What is Project HOPE and what are the goals of the program?
Project HOPE was a pilot project that took place in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, which are located in Florida, over a two-year period between 2002-2004. The purpose of the program was to break the cycle of prostitution by treating both the prostitutes and the “Johns.” Participants were referred to the program judges, state attorneys, public defenders, probation officers, and jail staff. According to the laws of Florida, any person convicted of prostitution was eligible to participate in Project HOPE (Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, 2004).
Who are the target recipients of the program and are there any unintended benefits?
The target recipients of the program were prostitutes and the “Johns” who seek the services of prostitutes. While the focus of the
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The program administrators approached the treatment of prostitutes from an individual treatment plan perspective. According to the program administrators, prostitutes often have multiple treatment needs, are unemployed, lack stable housing, and have little education (Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, 2004). Additionally, prostitutes usually have kids, have some form of drug addiction, and lack a social or family support system. Program administrators felt given the number of issues that prostitutes have, the individual treatment plans would be the best course of action for them. At the Hillsborough pilot, the individual treatment plans focused on delivering different treatment services. Project staff conducted a needs assessment with each prostitute and developed their individual treatment plans. Services offered in these plans could include counseling, substance abuse counseling, marriage and family counseling, employment counseling, and court advocacy (Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability,