In 2018 in Rock County, Wisconsin, a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) was developed to address the growing identification of human trafficking and need for collaborative services. Today, this team has grown and has worked together to address the needs of many identified victims or at-risk youth. Currently, the Rock County Anti-Trafficking Response Team (HART) consists of Child Protective Services, medical personnel, Victim Witness, community-based advocates, and several law enforcement departments. Through HART’s collaborative work, the community has seen an increase in prevention, initial engagement, ongoing support services, and community resources and created a support group for parents of human trafficking victims. Participants will learn how to replicate this MDT approach to human trafficking including identifying team members, overcoming failure, conducting case reviews, and identifying and addressing community needs.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the importance of a multi-disciplinary team approach to addressing the needs of human trafficking victims

· Discuss how to build a multi-disciplinary team to respond to victims of human trafficking

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National and international academic communities and non-profit organizations have conducted several studies to understand sex trafficking and its implications; however, research related to the areas from human rights and social justice standpoints, through the use of Participatory Action Research (PAR), is still marginal. Therefore, this study was initiated to unpack intersectional gender oppression that increased the vulnerability of the women to sex trafficking and hindered trafficking survivors in their reintegration, upon their return to Nepal. PAR, a liberatory and empowerment methodology, was conducted with eight female trafficking survivors who were recognized as “co-researchers”. This study allowed them to critically understand their oppression, develop strategies, and effectively act to address the issues of sex trafficking and their reintegration through a wide range of educational and advocacy campaigns such as conversation café, photovoice, and street dramas. Findings focus on three main areas: (1) socially constructed root causes of sex trafficking; (2) challenges of survivors in their reintegration; and (3) PAR as a transformative tool. Results indicate that intersectional gender oppression as a key factor increases the vulnerability of women to sex trafficking and micro-aggressive behaviors against survivors are one the biggest challenges for survivors in their reintegration. Overall, by utilizing survivors’ knowledge, skills, and experiences in addressing the identified issues, their meaningful and effective involvement for their liberation and emancipation are one of the most unique contributions of this PAR research. This presentation concludes with the discussion of the implications of the study for research policy and practice.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the socially constructed root causes of sex trafficking and reintegration issues experienced by trafficking survivors in Nepal

· Share PAR as a transformative and liberatory approach

· Describe the implications of the study for policy practice and research

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This presentation will provide a basic overview of human trafficking, focusing on both domestic and foreign trafficking as well as labor and sex trafficking. Topics will include the definition of human trafficking, how traffickers recruit, indicators for victim identification, the impact of social media, and how individuals can make a difference in helping to combat and end human trafficking. Using the most current research and resources, the presentation is designed not only to educate but empower the participant.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide a basic understanding of human trafficking for the first-time attendee

· Provide the best sources of statistics

· Provide resources for the participant to explore

· Provide a way not only to educate but empower the participant

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CATCH Court works with survivors of human trafficking whose circumstances have led them to criminal justice involvement. The CATCH Court staff provide wraparound services to the women in the program as they exit the life. One of the main focal points for the staff during the two years of participation, outside of addiction and trauma therapy, is to help the women learn how to engage in healthy relationships and connection. The staff have witnessed a significant deficit in the participant’s ability to set appropriate boundaries, have effective communication, or display fundamental relational skills. This is largely due to their experiences and perceptions that have framed what a relationship looks like. Staff experiences show that a survivor is in need of multiple support people to effectively leave the life, which is challenging for those who have never functioned within a structure of wellness and autonomy. In addition, experiences within the docket have also provided staff with anecdotal evidence as to how unhealthy relationships can lead to the re-entrance of the life. CATCH Court has developed guidelines to assist in the process of safety and learning while navigating foreign territory regarding relationship building and appropriate connection. Connection is one of the most vital elements – to women, to addicts, and to trauma survivors. It has to be a focus for those working in the anti-trafficking field.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the importance of cultivating connections in the lives of survivors

· Describe a framework on how CATCH Court facilitates the process of healthy connections

· Explain the high influence of relationships to an increase or decrease in risk for the women who are trying to exit the life

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Transactional sex – survival sex, sexual exploitation, and trafficking – among youth can result in significant and lasting harms. It is illegal, dangerous, stigmatized, and hard to study. Most research uses non-probability samples because representative sampling is nearly impossible, and there is a paucity of population-based data. What is the prevalence of transactional sex among Minnesota high school students? How do rates vary by demographics, relevant experiences, and correlated health indicators? This research study uses data from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey (MSS), a tri-annual surveillance program administered in public school districts. The analysis sample included 71,007 students who answered the question (y/n): “Have you ever traded sex or sexual activity to receive money, food, drugs, alcohol, a place to stay, or anything else?” Overall, 1.4% of high school students reported trading sex. Similar rates characterize cisgender girls (1.4%) and boys (1.3%); a higher rate distinguishes transgender students (5.9%). Rates vary by race/ethnicity, geography, other relevant experiences, and health indicators; e.g., among youth who reported substance use, 15% also indicated trading sex. Using the rate of 1.4% and Census data, researchers estimate that at least 5,000 Minnesota youth are involved in transactional sex. This is likely an undercount. The MSS is administered on one day during school. Students most likely to answer yes are also the students least likely to attend school due to bullying, expulsion, push out, and more. This data is a call to action and helps answer a long-standing debate about actual extent of transactional sex among youth people.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide new data to help answer questions about the prevalence, scope and scale of youth involved in transactional sex (includes survival sex, exploitation and trafficking)

· Describe the methods and results from a secondary analysis of a population-based dataset administered in Minnesota high schools that added a question about transactional sex in 2019

· Identify implications for prevention, policy, and practice from this new prevalence data

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