5.0 Outcomes

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In this section, information on outcomes is analysed from variables indicating the presence of a positive change since involvement with the MAPI program. This could be whether the client has exited the sex trade or not, and final notes on family reunification, housing situation, education, employment, mental health issues and presence of abusive relationships in MAPI clients’ lives.

5.1 Reduced risk factors

MAPI organizations were asked to assess and report on whether they had observed a positive change in the lives of their clients, that is, a general reduction in risk factors for sex trade involvement. Overall, it was reported that 64% of clients had experienced a positive change in their lives after involvement with the organization’s programs and services (Chart 5.1). Only 6% did not appear to have a positive change in their lives after interacting with a MAPI organization.

Chart 5.1
Proportion of clients by presence of a positive change after involvement with a MAPI organization, Canada, 2015-16 to 2019-20

Text version

This is a vertical bar graph with five categories representing MAPI clients who experienced a positive change in their lives after involvement in the MAPI program. The text on the side of the graph indicates that the data are presented as percentages and the total number of people in the study is 2,289.

The first category is for people who indicated there was a positive change in their lives after participating in the MAPI program. The bar is dark blue and indicates 63.8%.

The second category is for people who indicated there was some positive change in their lives after participating in the MAPI program. The bar is dark blue and indicates 0.6%.

The third category is for people who indicated there was not a lot of positive change in their lives after participating in the MAPI program. The bar is dark blue and indicates X because the number of people was too small to be published and was suppressed to protect confidentiality.

The fourth category is for people who indicated there was no positive change in their lives after participating in the MAPI program. The bar is dark blue and indicates 6.4%.

The fifth category is for people where it was unknown if they experienced a positive change in their lives after participating in the MAPI program. The bar is dark blue and indicates 29.0%.

Notes:

1. X means data have been suppressed to protect confidentiality.
2. The "Unknown" category consists of responses of "Unknown" and "Not stated" (blanks).

Source: Justice Canada, Measures to Address Prostitution Initiative (MAPI), 2015-16 to 2019-20.

5.2 Final program outcomes

A fifth (21%) of MAPI clients were reported as having exited the sex trade16 by the end of the 2015-16 to 2019-20 funding period (Table 5.1). This represents about one third of the 81% of MAPI clients seeking to exit the sex trade (data not shown; Table 2.2). Only 5% of clients were reported as having remained in or returned to the sex trade (Table 5.1).17 However, for the majority of clients (71%), there was no information in the MAPI organization reports on their involvement in the sex trade. The MAPI organizations also reported that they lost contact with 2% of their clients.

The MAPI organizations provided some context in their client notes on why 5% of clients remained in or returned to the sex trade. For many, involvement in the sex trade is a way to survive. For others, chronic homelessness, drug use, trauma and the sex trade have become an entrenched part of their lives.

Table 5.1
Proportion of MAPI clients by involvement in the sex trade at the end of the MAPI program, Canada, 2015-16 to 2019-20

Notes:

1. The category “Exited the sex trade” means the person had stopped engaging in the sex trade by the end of the MAPI funding period.
2. Clients were only coded as having stayed in the sex trade if the final outcome variable (open-ended notes) indicated this.
3. The category "Lost contact" means that MAPI organizations had lost contact with the client so it was not possible to determine if they were actively involved in the sex trade.
4. The "Unknown" category consists of responses of "Unknown" or "Not stated", meaning there was either no response or it was not indicated if the client had exited or remained in the sex trade.
5. The "Not applicable" category includes clients who had passed away.

Source: Justice Canada, Measures to Address Prostitution Initiative (MAPI), 2015-16 to 2019-20.

Case notes for individual clients showed that 18% had obtained safe and stable housing by the end of the MAPI program (Table 5.2),18 which includes living with family, friends or supportive and transitional housing. Less than 4% of clients were in a shelter by the end of the MAPI program, and 2% had unstable housing meaning they were couch surfing,19 engaging in survival sex20 for a place to stay, sleeping rough,21 or a combination of these.

Among the MAPI clients who exited the sex trade, 20% had stable housing (data not shown), and the number of people who had unstable housing was small (too small to publish). Among the MAPI clients who remained in or returned to the sex trade, 8% had stable housing whereas a quarter (25%) were homeless (data not shown).

About 6% of MAPI clients had reconnected with their families and/or their children, while 4% of clients were able to regain custody or visitation rights with their children (Table 5.2). About 1% of clients had their children apprehended by child welfare services during the MAPI program.

One in five (20%) of the MAPI clients reduced their substance use by the end of the MAPI period, meaning they were maintaining sobriety and/or receiving treatment for substance abuse issues, whereas 9% were reported as struggling with addictions and relapses (Table 5.2). About 20% of clients who were discharged or who voluntarily left the MAPI program were struggling with addictions and 14% were struggling with their mental health (categories are not mutually exclusive, data not shown).

Almost 30% of MAPI clients were reported as having improved and/or stabilized mental health after participating in the MAPI program, and they were engaging with mental health supports such as counselling (Table 5.2). About 7% of clients were struggling with their mental health, and 1% of were struggling with their physical health.

Among the MAPI clients, 15% had to flee to the MAPI program/area for safety, or they had to leave the program to go to another area for safety due to threats of violence from abusive partners and third parties such as gang members, traffickers and sex purchasers (Table 5.2). About 2% of clients were reported as victims of assault and/or domestic violence during the MAPI program period, they often required significant medical care such as hospitalization and surgeries.

About 8% of all MAPI clients were involved in court cases against their traffickers, and 5% were dealing with their own personal legal issues (Table 5.2). Around 2% of clients were incarcerated or in custody at some point during the MAPI program.

About 18% of clients left the MAPI program, were discharged or stopped contact with the MAPI organization staff (Table 5.2). Around 4% of MAPI clients had re-located by the end of the program, usually to their home communities, and close to 1% of clients had passed away by the end of the MAPI program.

Table 5.2
Proportion of MAPI clients by selected outcomes listed in individual case notes, Canada, 2015-16 to 2019-20

Notes:

1. Categories are not mutually exclusive therefore percentages do not add to 100%.
2. In the category “Children apprehended or adopted out” a small number of MAPI clients had voluntarily placed their children in the care of the child welfare system, but in most cases children were apprehended.
3. The "Unknown" category consists of responses of "Unknown" or "Not stated" (blanks).

Source: Justice Canada, Measures to Address Prostitution Initiative (MAPI), 2015-16 to 2019-20.

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