Posts in 2020
The Landscape of Care for Victims of Domestic Human Trafficking

Housing remains the #1 most expressed need for survivors as communicated by law enforcement, victim advocates, and social service agencies. This session outlines the landscape of shelter programs available to survivors along with the types of services and postures of response available at different points in the survivor’s healing trajectory. The Samaritan Women has embarked on a significant national initiative to address the gap in residential care programs to meet the specialized needs of trafficking survivors. As of July 2020, The Samaritan Women-Institute for Shelter Care has identified 9 states with no residential shelter program and 6 states with just one service provider. Our goal is to establish 20 additional shelter programs and equip 24 existing providers over the next 5 years.

Presentation Objectives:

· Outline the landscape of shelter care available to survivors of human trafficking in the United States

· Provide research-based statistics on the national gap in services

· Describe the Institute's plan for bridging the gap

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The Minnesota Youth Human Trafficking and Exploitation Identification Tool and Guide

This presentation will discuss the new Minnesota tool for identifying human trafficking and exploitation for ages 13-17. Developed in 2020 by a diverse group of professionals and survivor leaders, this tool seeks to increase the identification of human trafficking and exploitation among youth across the state. It is a tool designed for those who work with youth, but may not be serving them in the same way or level as those dedicated to human trafficking services. This tool is intended for professionals within schools, juvenile detention centers, and others. There are many human trafficking risk assessment tools available like the Vera Institute for Justice’s Trafficking Victim Identification Tool; Office on Trafficking in Persons’ Adult Human Trafficking Screening Tool and Guide; National Human Trafficking Hotline’s Comprehensive Human Trafficking Assessment Tool. This tool will focus on the identification of trafficking situations, both labor and sex, as well as exploitation, that are occurring or have occurred in the past based on the federal and the Minnesota definitions of human trafficking. The presenters will explore the process of development, the content of the guide, and the tool itself. Attendees will be able to develop or adapt an identification tool specific to their state, region, or organization.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the new Minnesota toolkit

· Discuss the difference between a risk assessment and the identification tool

· Explain the process of development in order to help attendees create or adapt a similar tool

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Is Your Delivery Hijacking the Impact of Your Presentation?

As the anti-trafficking movement gains traction, experts within the field are increasingly asked to share their knowledge as guest speakers, workshop leaders, and trainers. Their experience and expertise have earned them the right to speak, and their hard work merits a presentation that spotlights their achievements and discoveries. However, too often, experts in the field of human trafficking with important information unintentionally hijack their own presentation with a less than compelling delivery. Nancy Hardcastle has seen many such experts unable to maximize the platform they’ve been given simply because they don't know how to communicate their work in an engaging manner. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way. Human trafficking experts can also become talented public speakers and, in doing so, dramatically increase their impact. To that end, this session is designed to help presenters improve their speaking skills and is appropriate for those with any level of speaking experience. Using examples from the field of human trafficking, Nancy will cover three areas that have the potential to radically transform a presentation: 1) capturing an audience’s attention from the beginning; 2) organizing information strategically; and 3) creating effective PowerPoint slides. Attendees who incorporate this information into their presentations will be able to communicate their research, projects, and programs more effectively and, as a result, motivate and inspire audiences to become active, educated participants in the anti-trafficking movement.

Presentation Objectives:

· Explain why a captivating beginning is crucial, how to create one, and the ways conventional wisdom related to introductions has gotten it wrong

· Illustrate organizational strategies that increase audience engagement

· Demonstrate effective PowerPoint slide guidelines and provide opportunities for attendees to practice applying these principles

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Understanding how Survivors of Sex Trafficking Conceptualize Prevention

