Minnesota Safe Harbor Evaluation
The Minnesota Safe Harbor law that was passed in 2011 provided a legislative framework for legal protections and state services for sexually exploited children and youth. This legislation shifted legal definitions of “sexually exploited youth” and “delinquent child” to acknowledge that exploited minors are not delinquent, but are victims. The law expanded in 2013 and 2014 to implement No Wrong Door, a statewide, victim-centered response for serving at-risk and sexually exploited youth.
The Safe Harbor law and No Wrong Door model is evaluated at least every other year, as required by the Minnesota Legislature.
Evaluations were completed in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. A Mid-Year Report was developed by MDH in 2016.
Safe Harbor evaluation report 2023
Download: An Evaluation of the Safe Harbor Initiative in Minnesota, 2021-2023 (PDF)
This report shares findings from the fifth evaluation of Safe Harbor, for services provided April 2021 through March 2023.
The Phase 5 evaluation was conducted by The Improve Group. The evaluation centered youth and applied mixed methods to tell the whole story of Safe Harbor. Youth advisors with lived experience provided valuable input on the evaluation (e.g., how to ask survey, focus group, and interview questions). Data sources for this evaluation included a survey of youth, key informant interviews with youth, analysis of the MDH Safe Harbor program data, and focus groups with grantees and multidisciplinary partners.
The Improve Group evaluation is available here: An Evaluation of the Safe Harbor Initiative in Minnesota: Phase 5, April 2021-2023 (PDF)
Key findings:
- Youth have their own strengths. Youth want services that support them to grow to self-sufficiency They are thinking about the future and want independence. Youths' resourcefulness and determination is a key reason why Safe Harbor is successful.
- At least 1,494 people were enrolled in Safe Harbor services, and 1,649 were reported receiving Safe Harbor services by grantee agencies.
- At least 9% of participating youth reported they were sexually exploited or trafficked by a family member.
- The average age of youth eligible for services at enrollment was 18. Youth enrolled in services ranged in age from 0 to 24. The average age of individuals not eligible for services was 36, ranging from 12 to 63.
- Young people of any race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation can experience sexual exploitation.
- A notable number of Safe Harbor clients have needs for mental health care.
- Housing remains a key need for youth.
- Youth most often found Safe Harbor services by searching for services themselves.
Recommendations:
- Provide more resources for centering youth voice as a trauma-informed practice.
- Support shelters to respond to violence in trauma-informed ways, while increasing housing options for youth committing violence.
- Support small, rural organizations to increase their cultural responsiveness.
- Help agencies plan for youths’ transition to adulthood.
- Provide more time for collaboration among grantees and community organizations to foster stronger relationships and facilitate new introductions after turnover occurs.
- Work to increase the supply of and connections to mental health providers, especially for culturally specific services and evidence-based therapy.
- Provide training that goes beyond Trafficking 101 and addresses current challenges.
- Support quality Safe Harbor program data entry through ongoing training and technical assistance for grantees to ensure an accurate picture of Safe Harbor services.
- Incorporate ways to support grantee staff retention into Safe Harbor strategic planning and increase funding to Safe Harbor to support grantee staff retention.
Past reports
- An Evaluation of the Safe Harbor Initiative in Minnesota – Phase 4, 2021 (PDF)
- The supplemental evaluation resources including the background report and appendix are available here: An Evaluation of the Safe Harbor Initiative in Minnesota – Phase 4 Supplemental Materials (PDF).
- An Evaluation of Safe Harbor Initiative in Minnesota - Phase 3, 2019
- Safe Harbor Evaluation Report 2017.
- Safe Harbor 2016 Mid-Year Report (PDF)
- Safe Harbor: First Year Evaluation Report, 2015