“They had to change the model to fit the victim, versus the victim having to fit the model”: Innovative solutions in community response to commercial sexual exploitation

In recent years, professionals across law enforcement and service sectors have sought to implement more survivor-centered approaches to address the Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) of children and youth. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 80 law enforcement officials and service providers across the United States, this study explores how innovative practices addressing CSE among children and youth are enacted on the ground through collaborative responses. Rather than adhering to rigid protocols, participants described flexible, context-sensitive strategies that prioritize care, relationship-building, and institutional change. The findings are organized into three themes: (1) prioritizing basic, immediate concerns before expecting cooperation or disclosure; (2) reshaping professional roles to act as advocates and trauma-informed allies; and (3) improving early identification, preventing harm, and challenging structural failures within systems. Across these themes, a central tension emerged: while professionals strive to implement care-driven, collaborative responses, they often operate within institutional structures that are reactive, punitive, and resistant to change. The findings point to the central role of flexible, survivor-informed, and ethically grounded practice in responding to CSE. The study contributes to research on multidisciplinary responses to youth exploitation and suggests key directions for policy, training, and institutional reform.