Tom McLaughlin's research cited in Sunday Telegram story on sex trafficking in Maine

Research by Thomas Chalmers McLaughlin, Ph.D., 鶹ýprofessor of social work, was cited in a Nov. 17th Maine Sunday Telegram story on sex trafficking in Maine.

The story explains that Preble Street, a Portland social services agency, last month received $400,000 in federal funding to identify and help victims of sex trafficking in Maine. The organization's grant application was in large part based on a survey of 80 people at Preble Street’s Florence House for chronically homeless women and youths at Preble Street’s Teen Center.

McLaughlin co-authored the survey with Daniela Cameron, supervisor of Preble Street’s teen services.

The study found that 12 of the 80, about 15 percent, had been recruited to have sex with a stranger in exchange for money. Eleven people had traded sex for money, drugs or a safe place to stay. And 20 of those surveyed, or 26 percent, had been offered money in exchange for sex with a stranger.

“I think we got a good sample size here. I feel confident that the data we got back is pretty telling of what we had at that time,” said McLaughlin. .

About the 鶹ý

The 鶹ý is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.