As efforts continue to better serve victims and survivors of sex trafficking, it is equally important to focus research efforts on understanding prevention, particularly those informed by survivors. This study was designed to address a specific research inquiry of “How do survivors of sex trafficking conceptualize prevention?” This mixed-methods study was conducted online and included (N=26) adult survivors of sex trafficking in the U.S.; participants received a gift card for their time. When asked “How can we prevent sex trafficking” during a qualitative brainstorming session, participants identified 125 various statements of prevention. Once brainstorming was complete, researchers performed a Content Analysis removing duplications or incomplete statements. No statements were removed based upon a perceived value or relevance to the study (Krippendorf, 2013). This resulted in a final set of 96 unique statements. During the second (quantitative) phase of the study, participants were invited back to first create groupings of the statements. These groupings represent the ways in which survivor participants perceive relationships/themes among the individual statements. After completing this activity of grouping the statements together, participants were then asked to rate all 96 statements according to two variables, Importance and Feasibility, separately. Upon completion of participant involvement, Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) and Hierarchical Cluster Analyses (HCA) were used to identify the collective themes and relative Importance and Feasibility according to survivor participants. This presentation will highlight survivor conceptualizations of prevention through their groupings (sorting) and discuss in-depth the meaning and action steps of each grouping. These results, while not generalizable, may be used to guide and develop prevention programming for sex-trafficking. The other contributor to this research is Dr. Justin “Jay” Miller, Dean of the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the importance of survivor participation in strategizing prevention

· Explore survivor recommendations for prevention action/programming

· Discuss the importance of mixed-methodology contribution to survivor inclusion as well as strength and rigor in research

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New Approaches to Stopping Demand

Human trafficking will never be overcome without first dealing with the demand side of the equation, where statistics show that buyers are predominantly men. After spending 10 years fighting trafficking with Fierce Freedom, Jenny Almquist made a radical choice to do something different in the struggling fight against demand. This session will discuss her decision to hire John Pulley, a former buyer, to find new ways to fight demand as well as the surprisingly effective impact that has had in reaching men and getting them involved in the fight. Attendees will discover the benefits gained from getting inside the mind of a reformed buyer and how this can assist you in our mission to eradicate human trafficking. After this session, attendees will leave with new strategies to communicate effectively with men and get them actively involved in the fight, will understand the impact a reformed buyer has had on legislators and law enforcement officials, and will know the right questions to ask of yourself and your organization before engaging with a former buyer.

Presentation Objectives:

· Challenge agency leaders to resource former buyers to fight demand

· Offer a space where practical questions can be discussed regarding organizational programming with a former buyer

· Give real life examples of challenges and successes

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Better Relationships, Better Data: Why You Should Be Collecting Information on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression (SOGIE) and How to Do It

This presentation will cover the “why” and “how” of collecting data on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE) with trafficking survivors. Participants will review the importance of providing clients with the opportunity to discuss SOGIE, emerging practices on how to respectfully ask about this topic, sample SOGIE questionnaires, and common challenges to implementation. Meaningful opportunities to discuss SOGIE and collect data are rare among systems of care. This workshop is based on a multi-year collaborative partnership across three systems – child welfare, juvenile justice, and homeless youth services. In turn, this initiative is founded on the direct input of young people with lived experience. The presenters want to provide other jurisdictions around the country with the opportunity to share in their lessons learned. This session moves beyond basic LGBTQ+ competency training to focus on talking to youth about SOGIE and collecting data on it. The presentation is based on the work of the eQuality Project at the Center for Children & Youth Justice, which has partnered with juvenile courts, child welfare, and homeless youth service providers across Washington state to implement SOGIE data collection. The presentation is interactive and relies on pair and group work to review materials and for discussion. An emphasis is placed on application, so that participant’s leave with a clear idea of how to implement lessons learned once they return from the conference.

Presentation Objectives:

· Explain the importance behind providing youth the opportunity to discuss SOGIE and collecting data from those discussions

· Identify promising practices for discussing SOGIE with youth and collecting SOGIE data

· Identify strategies for addressing challenges related to SOGIE data collection

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Sexual Victimization Among Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities Involved in Child Welfare Services

