Minnesota’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Task Force acknowledges and addresses the historic, persistent, human, and Indigenous rights violations and abuses found within the state. The Task Force is intent on unearthing the root causes behind the historic violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two spirit (LGBTQQIA) people in Minnesota. It reflects the collaboration of 27 Task Force members and other key stakeholders, calling for systemic legislative and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across our state and this country for far too long. The unique report includes mandates aiming to reduce and end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two spirit people in Minnesota. It will serve as a road map for the Commissioner of Public Safety, other state agencies, and organizations that provide legal, social, and other community services throughout Minnesota. Most importantly, information presented in this report reflects the truths of survivors of violence, family members, community members, government agencies, and experts. The MMIW Report was compiled over more than a year of public hearings, community conversations, interviews with experts, and evidence gathering and delivers 20 mandates for systemic and community change directed at government, institutions, social service providers, industries, and all Minnesotans. These proposed mandates recognize and consider the multigenerational and intergenerational trauma and marginalization of Indigenous communities through poverty; insecure housing and homelessness; and barriers to education, employment, health care, and cultural support. It also addresses specific colonial and patriarchal policies that have diminished their status in society, leaving them vulnerable to violence.

Presentation Objectives:

· Introduce the process of creating a MMIW task force through legislation

· Explain timeline and process of the task force

· Describe the recommendations put forth by the task force

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At least 15% of adults in Lucas County have experienced four or more Adverse Childhood Experiences with rates up to 18% and 27% for African Americans and Latinos respectively (Lucas County Health Assessment, 2021). The Adverse Childhood Experience study, originally done by Kaiser Permanente in the 1990s, has led to numerous studies on the topic; however, information on the impact and prevalence of trauma is not enough to help people know what to do about trauma (Leitch, 2017). Formed in 2015, the Lucas County Trauma-Informed Care Coalition started to increase awareness of trauma informed care. The coalition has continued to meet, network, educate, and reduce barriers to accessing trauma informed resources, yet the work has not stopped with the coalition. Through the work of Dr. Adrienne Elhai and a planning team as part of a grant received from the National Childhood Traumatic Stress Network, a cross-sectional group of Lucas County leaders was brought together in August 2019 to view Resilience: The Biology of Stress & the Science of Hope (KPJR Films, 2016). This event began the work of the Lucas County Leaders for a trauma-informed community. The workshop will describe the documented efforts that have been underway to create a more trauma informed community. By building on the work of individuals and organizations, this group uses data, collaboration, and peer groups to educate, support, and work on actionable goals towards being more trauma informed.

Presentation Objectives:

· Define trauma-informed community

· Articulate the importance of becoming a trauma-informed community

· Identify steps Lucas County has taken to become a trauma-informed community

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“Traumatized people of all ages and cultural backgrounds [are] extremely resilient when they [are] involved in work…For people threatened by violence, work becomes the anchor that holds them steady within their old world as a new one is being formed” (Mollica, 2008). Guided by internationally recognized trauma research like Dr. Mollica’s, The Market Project (TMP) is committed to serve survivors of exploitation, violence, and human trafficking. TMP leverages the economic power of the marketplace to employ survivors in need of a stable job and healing. TMP creates jobs that are dignity-affirming and safe. Although difficult to quantify the impact of work alone on personal identity, self-esteem, and social recognition, studies indicate that a workplace can significantly impact one’s mental well-being (ILO 2000, McDonald 2011, Surtees 2013). Access to a healthy workplace is often a critical gap for survivors in need of long-term healing. At least two generations in northern Uganda have experienced deep pain stemming from chronic poverty and the country’s 20-year war. TMP works to implement best practices in the trauma-informed work environment at Nguvu Dairy, a business with a workforce of about 100 dispersed at 7 locations in northern Uganda. TMP will share lessons learned from five years of operation, including practical takeaways attendees can implement to support more effective economic recovery opportunities for survivors in resource-scare environments. Attendees will gain practical tips on operating a trauma-informed workplace: building a brand on excellence; identifying cultural bridges for partnership with other organizations; and normalizing self-care among managers.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss ways to empower local communities—specifically, Ugandans and other relevant developing country contexts—to run and operate a locally-owned business driven by trauma-informed principles and serve survivors of exploitation

