Measuring progress: a review of ONYX - a voluntary support program for sexually exploited youth

Providing the most appropriate and least intrusive care for sexually exploited youth is a very difficult and sensitive task. In March 2006, PLEA Community Services Society of BC (PLEA), with the support of Family Services of Greater Vancouver, implemented the Onyx program designed to address the needs of sexually exploited youth under the age of 19. This program was initiated as the first and last attempt to offer voluntary services to youth. The purpose of this current research is to review how effective Onyx has been at providing services and support to sexually exploited youth during the inaugural ten months of program implementation. In addition, this major paper draws conclusions about whether a voluntary, community-based approach to youth sexual exploitation is the most appropriate strategy of management. The researcher examines data gathered from archival file reviews with information from unstructured interviews with six Onyx staff.