This presentation focuses on older adolescents with intellectual disabilities involved in child welfare systems and their risk of sexual victimization during transition to young adulthood. Limited studies have pointed to elevated rates of intellectual disabilities among adolescents who are sex trafficked (Reid, 2018). Using a weighted sample of adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19.5 years, a secondary analysis of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW II) was conducted. Two research questions were posed: 1) What factors are associated with transitioning adolescents experiencing sexual assault? 2) What factors are associated with transitioning adolescents engaging in transactional sex? Using a weighted sample of 334 adolescents ages 18 to 19.5 years, logistic regression analyses examined the relationships between sexual victimization and levels of intellectual ability, social supports, and neighborhood cohesion. Results indicate 2.5% of the adolescents experienced a sexual assault in the past 12 months and 3.9 % had engaged in transactional sex in the past 6 months. Being female was associated with greater odds of experiencing a sexual assault in the past 12 months. Higher intellectual ability scores were associated with lesser odds of engagement in paid sexual activity in the last 6 months. Caregivers, case managers, and youth can be trained to recognize the signs of sexual assault and exploitation. Prevention of sexual victimization through enhanced supports and community connections is explored in light of the Family First Prevention Act of 2018 and the Prevention of Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act of 2014.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the NSCAW II study and new information concerning adolescents with disabilities exiting child welfare systems

· Describes the current research on the sexual victimization of adolescents with disabilities involved in child welfare systems

· Discusses the research findings of this study and implications for social work practice during transition from child welfare services

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From Analytics to Action: Leveraging Research and Analysis in the Fight Against Human Trafficking

This presentation describes best practices for making the most effective use of data, statistics, analysis, and other research to support human trafficking programs. Both new and existing research and analysis on human trafficking can be a powerful tool to strengthen a wide variety of organizations and programs. These resources support programs through more accurate identification of victims and perpetrators, identifying the most effective practices and actions, developing supporting statistics for grant proposals, fostering data-driven decision making in your organization, and engaging with volunteer statisticians. Presented at an introductory level and designed for people without analytic experience, this presentation helps program leaders and volunteers make the most of research and analysis on human trafficking. Capabilities and best practices are illustrated using Polaris data summarized by state and year, available for public use on their website. These raw data will be used to demonstrate some of the different ways data and analytics can be applied for maximum impact. Examples include a non-technical overview of how these data were used to identify risk factors for human trafficking, a description of analytic decision making showing how these data are being used to advise on legislation, and creating charts and maps to tell how the risk of becoming a victim is higher in some places and situations. These examples will show how to move from analytics to action to help find victims, strengthen programs, and guide organizations in the fight against human trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe different kinds of research and analysis and how they can be used

· Discuss best practices to partner with researchers to support your program

· Illustrate some of the ways researchers can help, including managing data, new research, and help in developing grant proposals

· Help program leaders, managers, and supporters become more data-driven in their decision making

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Using Advanced Technology to Detect and Monitor Labor Trafficking in Florida

This project’s research objective is to generate ideas for how sensing and modeling technologies can be used to estimate the extent of labor trafficking in the agricultural industry of Florida. Advancements in technology have transformed mechanisms used by human traffickers to operate. At the same time, technology provides an unprecedented opportunity for law enforcement to uncover these illicit activities. The primary methodologies presented in this talk are 1) a literature review and 2) cross-sectional survey. First, the literature review investigates two forms of technology to support policing: sensing and modeling. Sensing technologies include the use of drones, satellites, imaging, and other advanced equipment for the observation and detection of an event or activity (Klemas, 2015). Modeling technologies refer to computational and mathematical models (e.g. data analytics, pattern mining, optimization, and simulation) for the recognition and response to an event or activity. Some technologies, including remote sensing, pattern mining of flight datasets, bank records, and cash withdrawals have been used to combat sex trafficking (Watson et al., 2015 and QC et al., 2016) and to maintain border security (Coulter, 2009). Florida ranks 3rd in number of human trafficking reports (Florida Strategic Plan for Human Trafficking). While sex trafficking is a major challenge, labor trafficking, particularly in agriculture and tourism and hospitality industries, are the dominating forms of trafficking within the state of Florida (Florida Strategic Plan for Human Trafficking). The presenters will share preliminary mixed-method results from a cross-sectional stakeholder survey on the use of technologies to estimate agricultural labor trafficking. The survey’s objective is to understand the challenges and technological needs of labor-trafficking stakeholders (e.g. police, non-profits, policy-makers, researchers, etc.).