· Share lessons learned from the first five years of operations, particularly those that are relevant to organizations operating social impact businesses for survivors of human trafficking and exploitation in Western contexts

· Discuss tips for partnering with like-minded organizations to provide culturally competent services in resource-scare environments

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Seeking to make profit, human traffickers cause their victims to commit illegal acts like prostitution, theft, trespass, and drug crimes. As a result, survivors accumulate long records of arrests, convictions, and adjudications—sometimes exceeding 100 contacts with the legal system. The records become obstacles to recovery, employment, housing, education, family reunification, and other aspects of successful community integration. In 2012, Ohio’s “Safe Harbor Law” offered a remedy called expungement to stop offense-records from harming survivors’ futures (HB 262 (2012); ORC §2152.021(F), §2953.38.) During the last 4 years, Ohio significantly expanded expungement opportunities for survivors of sex trafficking (S.B. 4 (2018), HB 431 (2021)). Ohio also expanded eligibility for record sealing and other criminal-record-mitigating legal remedies for rehabilitated community members. Today, under these new laws, Ohio’s courts allow some—but not all—survivors a true second chance (e.g., Juvenile Human Trafficking, Safe Harbor Response Bench Card, OH Supreme Court.) This presentation addresses the opportunities and limitations in Ohio’s laws to remove offense-records in the juvenile and adult criminal legal systems—and, consequently, to reduce lifelong reentry barriers. After attending this workshop, audience members will: 1) understand criminal/juvenile records, background checks, and the barriers they create; 2) understand why human trafficking survivors have these records; 3) understand new laws, processes, and impacts related to expungement, record sealing, Certificates of Qualification for Employment, pardons, and more; and 4) understand relevant “calls to action” for professionals in social work, counseling, therapy, chemical dependency, DODD, health, nursing, law, and other fields.

Presentation Objectives:

· Explain why and how survivors need to remove their criminal/juvenile offense records

· Focus on remedial legal strategies--used after survivors have been defendants/ accused-persons for offenses and were put into the criminal/juvenile legal systems

· Discuss how attendees can impact and access tools like expungement and record sealing

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The discovery, investigation, and prosecution of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) often relies upon victim disclosure (Lavoie et al., 2019; Sutorius & Kaldal, 2003). Despite the importance of best-practice interviewing methods to elicit disclosures from victims of CSEC, the topic remains largely unexplored by researchers. To address this critical gap in the literature, the researchers retrospectively surveyed 58 adults (88% women; Mage = 36 years) with self-reported histories of CSEC. Participants were recruited from anti-trafficking agencies across the United States. Participants were surveyed on (1) their experiences with law enforcement, if applicable; and (2) whether they disclosed their involvement in the sex trade to anyone prior to the survey. Sixty-two percent (n = 36) reported law enforcement contact during their involvement in the sex trade, while 38% (n = 22) reported no contact. Among those who indicated law enforcement contact, 67% (n = 24) were reportedly interviewed about their involvement in the sex trade. Participants’ evaluations and satisfaction with their interviewing experiences will be discussed. Of those who reported no law enforcement contact, 68% (n = 15) indicated they never considered disclosing to authorities. Fifty-five percent (n = 12) reportedly disclosed to non-law enforcement personnel prior to the survey. Disclosure recipient, reasons for disclosure reluctance, and individual factors associated with disclosure will be discussed. The presenter will conclude with (1) recommendations for future research; (2) individual and legal ramifications of nondisclosure; and (3) implications for novel interviewing strategies, alongside policy and practice, to bolster CSEC victims’ willingness to provide comprehensive and accurate disclosures.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss findings from a retrospective survey of adults with self-reported histories of commercial sexual exploitation in childhood

