This presentation strives to expand healthcare providers’ understanding of what sex work is and how to provide effective, comprehensive, compassionate care. Sex workers are a group of patients incredibly varied in their backgrounds, experiences, and needs. Studies and collected oral narratives have proven sex workers in the United States have a difficult time accessing healthcare and caring for their health. This disparity is largely the result of their criminalized status and stigma. “Sex Work” is an umbrella term that describes trading economic markers of value for sexual or erotic labor through performance or physical engagement. Some forms of sex work are legal, other forms are criminal. Legal forms include pornography, stripping, BDSM, phone sex, and camming. Illegal services in the United States include escorting, working in a brothel, massage, and other similar exchanges of sexualized services for money that may leave individuals vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS. As a previously incarcerated felon defined as a child bride and youth sex trafficking victim, Bella Robinson knows all too well the barriers sex workers face. In the 1980s in foster care, she experienced classism and stigma as a result of poverty. As an adult, she was at the mercy of prison doctors and emergency response triage teams. The stigma sex workers face accessing non-judgmental, compassionate care weighs heavily on her heart and hits very close to home. Her Continuing Medical Education (CME) modules teach service providers best practices for helping “people involved in the sex industry” access non-judgmental and compassionate health care services.

Presentation Objectives:

· Show CME video module material while speaking about the content

· Expand outreach for sex workers

· Create national access to non-judgmental and compassionate medical services

· Allow for sex work-friendly services to be implemented

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In India, numerous castes practice customary prostitution (Dolson, 2014; Jha & Sharma, 2016) that is either based in traditional religious practices (e.g., Devadasi) or the more recently developed tribal based prostitution that developed out of economic need (e.g., among the Bacchara, Perna, Nat, and Bedia for instance). Research is limited on sex work among these unique populations--but common elements tend to be early age of entry (roughly around age 14 or 15), female participation only, inter-generational familial involvement, and social sanctioning. These elements characterize how the commercial sex industry (CSI) has manifested among the Bedia. Data collection involved in-depth, open-ended, personal interviews with 31 Bedia females either currently involved or recently exited from the CSI. Participants were then divided into three groups based on age as follows: those less than 25 years of age (n = 12); those aged between 25 and 40 years (n = 11); and those aged 41 years or older (n = 7). Data from each was analyzed separately. Common themes among all surrounded: making sense of life within the CSI, intimate partnerships and social support, and children. Despite common themes, the manifestation of each varied considerably based on age and experience within the CSI. This investigation highlights the inherent value of small-scale, micro-studies for revealing the complexity of human trafficking across cultures and geographies. Implications for continued research will also be discussed. Other members of the research team included Kaitlin Roselius, MS; Victoria Johnson, PhD(c); Jessie Peter, PhD; Trupti Jhaveri Panshal, PhD; Ramani Ranjan, MSW; Mrinalini Mishra, PhD(c) and Sager Sahu, MS.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the study, including research questions, methods, and results

· Describe the implications of the research for practice and continued scholarship

· Discuss implications of studying sex trafficking in culturally unique, difficult-to-access populations

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Native peoples across the United States are experiencing tremendous violence. Recent statistics indicate that over 80% of Native peoples will experience violence in their lifetime (Rosay, 2016). Homicide is the third leading cause of death among Native women and girls which is a rate ten times greater than the national average (Joseph, 2021; Lucchesi & Echo-Hawk, 2018). Across North America, there are an unknown number of Murdered and Missing Indigenous People. While little formal attention has been given to this epidemic, grassroots efforts are centering the voices of Native people to understand this current social problem. This qualitative research study used data from 15 Native participants in focus groups and interviews to understand the victimization experienced in Native communities within the Great Plains. Thus, helping to answer the research question, what are the underlying causes of Murdered and Missing Indigenous People? Using grounded theory, this study identified the impact of historical trauma from colonial practices such as forcible removal from lands, sexual violence, and boarding schools on contemporary victimization among Native communities. Additionally, this presentation discusses the need for future research to be Indigenous-led and center on the voices of Native people. This research was conducted with two other non-presenting research partners, Abi Montgomery and Anna Doering. It is in gratitude that this research team acknowledges this project would not have occurred without the trust and support of the many Native people who shared their experiences, knowledge, and time with this team.