Presentation Objectives:

· Evaluate and analyze how sensing and modeling technologies can be used to estimate of the extent of labor trafficking in the agricultural industry of Florida

· Present results of a literature review on the role of technology in human trafficking

· Share findings of a stakeholder survey on how sensing and modeling technology can be used to support policing of human trafficking

· Network and receive feedback on early-concept research plans and objectives

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Emancipation Nation Network: Social Justice through Online Connection and Education

A series of in-depth focus groups and an online survey of 157 anti-trafficking advocates around the world revealed that advocates are passionate and committed to their work, but face several barriers that are a persistent source of frustration. Advocates reported they lack targeted training, meaningful connection to experts, knowledge of evidence-based practices, and access to funding and resources to sustain their work. Advocates also report they are often under-paid and undervalued. Despite these frustrations, they still desire to “bring more victims to freedom, traffickers to justice, and survivors to wholeness”. The Emancipation Nation Network was developed to respond to these frustrations. “The Network” is a global organization developed to connect advocates from around the world, via an online network and phone application. As a member of the Network, advocates gain access to human trafficking and social justice focused information, courses, workshops, and can join live events to hear expert speakers each month. Members also have access to assessment and screening tools, human trafficking focused grant proposals, jobs announcements, and are provided titles and abstracts of recently published research articles. Now the solutions to your problems, the barriers to your progress, and the answers to your most pressing questions are at your fingertips. Membership is free, but only to committed advocates. This session will discuss the study findings, explain the Network, and instruct attendees on how to get connected and ways to use the Emancipation Nation Network to meet their needs.

Presentation Objectives:

· Identify persistent barriers faced by anti-trafficking advocates despite their profession, position, and approach

· Provide solutions that address persistent barriers so that advocates can effectively respond to the issue of human trafficking

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Familial Sex Trafficking among the Bedia of India: Defying the Dominant Human Trafficking Discourse

In India, numerous castes practice customary prostitution (Dolson, 2014; Jha & Sharma, 2016) that is either religious (e.g., Devadasi) or tribal (e.g., Bacchara, Perna, Nat, Bedia) based. Little is known about tribal-based prostitution. Among the Bedia, sex trafficking has manifested as a customary and intergenerational form of family and community survival. Intended as a “micro-analysis” focused on small regions (e.g., a town) or those with “special, delimited populations,” (Weitzer, 2015, p. 232) two research questions guided this study: First, what are the multiple intersecting social and personal vulnerabilities that put Bedia at risk for trafficking into the commercial sex industry and how do these compare with the HT literature? Second, to what extent does sex trafficking among the Bedia reflect the dominant HT discourse—with particular attention to the “ideal” victim and perpetrator conceptualizations? As a phenomenological investigation, in-depth interview data were collected from 31 sex-trafficked Bedia women and girls residing in seven multi-caste villages in central India. Data were analyzed using MAXQDA. With the exception of poverty, vulnerabilities to sex trafficking among the Bedia do not reflect “risk factors” identified in the HT literature. Similarly, the social and cultural dynamics of sex trafficking among the Bedia defy the dominant HT discourse in multiple ways. This investigation highlights the inherent value of small-scale, micro-studies for revealing the complexity of human trafficking across cultures and geographies. Other members of the research team include Kaitlin Roselius, BS; Sarah Erwin, MS, PhD (c); Jessie Peter, MS, PhD (c); Jhaveri Panshal, PhD; Ranjan Mischra, PhD (c) & Sahu, S., MS.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of sex trafficking among the Bedia caste of India

· Identify vulnerabilities to entry into the commercial sex industry (CSI) among the Bedia, in relation to “risk” identified in the human trafficking literature

· Describe the social and cultural dynamics of sex trafficking among the Bedia and explain how these defy the dominant HT discourse

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The Problem of Human Trafficking in Colombia, South America