· Describe the ramifications of nondisclosure and implications for best-practice forensic interviewing methods with victims of commercial sexual exploitation in childhood

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Renee has struggled over 40 years to find peace within herself as she has endured a very complex childhood of abuse and child trafficking. Now, Renee is ready in her journey to share her story and to help others by enlightening others on ways to start living the life they so well deserve and quit holding back from the feelings of not feeling good enough and not feeling worthy. During this presentation, Renee will also talk about how this starts with forgiveness – forgiveness of ourselves, of our predators, of our families, and of the ones that made a huge impact on why we have carried the “bricks of burden” for so many years. Renee will demonstrate how this can be done by utilizing various exercises that not only clears our subconscious minds, but also our hearts, by knowing that we do matter, and that we have a life of abundance to live, no matter what we have endured.

Presentation Objectives:

· Share the presenter’s struggles of worthiness and belonging as a survivor of human trafficking

· Share ways to become vulnerable within ourselves

· Discuss various exercises and how to implement them, to be free from a life of not feeling worthy or belonging

· Describe how the presenter’s life has changed by moving forward in the present and not by living in the past

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Human trafficking (HT) is a serious crime and human rights violation as well as a public health issue with significant health consequences. There has been little research investigating the preparedness of health facilities to serve HT survivors. The purpose of this study is to describe the needs of health facilities in Michigan related to education, screening, and response for HT. This study used a cross-sectional design. The state was split into regions, then sampled according to health facility type. An email invitation was sent between May-June 2019 with a link to a 26-item survey. Participating facilities (n=47) included health departments, federally qualified health centers, and hospitals. Results demonstrate the majority of health facilities had screening policies and response protocols related to child maltreatment and intimate partner violence. However, the number of facilities that had a screening policy (40.9%) and response protocol for HT (64.3%) was much lower, with more facilities focusing on sex trafficking than labor trafficking. Health facilities reported that their top needs related to HT included: 1) individual-level healthcare provider training; 2) health-facility level screening policies and response protocols; 3) community-level resources; and 4) societal-level awareness, funding allocation, and data. Despite an increasing focus on educating healthcare providers about HT, there is a need for facility-level resources to ensure that healthcare providers have adequate training and support. The results of this study were used to create a website, continuing education module, and four videos focused on the healthcare provider response from survivor, legal, and healthcare perspectives. Other contributing members of this presentation include Dana Beck, PhD, FNP-BC and Bridgette Carr, JD.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the role of health facilities in education, screening, and response for human trafficking

· Describe practical strategies that can be used at a system-level to support individual healthcare provider responses to human trafficking

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Since 2015, the Minnesota Department of Health and Wilder Research have leveraged a unique partnership to conduct biennial evaluations of Safe Harbor, a statewide initiative to address sex and labor trafficking of youth. Currently in its fourth cycle, evaluation questions have included: 1) What are the impacts of Safe Harbor? 2) What challenges impede the success of Safe Harbor? and 3) To what extent is Safe Harbor culturally appropriate for youth of all backgrounds? There is a lack of empirical research on identifying, serving, and preventing youth trafficking, particularly methods that are culturally appropriate. However, at least 5,000 Minnesota youth report engaging in transactional sex (Minnesota Student Survey, 2019). To address this gap, several methodologies have been used, including surveys and interviews with youth and stakeholders and analysis of client data. Findings include: 1) Safe Harbor provides services that would otherwise be unavailable, 2) Safe Harbor draws on youth, grantee, and state strengths to positively impact youth, and 3) systemic challenges and service, training, and information gaps limit Safe Harbor’s impact. Data collection for the fourth cycle is on-going and focuses on the cultural appropriateness of services; these findings will be presented. Recommendations include: 1) address missing or inconsistent services, 2) enhance evaluation efforts, and 3) improve prevention efforts. There may be additional recommendations related to cultural appropriateness. This presentation also showcases how an iterative evaluation approach and a unique partnership between a state public health department and a community-based research organization has improved Safe Harbor and increased its impact.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the evaluation, including main questions, methodology, and findings

