Photo of Hounmenou, Charles E.

Charles E. Hounmenou, PhD

Associate Professor

Contact

Building & Room:
ETMSW 4404
Address:
1040 West Harrison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607
Office Phone:
312.996.0035

Email:

chounm2@uic.edu

About

Charles Hounmenou has extensive experience in research on human trafficking in the United States and the Sub-Saharan African region.

Professional Interests

  • Human trafficking
  • Commercial sexual exploitation of children
  • Child Welfare
  • Human rights of detainees and immigrants

Teaching Experience

  • SocW 410 Human Behavior and the Social Environment
  • SocW 420 Social Welfare Policy and Services
  • SocW 538 Social Work and Human Rights
  • SocW 560 Social Work Research
  • SocW 531 Policy 2 - Organization & Community Practice
  • SocW 527 Human Trafficking: Policy and Service Responses
  • SocW 565 Research II: Action Research

Selected Publications

Articles

Hounmenou, C., Hampson, T., & Tammineni, K., (2026). A Review and Critique of the U.S. Policy and Service Responses to Unaccompanied Migrant Children. Journal of Social Work  and Social Welfare Policy, 4(2): 211. doi: https://doi.org/10.33790/

Hounmenou, C. E. (2026). Awareness and Perceptions of Faith-Based Organizations’ Competencies as Stakeholders in the Fight Against Human Trafficking. Journal of Human Trafficking, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322705.2026.2711687

Hounmenou, C. (2026). Conceptualizing the deterrence and rehabilitation of human trafficking perpetrators. Justice, Opportunities, and Rehabilitation, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/2997965X.2026.2633143

Hounmenou, E. C., Lee, K. J. ,& Dieser, R. B. (2025). The Untold Story of Black Social Reformers in Early Social Work History. Journal of Social Work, 1-18  Online first. DOI: 10.1177/14680173251369717

Rooshey Hasnain, Charles E. Hounmenou, Adrienne B. Smith, Timothy P. Johnson, Diane M. Kondratowicz, Jamie M. Taradash, Akash Rohidas Shinde, Francisco Alvarado (2025). Service capacity and disability resource integration: A strategic survey of immigrant and refugee-serving agencies in Illinois. American Journal of Community Psychology, 1–14.

Hounmenou, C. (2023). Experiences of Faith-Based Organizations as Key Stakeholders in Policy Responses to Human Trafficking. Societies, 37 pages. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13080193

Hounmenou, C., & Toepp, S. (2023). Exploring Private Investigation Agencies’ Experience of Collaboration with Law Enforcement in Investigations of Human Trafficking Cases. Societies, 13, (44), 1-31. https://www.mdpi.com/2133320 (Open Access).

Hounmenou, C. & O’Grady, C. (2023) Private Investigators’ Experiences in Human Trafficking Investigations. Journal of Human Trafficking, 9(3), 376-397, DOI: 10.1080/23322705.2021.1925819

Hounmenou, C., & O’Grady, C. (2021). Private investigators’ experiences in human trafficking investigations. Journal of Human Trafficking. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322705.2021.1925819

Hounmenou, C. (2021). A statewide coalition’s input in human trafficking policy implementation: Member organizations’ involvement and perceptions. Journal of Human Trafficking, 7(1), 69-87. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322705.2019.1621585

Hounmenou, C. (2020). Engaging Anti-Human Trafficking Stakeholders in the Research Process. Journal of Human Trafficking, 6(1), 30-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322705.2018.1512284

Laser-Maira, J., Hounmenou, C., & Peach, D. (2020). Global Commercial and Sexual Exploitation of Children. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.013.592

Laser-Maira, J., Peach, D., & Hounmenou, C. (2019). Moving towards self-actualization: a trauma-informed and needs-focused approach to the mental health needs of survivors of commercial child sexual exploitation. International Journal of Social Work, 6(2), 27-44. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijsw.v6i2.15198

Hounmenou, C., & O’Grady, C. (2019). A review and critique of the U.S. policy responses to commercial sexual exploitation of children. Children and Youth Services Review. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.01.005.

Books and Book Chapters

Hounmenou, C. (2019). Chapter 18: Commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of children in the West African Region. In J. Bryson Clark & S. Poucki (Eds.), Handbook of Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery (pp. 360-382). SAGE Publications Ltd.

Journal Editorial Board

Journal of Offender Rehabilitation – 2021-Present

Journal of Mental Health and Social Behaviour – 2019-2023

The Science Forecast Community Medicine and Health – 2019-2023

Journal of Community Practice – 2017-2022

Journal of Family Medicine Forecast – 2017-Present

Journal Guest Editor

Journal of Offender Rehabilitation – Special Issue: “Human Trafficking Victim Restoration and Offender Rehabilitation” – 2023-Present

Societies – Special Issue: “Current Trends and Dimensions of Child Trafficking” – 2023-Present

Education

MA, Benin National University

MEd, Benin National University

MSW, Washington University in St. Louis

PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Professional Memberships

Global Association of Human Trafficking Scholars

Global Fulbright Alumni Network

National Association of Social Workers

Council on Social Work Education

Society for Social Work and Research

Research Currently in Progress

Co-Investigator. Ethics of HIV-Related Research Involving Underage Key Population in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Sponsor: National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. 2022-2027.