-up to the 2015 Atlanta Youth Count and Needs Assessment (AYCNA), was expanded in 2018 to specifically address sex and labor trafficking among youth experiencing homelessness in metro Atlanta. This project was designed to provide impact on court, law enforcement, and victim service practices at the jurisdictional level in Georgia, and beyond.
Homeless youth in metro Atlanta and surrounding counties were contacted through outreach efforts at youth shelters, motels, and street locations where homeless youth tend to congregate. Data collection focused on basic demographic information, history of homelessness, health, sexual experiences, and social supports.
description: The purpose of the study was to:

Provide metro Atlanta service providers, policymakers, and youth advocates with practical information on the size, nature, and needs of the homeless and runaway youth in this community who are involved in various forms of sex and labor trafficking;
Collect information that can be used to develop and refine policies, programs, and interventions to help these youth in this community; and
Encourage a community-wide dialogue about the needs and social determinants of youth homelessness and human trafficking.
description: Members of the study team conducted a street based survey with youth in five metro counties - Cobb, Clayton, Dekalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett. Interviews were conducted contacting homeless youth in shelters, motels, and other street and community locations where homeless youth live and spend time. Youth were contacted during three distinct 10-day sweeps. Screened-in youth had to meet the following characteristics:

age 14 to 25
live independently of any consistent support
no stable, permanent residence of their own

All surveys were conducted completely anonymously in order to encourage honesty and protect respondents from any harm or negative consequences stemming from their answers. No information was collected that could be used to identify or trace participants. Upon completion of the survey, respondents received a $10 Visa card, a list of useful resources available to them in the community, and assorted offerings (hygiene kits, condoms, snacks).
description: The dataset contains 564 youth respondents and has 116 variables. Major sections of the survey included:

Homeless history
Demographics
Physical and mental health
Drug and alcohol use
Traumatic life experiences
Sex
Law enforcement interaction
Social support

The Principal Investigator left some questions in these sections out of the dataset, and excluded the final two sections of the survey - work experience and attitudes towards the future.
description: None
description: Response Rates: The study team made 736 "contacts" with homeless youth on the street. From those contacts 641 surveys were completed. Surveys were conducted anonymously, and youth could complete the survey more than once. After data cleaning 77 respondents were deemed to be duplicates. This resulted in a final sample of 564 youth respondents.
description: Presence of Common Scales: 
CRAFFT (substance use screener)
ACES (childhood trauma)
description: Datasets: 
DS1: Estimating the Prevalence of Trafficking Among Homeless and Runaway Youth, Georgia, 2017-2018
description: Persons residing in the metro-Atlanta area who were 14-25 years of age who did not have a permanent, stable residence of their own, and who were living independently without consistent parental or familial support. Smallest Geographic Unit: None
description: paper and pencil interview (PAPI)For more information about this study please visit the Atlanta Youth Count web site.