· Describe recommendations based on the evaluation

· Describe a unique partnership between a state public health department and a community-based research organization that could be replicated

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This presentation reports findings from a qualitative study that was conducted in England to explore children and young people’s lived experiences of child trafficking. In-depth qualitative interviews and focus groups were held with 20 young people aged 15-21. Drawing on personal testimonies, this presentation reports how children’s hopes and dreams turned to despair. Through being subjected to multiple and severe forms of trafficking abuse, children became aware they were deceived, manipulated, and commodified as “products” for traffickers’ gain. The findings reveal how despite being under oppressive conditions, children developed various coping mechanisms and adapted to gain some knowledge and power as survival strategies. The presentation draws attention to the role of other children within trafficking situations, highlighted as a significant finding in helping others to cope and even escape. These findings are used to extend our knowledge how the trafficking process is experienced and provide valuable insight of children’s lived experience of trafficking abuse, enabling practitioners to understand the dynamics, processes, and acts children are exposed to. Knowledge of peritraumatic responses to trafficking abuse can assist practitioners engaging in trafficking protection and trauma recovery. Practice implications of recognizing the valuable role of other children in responding to trafficking abuse is discussed, reinforcing the argument for furthering children’s inclusion and participation in anti-trafficking prevention programs.

Presentation Objectives:

· Share research findings from listening to children and young people discuss their trafficking experience

· Provide an international perspective of the experiences of trafficked youth in England

· Discuss implications of findings on practice and development of anti-trafficking initiatives

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Americans are facing high levels of economic insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis. Certain populations may be at greater risk for exchanging sex in order to meet basic needs. This study examines the prevalence and demographic correlates of exchanging sex during COVID-19. An online, cross-sectional survey was administered to a general population sample of women and transgender/non-binary adults residing in the state of Michigan (N = 1,169). A total of 3.4% (n = 40) of participants reported that someone had asked them for sex as a form of payment for rent since the start of the pandemic; 3.4% (n = 40) had been asked for sex in exchange for protective equipment (PPE) (e.g., face masks, hand sanitizer); and 3.2% (n = 37) had exchanged sex for money, food, or a place to stay because of the pandemic. Participants who were ages 25-44, with high school educations, lesbian/bisexual/queer, transgender/non-binary, pregnant, and had a documented disability were all more likely to have been asked for sex in exchange for rent, asked for sex in exchange for PPE, and to have exchanged sex during the pandemic for money, food, or a place to stay. Native American women and Black women were more likely to have been asked for sex in exchange for rent than other racial/ethnic groups. Essential workers were more likely to have been asked for sex in exchange for PPE. Findings highlight vulnerable groups among women and transgender individuals who may experience heightened economic and health vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 crisis.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the study, including main questions, methodology, and findings

· Describe the implications and/or recommendations based on the research

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Give Way to Freedom developed and runs the Rapid Response Support System (RRSS), an independent and robust crisis response system for adults in Vermont. RRSS aids potential victims during the initial 48-72 hours of disclosure of trafficking or suspicion of a human trafficking case. RRSS ensures that victims and potential victims of human trafficking receive support tailored to their needs at the earliest possible point. The system provides immediate support services and allows the individual time to rest and consider the options available to them. RRSS initiates a continuum of support to victims by establishing a baseline of trust between a victim and facilitator(s) and/or service providers, ensures the safety and well-being of a victim, and enhances the trusted line of victim referral. Give Way to Freedom’s RRSS facilitators are trained in trauma-informed support and equipped with comprehensive resources to assist individuals in understanding their rights and options as well as connecting with longer-term support services should they wish to do so. Facilitators can also help with case consultation as well as logistical planning for a potential victim and help law enforcement and/or other service providers identify service provision options. This session will outline the process of developing the program, its successes, and things the presenters learned during the past six years of its operation. It is a small and mighty program that, with a small budget, can be emulated in any geographic location in the United States.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss ow the program was developed

