CDC Sex Trafficking Research and Surveillance Fellowship
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
CDC Office and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the Surveillance Branch, Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) within the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) located in Atlanta, Georgia.
Research Project: Violence is a widespread public health problem that impacts all of us and occurs in many forms, such as child abuse and neglect, child sexual abuse, youth violence, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse. For nearly 40 years, CDC's Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) has utilized and shared the best available data and conducted research to identify what works to prevent various forms of violence. DVP brings together partners and connects data, science, and action to inform the development, implementation, and sustainability of violence prevention strategies proven to be effective. This fellowship opportunity involves the fellow gaining experience in surveillance of sex trafficking and related violent topic areas (e.g., sexual violence, intimate partner violence, child abuse and neglect). This fellowship sits within the Surveillance Branch on the Morbidity and Behavioral Surveillance Team.
An ORISE fellow is requested to support the Morbidity & Behavioral Surveillance Team and a cross-Division workgroup with sex trafficking-related surveillance and research activities. The scope of the sex trafficking problem and opportunities for prevention are not fully understood. An ORISE Fellow is requested to assist with multiple projects that would allow DVP to better understand the scope of the problem, its associated risk and protective factors, and to identify a public health approach to the problem.
Learning Objectives: This research opportunity involves learning experiences for the participant related to the public health approach to sex trafficking prevention. Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant may:
- Assist with the development of a sex trafficking syndrome definition in collaboration with the National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP) and explore the utility of assessing emergency department visits for trafficking within NSSP
- Assist with online searches to identify sex trafficking indicators. Explore the utility of existing data sources for surveillance and/or research studies and consider possible triangulation with Hotline and Sys data. Data sources may include the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), optional Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) trafficking question, and external data sources like the National Human Trafficking Hotline and reports to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
- Assist with and collaborate on sex trafficking-related surveillance and research studies using SB-funded or acquired data sources (e.g., National Violent Death Reporting System)
- Collaborate with ACF's Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) on analyzing case records and surveys of sex buyers in King County, Washington
- Collaborate as a co-author to draft a document that summarizes the best available evidence for sex trafficking prevention. This summary will draw upon the strategies and approaches included in DVP’s Child Abuse and Neglect, STOP SV, and Youth Violence Technical Packages. The fellow will also leverage the information summarized in the ACEs Prevention Resource and the Preventing Child Sexual Abuse in Youth-Serving Organizations updated publication. The evidence summary will advance a health equity approach to sex trafficking prevention
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Ruth Leemis (xbf2@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 2022. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for up to one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of CDC and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Level of Participation: The appointment is full-time.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.
ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and CDC. Participants do not become employees of CDC, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.
The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including but not limited to, COVID-19 requirements (e.g. facial covering, physical distancing, testing, vaccination).
Questions: Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email ORISE.CDC.NCIPC@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.