ASO FAQs

Yes, the ASO is recommended to be used at Intake, 6 months after Intake and then 1/year every year after, however it can also be used at more frequent intervals if a case requires special attention.

Yes. The ASO is a comprehensive case management tool which, if integrated into your existing case management systems, can be used upon intake, to track case progress towards restoration and to justify case closure.

No, the ASO is a globally validated assessment tool for use with survivors of trafficking. The ASO has been tested with of trafficked victims including both adults and children

Yes, with conditions. The ASO is a globally validated and standardised assessment tool. As such, the results are reliable and valid as long as the tool is used in accordance with the guidance manual.

Yes –the ASO is an assessment tool which can complement and enhance any case management system it is integrated into. The ASO can be used simply as a tool within an existing case management system OR it can be used as the basis of designing/developing a case management system based on the domains and scoring mechanism.

The ASO can also be used to prepare and update existing treatment/care plans for survivors and inform placement decisions, intervention plans and so forth.

The primary purpose of the ASO is to measure survivors progress towards restoration. Usually, social workers will be the most relevant profession to conduct the ASO given their role in case managing survivors. However, the ASO is not a social worker-exclusive tool and can be used by any profession, as long as they have received training and completed a User Agreement

Yes – in fact the ASO is designed to encourage collaboration, both with LGU partners and members of the MDT.

If a survivor is currently placed or living in a shelter, the domains of the ASO should be scored according to the environment (home, family, school, and community) into which they will reintegrate.

The ASO can only be completed once sufficient information is gathered from both the survivor and the supports and networks around the survivor. It is NOT recommended that results of the ASO are shared with the survivor.

Yes, the ASO can be used to determine progress towards restoration for both new and existing clients. All that is required is sufficient information to score each of the domains.

You should seek as much information as possible when rating each subdomain, and if information is missing or unclear, the assessor should score conservatively (i.e. 1 or 2). Marking the survivor with a score of 2.0 or lower indicates that the survivor remains vulnerable in that subdomain.

Yes, the ASO is not age-restricted and can be used with both children of all ages AND adults who are victims of trafficking.

For children 3 and younger, the tool should be completed with house parents or caregivers of the child in order to get accurate and sufficient information.

Yes, the ASO captures a comprehensive range of information and provides a useful insight into survivors progression towards restoration.

Yes, the ASO can be used for children in the community as a way of determining what kind of interventions or services would be most relevant or needed.