· Provide an overview of the services

· Advise attendees on how to emulate the program

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Federal law in the United States (US) dictates that public child welfare agencies are now responsible for identifying and providing secondary and tertiary prevention to youth who experience or are at-risk experiencing CSEC (P.L. No. 113-183; P.L. 114-22). Child welfare system (CWS) involvement and childhood sexual abuse are two of the most well-documented antecedents to CSEC during adolescence (Franchino-Olsen, 2021), yet relatively little is documented about the extent, duration, and outcomes of CWS involvement prior to experiences of CSE. Child-level administrative child welfare data offer a way to examine system involvement longitudinally and describe any patterns or trends that emerge. This study uses data from one of the largest child welfare agencies in the US to describe the CWS involvement of 324 adolescents and transition age youth who received CSEC-specific CWS services from 2016 to 2020. Findings focus on: (1) the sociodemographic profiles of youth served; (2) the extent, timing, and outcomes of CWS service provision prior to entering CSEC specialized services; (3) CWS case outcomes following the provision of specialized programming; and (4) service provision among parenting youth. This analysis serves as a case study, shedding light on the early experiences of children who are later affected by CSEC in the U.S. Findings from this study may inform the development of prevention-focused policy and programming.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the children and transition age youth identified by the child welfare system as having experienced CSEC victimization and been at high risk of experiencing CSEC

· Explore the extent, timing, and outcomes of prior child welfare system involvement among youth receiving specialized CSEC programming

· Explain the relevance of these findings for prevention-focused policy and programming

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Sex trafficking will remain an intractable problem until stakeholders have accurate information that improves decision making—information about trafficking trends and how to design high-leverage interventions. To overcome policy resistance, trafficking stakeholders must look closely at the feedbacks within the system; understand the bounded rationality behind them; and meet the goals of the participants in the system while moving the state of the system in a better direction. The two-part research question is: How does sex trafficking vary over time in Connecticut, and what are the social-ecological factors that perpetuate sex trafficking trends? Researchers interviewed 18 Connecticut stakeholders about sex trafficking dynamics, the system structures that drive those dynamics, and potential policies/solutions. The researchers are following the systematic approach outlined by Kim and Andersen (2012) to code qualitative text data to generate causal maps for system dynamics modeling. Preliminary findings focus on four main areas: 1) demand for sex trafficking, 2) supply of sex trafficking, 3) public will to address sex trafficking, and 4) political will to address sex trafficking. Preliminary results indicate that all four of these areas are interconnected through feedback processes: e.g., as supply increases and sex trafficking becomes more visible, public will and political will increase in an attempt to reduce supply. However, supply-side only strategies do not address the demand side (not high leverage). The presentation will include recommendations for further research, including that improved information flows can be a leverage point, thus providing direction for trafficking surveillance systems based on stakeholder information needs.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the study, including main questions, methodology & findings

· Describe the implications and/or recommendations based on the research

· Provide resources for attendees interested in learning more about system dynamics modeling

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Minnesota’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Task Force acknowledges and addresses the historic, persistent, human, and Indigenous rights violations and abuses found within the state. The Task Force is intent on unearthing the root causes behind the historic violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two spirit (LGBTQQIA) people in Minnesota. It reflects the collaboration of 27 Task Force members and other key stakeholders, calling for systemic legislative and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across our state and this country for far too long. The unique report includes mandates aiming to reduce and end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two spirit people in Minnesota. It will serve as a road map for the Commissioner of Public Safety, other state agencies, and organizations that provide legal, social, and other community services throughout Minnesota. Most importantly, information presented in this report reflects the truths of survivors of violence, family members, community members, government agencies, and experts. The MMIW Report was compiled over more than a year of public hearings, community conversations, interviews with experts, and evidence gathering and delivers 20 mandates for systemic and community change directed at government, institutions, social service providers, industries, and all Minnesotans. These proposed mandates recognize and consider the multigenerational and intergenerational trauma and marginalization of Indigenous communities through poverty; insecure housing and homelessness; and barriers to education, employment, health care, and cultural support. It also addresses specific colonial and patriarchal policies that have diminished their status in society, leaving them vulnerable to violence.

