Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Project
Degree Name
Master of Social Work
Department
School of Social Work
First Reader/Committee Chair
Appiah-Kubi, Jamal
Abstract
Youth involved in the child welfare system face a heightened risk of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), particularly those who experience placement instability or placement in congregate care settings. While existing research consistently documents the overrepresentation of foster youth among those impacted by CSEC, less attention has been given to how specific placement experiences function as mechanisms that shape vulnerability. Guided by the Complex Trauma Framework and the Socio-Ecological Theory, this study will examine how placement instability and placement type increase foster youths’ vulnerability to CSEC and explore the role of trauma-informed social work interventions in mitigating these risks. Using a mixed-methods design, the study will integrate qualitative interviews with foster youth and social workers and quantitative surveys with child welfare professionals. Qualitative data will center on youths' lived experiences of placement, safety, and relational continuity, while survey and interview data from social workers will examine placement-related decision-making, screening practices, and trauma-informed approaches within organizational contexts. By combining descriptive quantitative analysis with thematic qualitative analysis, this study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of how placement conditions and trauma-informed practice shape vulnerability to exploitation. Findings are expected to inform social work practice and policy by highlighting strategies that promote placement stability, relational continuity, and youth safety within the foster care system.
Recommended Citation
Jauregui Estrada, Viridiana, "THE ROLE OF PLACEMENT EXPERIENCES IN FOSTER YOUTH VULNERABILITY TO COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION" (2026). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 2430.
https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/2430