Posts tagged 24:10:00
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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