Trauma-Informed Practice Implementation Recommendations for Providers Supporting Human Trafficking Survivors
Kaitlin Chakoian, MA, MEd & Resham Sethi, MA, MSW | September 24 | 10:15-11:15 AM
Topic: Research, Direct Service | Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Human trafficking involves experiences of trauma in which a survivor’s autonomy is systematically stripped from them through psychological, physical, and emotional abuse, and other tactics of force, fraud, and coercion (Polaris, 2021). Trauma-informed practice (TIP) involves recognition of the impact of trauma on survivors and the centering of their autonomy (SAMHSA, 2014). TIP is crucial to service delivery for human trafficking survivors (e.g., Heffernan & Blythe, 2014). This action-research developmental evaluation set out to answer the following questions: 1) What does it look like to implement trauma-informed practice with human trafficking survivors effectively; and 2) What are the barriers to implementing truly trauma-informed practice with this population? Findings are based on a national survey of 157 providers, 32 provider interviews, and interviews with 10 trafficking survivors. This study found that while most providers report an understanding of TIP, they need more support in implementation, particularly when survivor autonomy and provider perceptions of safety are in conflict. Secondly, effective TIP implementation requires on-the-ground experience. Staff turn-over poses a critical threat to the continuity of effective TIP for survivors. Finally, the disproportionate allocation of resources, expertise, and research to sex trafficking over labor trafficking presents a substantial barrier to the provision of TIP to labor trafficking survivors. This presentation concludes with recommendations for organizational leaders, providers of training and technical assistance, and policy makers. Intervention at each of these key points is necessary to dismantle barriers to providing truly trauma-informed services to trafficking survivors.
Presentation Objectives:
· Situate the current study in the field of relevant literature about the need for trauma-informed practice for human trafficking survivors
· Provide an overview of the study, including research questions, methodology, and findings
· Describe recommendations for organizational leaders, providers of training and technical assistance, and policy makers based on study findings
· Provide space for attendees to consider implications for their own work, research, and practice