Colombia, South America has unique challenges when it comes to human trafficking. There are unique factors in Colombia that contribute to the human trafficking problem, and the government has taken a proactive approach to combat human trafficking that should be replicated in other countries around the world. In February of 2020, Dr. Sadulski conducted in-country research in Colombia as a guest of the Colombia National Police. This research included interviews and presentations from the leadership of INTERPOL and the Criminal Investigative Directorate in Colombia, which oversee combating human trafficking in Colombia. It was discovered that characteristics in recruitment and coercion are different in Colombia compared to other countries. In particular, the proactive approach of the Colombian government that focuses on five modalities of human trafficking was discovered during this research. These modalities include sexual exploitation, homeless exploitation, marriage for asylum, organ trafficking, and labor exploitation. During this research, the leadership of INTERPOL and the Criminal Investigative Directorate identified the trafficker profiles that are used by the Colombia National Police to identify those engaged in human trafficking. Global implications of human trafficking in Colombia and the international partnerships with 18 countries that have formed an alliance against human trafficking with Colombia was analyzed in an informative presentation. The in-country research provided firsthand insight into Colombia’s approach to combating human trafficking. Recommendations for how other nations can learn from Colombia’s approach were developed. This research will serve as the platform for Dr. Sadulski’s presentation on Colombia’s approach to combating human trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the in-country research study and share firsthand insight into the unique characteristics of human trafficking in Colombia, South America

· Assess the five modalities that INTERPOL and the Colombia Criminal Investigation Directorate use to identify and combat human trafficking

· Discuss specific regions of Colombia that are highly susceptible to human trafficking and what the government is doing in terms of special prosecutors and investigators to address this problem

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Sex Trading Prevalence and Associated Characteristics in a Representative Sample of High School Students

Our understanding of youths’ risk of sex trading (ST) exclusively stems from non-representative studies with high-risk populations (e.g. homeless/runaway youth), which skews our knowledge base (Middleton et al., 2018). The research question that guided this research was “What is the prevalence and associated characteristics of youth who report ST in a representative sample of high school youth?” Data comes from the 2018 Dane County Youth Assessment, a cross-sectional survey administered to 9th–12th grade students across 24 high schools in Wisconsin. All youth who answered the question, “Have you ever had sexual contact in order to stay safe or to get something like a place to stay, money, gifts, alcohol, or drugs?” were included for analysis. Our weighted sample (n=16,895) was mostly White (69.97%), heterosexual (83.07%) and included cisgender male (46.15%), cisgender female (48.18%), and trans (3.21%) youth. Bivariate/logistic regression analyses were conducted. 2.47% (n=416) of youth reported ST. They were more likely to report depression, substance use, job income that supported their family, sex with 2 or more people, out-of-school suspension at least once or two or more times, personal gang involvement, knowing a friend involved in a gang, or identifying as LGBTQ+ (p<0.001). Other statistically significant relationships (p<0.05) included higher rates of foster care involvement, prior STI testing, cutting class, or cis-gender, heterosexual women. Although the causal order of characteristics analyzed in relation to the ST is not known, these findings inform an understanding of potential ST risks and have important implications ST prevention, assessments, and interventions for youth.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of Dane County Youth Assessment data and the research study

· Discuss implications for prevention, identification, intervention, and future research

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Protecting the Rights of Trafficked Women in the United Arab Emirates: A Review of the United Arab Emirates Federal Law 51

Trafficking in persons is an intractable crime that involves commercial sexual exploitation, servitude, violence, and forced labour. The state policies in many countries address trafficking as an issue of border control and global organized crime, but not as a human rights violation of the trafficked persons. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), is a tier 2 transit and destination country for women and young girls from Eastern Europe, Asia, and East Africa, trafficked for the purposes of labour and forced commercial sexual exploitation. UAE’s Federal Law No. 51 to combat trafficking marked a pivotal moment for the UAE, as it was a law specifically designed to address trafficking on its territory. The objective of this socio-legal study is to provide an in-depth analysis of the UAE’s anti trafficking Federal Law 51 and to address the gaps in providing protection to trafficking victims in the light of UAE’s international and regional human rights obligations. This socio-legal study draws on human rights-based approach and Islamic perspectives on slavery to address the question: To what extent has the UAE’s Federal Law 51 been able to provide protection to victims of sex trafficking in UAE? The research concludes that a comprehensive and holistic approach is needed to create a balance between the crime control approach and the human rights-based approach to ensure that international, regional, and domestic legal and social guarantees to protect victims’ rights are effectively put in place in the UAE’s Federal Law 51.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the trafficking of women to UAE for commercial sexual exploitation

· Identify strengths and weaknesses of the Federal Law 51

· Propose changes and recommendations to the UAE’s Federal Law 51 as a way forward for the protection and rehabilitation of trafficked victims

