Posts tagged 25:3:00
Life Cycle of a Labor Trafficking Case

When investigating labor trafficking cases, investigators must consider a series of steps involved in building a labor trafficking case that includes victim recruitment, case discovery and management, case prosecution, and the resulting response from victim services providers. Investigators will benefit from expert knowledge that demonstrates a holistic approach to investigating a labor trafficking case. This presentation will identify several processes involved in a labor trafficking investigation. Topics to be explored will include common vulnerabilities of trafficking victims who are exploited in their recruitment or forced entry by traffickers; identification of common labor trafficking worksites, discovery methods, and investigative strategies; and the use of multidisciplinary teams to manage and prosecute labor trafficking cases while also providing services to victims. This presentation is designed to improve the awareness, responsiveness, and accountability among law enforcement, businesses, communities, and other stakeholders on labor trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of labor trafficking, common indicators, and victim vulnerabilities

· Provide strategies to identify common labor trafficking worksites, discovery methods, and investigative approaches

· Discuss the use of multidisciplinary teams to manage and prosecute labor trafficking cases

· Discuss innovative investigative strategies to aid in the successful investigation and prosecution of labor trafficking cases

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When Sex Trafficking Meets Asphyxiation: What to Look for and What to Do

Trafficked individuals are often invisible in the health care setting (Peck et al., 2020). Asphyxiation (strangulation and/or suffocation) is a serious medical condition that involves intentional pressure applied to the neck that is often used as an effective tool to gain power and control over the already vulnerable sex trafficked patient. This presentation will focus on the dynamics of strangulation, the repeated exposure of strangulation, and the medical consequences to the sex trafficked patient. Despite the severe consequences of being strangled repeatedly and often on a daily basis, general medical providers often fail to address the specific needs of the trafficked survivor (Faugno et al., 2013). Recognizing the signs and symptoms of strangulation in the trafficked patient and concentrating on getting the trafficked survivor appropriate medical care can often provide them with life-saving medical care. Identification of patients who have been strangled, once or more than once, will enable multi-disciplinary team (MDT) members to better serve this vulnerable population.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss risk factors, signs, and symptoms of asphyxiation in sex trafficking patients

· Describe when to refer patients to medical providers when necessary

· Explain how to collaborate with other members of the MDT to identify trafficking victims who have been asphyxiated

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Creating a Safe Space for Survivors of Human Trafficking

Edee will share with you how she and her team built the much needed 2-year program, Sanctum House, for adult women survivors of sex trafficking. Creating a program takes love for subject, patience, and persistence. Before a program can become a reality, it needs a foundation. To build a program with integrity and quality takes time. Doing your research is a necessity. It is essential to engage all members of the human trafficking community so that you can acquire knowledge of the needs in the field for the victims. It is essential to educate yourself on how to build the appropriate team, then enlist the support of your community. You must network, and engage with qualified, experienced, and committed people. It is this group that you will join forces with to build a planning team and begin building the foundation of your organization. It is important to be clear on your vision and mission statement. By visiting and learning about other programs, it will help you understand who you want to serve and who you do not want to serve. Once you decide who and what you want to be, it is from there you start to build your program. Edee will leave attendees with some of the specific steps their team took to build their program. These are steps that you too can take to build an organization that will not only help to heal the people it serves, it will fill the mission that you decide is yours.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss how Sanctum House was started

· Describe who and how to engage with the community to create awareness for need and funding

· Discuss how to decide what type of program you want to create

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The Influence of Trauma on Vulnerability

Those who intend to do harm to another person look for vulnerability and a lack of confidence and self-esteem in their potential victim. Understanding how trauma related outcomes create vulnerabilities in victims of childhood abuse helps advocates, first responders, teachers, foster/kinship care providers, and others understand the behaviors of these children. Learn how the experience of trauma impacts the development of children, their behaviors, and how trauma sets them up as potential victims of human trafficking. Learn processes for assisting children to develop a healthy path of healing and building a resilience protocol to support these children. Find alternative methods of behavior modification and learning tools to equip children to understand their feelings in a positive manner.

Presentation Objectives:

· Define trauma and discuss its effect on child development, self-esteem, and confidence

· Describe how trauma effects child behaviors in different settings and possible triggers to consider

· Explain how to develop protocols to assist children with trauma and adults suffering from childhood trauma that remains untreated

· Discuss how to build resilience in children of trauma

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