Presentation Objectives:

· Introduce the process of creating a MMIW task force through legislation

· Explain timeline and process of the task force

· Describe the recommendations put forth by the task force

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Presenters will pull back the curtain on the intersectionality between human trafficking and people with disabilities. This is a unique perspective that is rarely trained on. It is crucial for service providers, educators, medical and mental health professionals, and others to understand the gaps in service for this population and how it impacts the disability community. This presentation will showcase a more in-depth look into best practices when providing services to adult crime victims of human trafficking with disabilities and provide the audience with resources that victims/survivors with disabilities have available. Participants will receive the information in a myriad of forms, including lectures, facilitated group discussion, videos, and other activities as appropriate.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the intersectionality between human trafficking and people with disabilities

· Discuss the current gaps in service for crime victims of human trafficking with disabilities

· Describe resources that victims/survivors of human trafficking with disabilities have available to them

· Offer best practices when providing services to adult crime victims of human trafficking with disabilities

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Racial bias, both implicit and explicit, affects us all. Our decisions and choices to give someone a second chance, help someone in need, or promote or hire a new employee are impacted by bias that has been both taught and conditioned over the years. To break down these walls and reduce bias in the workplace (and life), we must first understand how we got here. We must educate ourselves on how we become reliant on generalizations and stereotypes. Only then can real change happen. This training will not only educate you on bias but open the communication for how to change our reactions for the better. It will build awareness and understanding of conscious and unconscious biases, the differences between the two, and why it matters in fair and impartial justice, while gaining strategies and tools in developing a community caretaker approach for improved interactions.

Presentation Objectives:

· Build awareness and understanding of implicit and explicit biases, the differences between the two, and why it matters in fair and impartial justice

· Discuss the current climate and challenges that exist with communities of color and law enforcement to gain understanding about why a climate of distrust exists and what can be done about it

· Leverage a broad spectrum of best practices and successful strategies and techniques to reduce disparities

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Anti-trafficking practices often emphasize criminalization, including arresting survivors, sex workers, undocumented immigrants, purchasers, and traffickers (Bernstein 2018; Fukushima 2019; Musto 2016). In turn, the criminal legal system creates a faulty dichotomy between “victims” and “criminals,” constraining the scope of services

available to survivors and prioritizing punishment rather than care for people outside of the “victim” mold. Moreover, the criminal legal system can retraumatize survivors and is fraught with injustices, including the over-incarceration of Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and other racialized people (Kaye 2017; Lam 2019). Drawing on recent research and legal advocacy, the speakers will explain why criminalizing survivors of trafficking creates negative consequences, which must be considered in anti-trafficking advocacy. The presentation will discuss responses to human trafficking based on health, empowerment, and social justice, rather than punitive, carceral measures. The audience will learn about “on ramps” that people, including survivors, take to enter the criminal legal system, as well as effective “off-ramps” that people take to exit the criminal legal system during arrest, prosecution, and post-conviction (e.g., R.C. §§2935.36, 2951.041, 2929.15, 2953.38). Presenters will discuss nuances of diversion programs, which can be alternatives to incarceration but also can prolong negative power dynamics that courts wield over victims. Criminalization should not be the only or primary pathway to human rights. Furthermore, alternative anti-trafficking responses can mitigate the underlying racial, gender, and economic injustices which criminalization intensifies.

