An associate professor at ASU’s School of Social Work has received $30,000 in grants to address sexually exploited children and adults in Arizona.
Dominique Roe-Sepowitz applied for the grants, which will fund two projects — $15,000 each. The money was awarded by the Arizona Foundation for Women. One project is a treatment group for resolving trauma; the other will provide three training programs around Arizona to increase awareness, responsiveness and intervention. These trainings will take place in Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff.
“They are really focused not just on prevention, which is such a mistake, but on really progressing and advancing treatments,” Roe-Sepowitz said. “We are going to evolve survivors.”
The training programs around Arizona are targeted largely to service providers in the state such as law enforcement and social workers. The goal is not only to teach detection techniques but also to teach workers in criminal justice how to interact with victims of sexual exploitation, Roe-Sepowitz said.
“It’s a great opportunity to disseminate information to all different kinds of stakeholders,” said Kristine Hickle, a social work student of Roe-Sepowitz’s. “I’m excited for more people to have access to the information and be exposed to how to get help.”
The first program will give psycho-education to survivors of sex trafficking. It will be developed by graduate students and survivors of sex trafficking and designed to be a personal experience, according to Roe-Sepowitz.
“We aren’t just coming in and telling people what to think or what to do but showing them these people and sharing their stories,” Roe-Sepowitz said. “We don’t want to be just an academic or an authority, but really involve people.”
Involvement is a key part of the projects that will be funded under the grant. Not only will survivors and stakeholders become involved through the programs and trainings, but the community will, as well.
“We aren’t doing anything on our own; we want to build relationships and work with the community,” Roe-Sepowitz said.
Not only does Roe-Sepowitz plan on utilizing her connections to local companies, but she also hopes to involve the students in her advanced clinical classes in social work.
“Some of it is allowing my students to apprentice, and they can attend trainings,” Roe-Sepowitz said. “But a lot of it is just teaching them what’s next and allowing them to be a part of that discussion.”
As a student, Hickle recognizes the importance of student involvement to a good education.
“It allows students ownership over their education when they are able to be engaged in what they are learning about,” she said.
Hickle believes that it’s a mix of Roe-Sepowitz’s passion and expertise that made her so deserving of the grant.
Dana Berchman, spokeswoman for the College of Public Programs, agrees with Hickle.
“Dominique is deeply committed to addressing issues involving sexually exploited children and adults,” Berchman said in an email. “These resources will help her to expand the depth of her tireless work to advocate for causes like sex trafficking, among others.”
Roe-Sepowitz has always valued student involvement, Hickle said.
“She is very engaging and challenging,” she said. “If you sat up in the eighth floor, you would see so many students go in and out of her office. Students want to work with her and learn from her.”
Contact the reporter at kendra.worsnup@asu.edu
