Minnesota Safe Harbor Evaluation
The Minnesota Safe Harbor law passed in 2011 provided legal protections and state services for sexually exploited children and youth. This legislation acknowledges 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.
Key findings:
- Youth are strong, and they want services to support themselves. They think about the future and want independence. Safe harbor is successful because youth are resourceful and determined.
- At least 1,494 people enrolled in Safe Harbor services, and 1,649 reported receiving Safe Harbor services by grantee agencies.
- At least 9% of participating youth said 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 people not eligible for services was 36, ranging from 12 to 63.
- Sexual exploitation is experienced by young people of any race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
- A notable number of Safe Harbor clients have needs for mental health care.
- Housing remains a key need for youth.
- Youth found Safe Harbor services by searching for 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 improve 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.
Conducting the evaluation
The Phase 5 evaluation was conducted by The Improve Group. The evaluation centered youth and used mixed methods to tell the story of Safe Harbor. Youth advisors with lived experience gave valuable input on the evaluation. Data sources included a survey of youth, informant interviews with youth, analysis of the MDH Safe Harbor program data, and focus groups with grantees and partners.
The Improve Group evaluation is available here: An Evaluation of the Safe Harbor Initiative in Minnesota: Phase 5, April 2021-2023 (PDF)
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