Presentation Objectives:

· Explain the main negative consequences of a carceral approach to anti-trafficking, including racial and social injustices, potential for re-traumatization, and reinforcement of a problematic dichotomy between victims and criminals

· Explain how survivors enter the criminal-legal system as criminal defendants

· Discuss effective alternatives to over-criminalization, including support services, diversion programs, and “off ramps” in the criminal legal system

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Christian anti-sex-trafficking has been critiqued as focusing on “rescue” and “repair” with little attention to survivors’ agency and self-determination (Kempadoo, 2012). The Christian community, however, mobilizes significant resources to address trafficking, often being the primary trafficking-related service providers in an area (Bernstein, 2018). As a foundation for improving respect, understanding, and collaboration between the Christian community, survivors, and other allies, it is therefore critical to examine the perceptions of sex trafficking survivors held by the Christian community. Fifteen church leaders across Ohio with interest in anti-sex trafficking were purposefully recruited for interviews. Three questions were used to uncover their perceptions of survivors: (1) What are your top ten words to describe survivors of sex trafficking? (2) Complete the sentence, “A successful survivor is someone who...” and (3) What are the differences between survivors who succeed and those who continue to struggle? Findings showed that positive descriptors such as “resilient” and “determined” outnumbered negative ones such as “wounded” and “victim”. Post-trafficking challenges were described as temporary states related to survivor’s past, rather than defining his/her identity. Respondents emphasized that while survivors needed support, they had the power, agency, and responsibility to transform their lives and the right to define that transformation. The study shows that concerns about the Christian community limiting survivors to “victim” stereotypes may not apply to all members. Identifying and partnering with Christian leaders whose anti-trafficking agendas are informed by survivors’ agency and self-determination may be a way to promote multi-sector collaborations that uphold survivors’ rights and dignity.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the study and highlight the importance of understanding Christian perceptions of sex trafficking survivors as a foundation for improving collaborations between the Christian community, survivors, and other allies

· Describe perceptions of the study respondents that overall foregrounded survivor’s dignity, agency, and self-determination

· Discuss implications and recommendations for anti-sex-trafficking partnerships between the Christian community and other parties, and recommendations for further research

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Sex and labor trafficking are often treated as two separate but related phenomena. This presentation will explore how both forms of trafficking are intertwined in many situations and how that impacts survivors, victim advocacy, supportive services, and access to justice. Based on focus groups conducted with survivors of human trafficking, the presentation will explore how labor and sex trafficking co-occur in a wide variety of situations. At the start of the sessions, most survivors in the focus groups recognized their sex trafficking experiences but none identified as victims of labor trafficking. Through extensive discussions, the survivors examined the types of labor trafficking they experienced and explored how identifying labor trafficking in these contexts would improve the response by both law enforcement and victim advocates. During the presentation, participants will evaluate their own communities and experiences to identify this dual victimization. The presenters will offer best practices and concrete tools for participants to use in their own work to ensure that survivors of both sex and labor trafficking receive the full range of services they need and find justice for all they have experienced.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss how sex and labor trafficking overlap.

· Encourage attendees to reflect on their experiences with situations that involved both sex and labor trafficking

· Describe how to follow best practices when working with survivors of both sex and labor trafficking

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The American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics (2014) obligates counselors to maintain multicultural competency in practice throughout Section A and maintains the significance of cultural competencies throughout the entire document. The mention of cultural competencies clearly indicates an understanding and acceptance of all humans as a counselor practicing in the field (American Counseling Association, 2014). Providing non-biased and culturally appropriate care is an ethical obligation of counselors, including to the minority population of survivors of human trafficking and voluntary sex-workers. Violence, coercion, and emotional abuse are prevalent factors (Moret, et.al, 2016). The atmosphere of varied perceptions and identity roles is a consistent theme across the population (Dodsworth, 2014). Victims of human trafficking and sex workers report perceived stigma and biases from social workers and counselors in therapy (Bjønness, 2012). Goals include exploration and understanding effective use of ethical practices within counseling for the population including survivors of human trafficking and voluntary sex workers, including resiliency factors associated with the population. The presentation will consist of slides with handouts and interactive discussion to disseminate information. The objectives include increasing knowledge of commonly used practices in therapeutic settings for population, increasing cultural considerations ethically appropriate for work with population, and increasing understanding of resiliency factors within the population.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the importance of resiliency within the population

· Describe resiliency factors relevant to the population

· Identify methods to implement resiliency within treatment

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