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The Scars Left by Labor Trafficking: Methods to Prevent this Crime

Harold D’Souza is a survivor of labor trafficking and debt bondage in the United States of America. Originally from India, Harold is well educated and experienced in sales management. He has a Bachelor in Business and a Masters of Commerce from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Harold stepped down from a senior management position in order to pursue the American Dream, which he believed was within his reach. Harold, his wife, and their two sons came to the U.S. following the advice and encouragement of a man who would become their trafficker. For over 18 months, they were exploited at the hands of the human trafficker, losing their freedom and struggling to keep the family safe. Today, Harold is a survivor-advocate with established expertise speaking at conferences all over the world as well as consulting for law enforcement and government agencies on the unique risks and dangers of labor trafficking. This presentation will explore unique methods perpetrators use to enslave other human beings from the mindset of a survivor, as well as discuss the social stigma and psychological impact of being a victim of human trafficking. Further, it will explain some of the ways that communities and professionals can get involved to combat this issue by utilizing survivor-expertise and prevention-education methods.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the survivor's mental, emotional, and societal experience with labor trafficking

· Reveal ways perpetrators exploit labor

· Discuss some of the most powerful survivor-informed methods currently being used to combat human trafficking

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Increasing Organizational Capacity to Better Serve and Reach LGBTQ+ Survivors of Human Trafficking

LGBTQ+ survivors of human trafficking are disproportionally served within the larger anti-trafficking movement. LGBTQ+ youth, ages 16 -24, are two to seven times more likely to be victimized and face commercial sexual exploitation than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts (Modern Slavery Research Project, 2016; Dank, et al., 2015). There is little effort to reach out to adult LGBTQ+ survivors of human trafficking, many of whom are not identified as victims because of their unique experiences but also because of systematic heterosexism and discrimination faced by this community. There is a widespread lack of resources and educational materials about serving LGBTQ+ survivors of human trafficking, and many organizations feel ill-equipped and under prepared to work with this specialized population. This presentation was created to help organizations build their capacity to competently serve LGBTQ+ individuals and reach survivors that may go unidentified. Attendees will leave the discussion with a better understanding of how to identify biases that leave LGBTQ+ individuals underserved within the existing anti-trafficking movement. By understanding these biases, service providers and organizations can begin to assess the gaps in their programs as well as areas of improvement to make LGBTQ+ survivors feel welcome and safe. The presentation will explore unique challenges and hurdles these survivors face so organizations can incorporate solutions into their overall trafficking programming. By breaking down these unique challenges, anti-trafficking organizations and service providers can gain insight on building relationships and trust within their community to address the services gap provided to LGBTQ+ survivors of human trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss individual and organizational biases against LGBTQ+ survivors of trafficking

· Address gaps in services and areas of improvement for anti-trafficking organization

· Build partnership and trusts within the LGBTQ+ Community

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SANE Examination: What We Do and Why a Medical Examination is Important for Your Patient Who has been Trafficked

Trafficking individuals are often invisible in the health care setting. In general, health care providers often lack training for identifying and subsequently treating the person who has been trafficked. Sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) are registered nurses who are specifically trained to provide a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach to these patients to provide a thorough and complete medical screening, assessment, examination interventions, and referrals to help identify acute and chronic illnesses and/or injuries, while empowering the patient in the decision process related to referrals and safety/psychological care. Most patients who have been trafficked do not self-report injuries/illnesses. This presentation, through case studies and national guidelines, will discuss how the SANE identifies and cares for the medical and psychological needs of the trafficked person who enters a health care facility. SANE’s are ideally trained to intervene and advocate for the trafficked patient and to subsequently provide a broad spectrum of follow up health (physical and mental) services, which will enable multi-disciplinary team (MDT) members to better serve this vulnerable population.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss what a SANE can do for a trafficked patient

· Describe lessons learned by healthcare providers through case studies

· Explain how the SANE collaborates with other members of the MDT to optimize the best outcomes for this vulnerable population

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From the Voices of Domestic Sex Trafficking Survivors: Experiences of Complex Trauma and Posttraumatic Growth

