The majority of language and imagery used in human trafficking education and awareness efforts is ineffective at telling a dignified and comprehensive story about human trafficking. The presentation will begin by exploring the words and imagery that come to mind when society hears or reads the phrase, “human trafficking.” The presenters will lead a discussion about where those messages come from and why advocates and the media often choose to use that framing. To encourage critical thinking, the presenters will use the story of Cyntoia Brown-Long to highlight the need to be more inclusive and trauma-informed when creating the mainstream narrative of human trafficking. They will talk about what trafficking really looks like by analyzing popular images frequently used to tell that story. The presenters will use tips from survivors from the My Story My Dignity campaign led by Freedom United to teach advocates and the media how to do a better job. The presenters will give examples of imagery and language that is best-practice, then facilitate an activity where participants will review a media story to determine whether or not the author uses respectable messaging. The presentation will conclude by sharing additional resources with participants, and will challenge them to take what they’ve learned back to their organizations and communities to hold us all more accountable to a better narrative.

Presentation Objectives:

· Identify and critique images and language used in trafficking awareness efforts

· Reframe stories of trafficking to respect the dignity of survivors

· Propose better language, imagery, and storytelling techniques

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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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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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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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