This presentation highlights the key findings of complex trauma and posttraumatic growth in complex trafficking survivors. Using ecological and trauma-informed lenses, this qualitative, retrospective study used participant-centered methods to explore identity, sexuality, relationships, and factors that facilitate/hinder community reintegration for 15 adult female survivors, using sampling method of purposive convenience selection, with snowball sampling. Criteria included adult females who were trafficked within the USA and separated from trafficker more than one year. Recruitment utilized national networks of survivors and organizations/coalitions. Interview transcripts, photovoice captioned images, and focus groups were analyzed using multi-level conceptual and thematic coding. Participants identified with all aspects of complex trauma, including dissociation, self-perception, relations with others, and systems of meaning (Courtois & Ford, 2009, Spinazzola, J, Blaustein, M, Kisiel, C, Van der Kolk, B., 2001). Critical domains of posttraumatic growth included deep appreciation for life, personal strength, spiritual change, and life meaning, particularly helping others (Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G, 2004). Participants highlighted relationship development as the primary source of growth, emphasizing the value of peer-based support and survivor leadership. The findings of this study affirm the need for ecological and relational perspectives in care of survivors and approaches using a trauma-informed, victim-centered lens. Findings affirm the value of understanding the nuances of complex trauma as well as celebrating the capacity for posttraumatic growth. Furthermore, while relationships are most significantly impacted from the trafficking experience, they are considered the greatest instrument of healing, through offering long-term commitment and belief in the individual. Findings suggest comprehensive recommendations directly from the voices of survivors for community members and service providers. While the impact of trauma is complex and multi-faceted, there is great evidence of posttraumatic growth. While relationships are most significantly impacted from the trafficking experience, they are also considered the greatest instrument of healing. Our community response must consider these implications.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the key components and impact of complex trauma and posttraumatic growth and how they are particularly observed in victims of domestic sex trafficking

· Provide recommendations for post-trafficking community reintegration that come directly from survivors of sex trafficking

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Trends Seen in Bonded Labor Cases of South India

Bonded labor is an illegal practice that compels laborers to provide services to an employer for little or no wages. Though outlawed by the Indian government in 1976 through the Bonded Labor (Abolition) Act, it still flourishes underground. Lack of technological modernization, social inequality, ineffective labor laws, and a demand for low cost labor are some of the factors that fuel bonded labor in India. Capacity building, awareness campaigns, and advocacy with the Public Justice System in project areas of Tamil Nadu, a State in South India, has shown a change in the trend of bonded labor cases. A qualitative analysis of the bonded labor cases encountered from 2006 to 2019 showed that there was a reduction in the bonded labor elements of advance, minimum wages, restriction of freedom of employment, and restriction of freedom of movement. The level of exploitation experienced by the laborers in terms of physical and verbal abuse had reduced considerably. Interviews with field level staff, survivors, non-governmental organizations, and government stakeholders revealed that that these changes were attributed to increased detection of cases, awareness among the labor community, and effective government machinery. The laborers were given better wages and their quality of life had improved. They were able to access rehabilitative services offered by the government and were able to utilize better medical and public services than before. A multi-pronged approach fueled by political will has resulted in effective implementation of labour practices.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the risk factors for bonded labor in India

· Discuss strategies to influence the Public Justice System

· Analyze the trends in bonded labor cases

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Growing Awareness of the Interconnectivity Between Terrorism and Trafficking

This presentation will focus on how foreign terrorist organizations are utilizing human trafficking/exploitation to fund/facilitate their criminal activity. This presentation will also examine (pending case in Chicago) how domestic sexual exploitation could fund international terrorism. The presenter will examine the Islamic State/Yazidi genocide, Boko Haram/Chibok School incident, and emerging awareness and links to the U.S. homeland. In November of 2019, Jason Brown was arrested in Chicago, IL for attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization. Mr. Brown was a leader of Chicago-area street gang and allegedly attempting to provide monetary funds to assist ISIS soldiers engaged in combat. This presentation will explore the emerging nexus of international and domestic trafficking supporting and funding foreign terrorist organizations.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss how foreign terrorist organizations are utilizing human trafficking and exploitation to fund and facilitate their criminal activity

· Examine how domestic sexual exploitation could fund international terrorism through an emerging/pending case in Chicago

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