Presentation Objectives:

· Define the term "missing" as it pertains to Murdered and Missing Indigenous People

· Explain the relationship between historical trauma and Murdered and Missing Indigenous People

· Discuss the connections between other forms of violence, historical trauma, and Murdered and Missing Indigenous People

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America is at a crossroad of demographic shifts and stark racial economic disparities. A 2020 Census Bureau report stated that by 2045, Whites will no long make up the majority of the U.S. population. As the U.S. becomes more racially and ethnically diverse, it continues to grapple with racial economic disparities. Systems need to change to yield better outcomes for a growing percentage of the U.S. population. There is a leadership role for lawyers to play in advancing the creation of systems that yield equal access to economic opportunity. Research was conducted through evaluating historical laws, policies, Census data, Federal Reserve research and labor statistics. This research was used to answer the following questions: (1) What role has law and policy played in creating systems that continue to yield racial economic disparities between Blacks and Whites? and (2) What leadership roles may lawyers play in changing and building systems that advance social justice. Findings focus on three main areas: (1) income and wealth disparities; (2) the effects of incarceration on economic opportunity and generational economic mobility; and (3) relationship between socioeconomic status and healthcare access. Results indicate that law and policy have contributed to persistent generational racial economic disparities. Since lawyers are involved in creating laws, upholding laws, and helping people navigate our systems, lawyers have a critical leadership role to play in changing systems. This presentation concludes with recommendations on alternative lawyering approaches to advancing social justice and strategies for equipping the next generation of lawyer-leaders.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the scholarly and legal research conducted

· Describe recommendations for solutions to persistent racial economic disparities and the role that the legal profession may play

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Due to COVID-19, programs for survivors of prostitution were shut down, increasing the risks of violence, poverty, and isolation that they already face (Noble et al., 2020; Tracia’s Trust Strategy to Prevent Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking, Manitoba Government, 2019). Getting Out: A National Framework for Escaping Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation in Canada, asserts that, “Communities can provide natural supports and fulfill a fundamental psychosocial need (Noble et al., 2020, p.69)” for survivors. Recognizing this need, Survivors United envisioned a peer-led, peer-operated, and ally-supported network of survivors in which peers could support each other as a community. Survivors United was designed to reduce isolation and facilitate peer support in response to COVID-19-related disruptions to health and social services. This initiative was facilitated by several Lived Experience Leaders of the Manitoba Tracia’s Trust Advisory Council of Knowledge Keepers through social media and a series of theme-based videoconferencing peer support groups. Program goals were peer support, capacity building, role modeling, mentorship, and bridging organizations to survivors to facilitate warm hand-offs and smooth transitions, and fostering availability and accessibility to survivor communities and supports. Based on member feedback, Survivors United succeeded in achieving many of its goals. Survivors United believes that, through the use and expansion of existing resources via strategic partnerships, this platform could provide an online hub of resources, professionals, and programming. This presentation will outline the program, its results, and supporting research as well as recommendations for its adaptation.

Presentation Objectives:

· Share an innovative peer-led response to COVID-19 lockdowns and disruptions to services

· Provide an overview of online peer support programming for survivors

· Demonstrate ways to increase the availability and accessibility of social services to marginalized groups through online services

· Discuss the importance of ally organizations in supporting peer-led initiatives

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Child labor trafficking in the U.S has proven to be difficult to research and very little is known about the scope, severity, or common characteristics of child labor trafficking situations. The goals of this study are to: gain insight into the factors that contribute to children becoming victims of child labor trafficking in the United States; explore the outcomes of arrest cases of labor traffickers of children and trends of victims’ involvement in cases; and add to the literature regarding the vulnerabilities of migrant and domestic workers exploited by child labor traffickers. This study explores 34 cross-section child labor trafficking criminal cases in the U.S. between 2011 and 2018. The majority of the cases (73.5%, n = 25) were child labor trafficking only while 26.5 percent (n = 9) were both child sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Fifty-eight percent of the victims were children from foreign countries. Techniques for recruitment and retention used by the traffickers included psychological, physical, and sexual violence along with offering shelter to the victims. Recommendations include the need to increase research and awareness about child labor trafficking in the U.S. and to improve child victim benefits and compensation in the United States.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the study, including research questions, methods, and findings

· Provide recommendations to increase research and awareness about child trafficking in the U.S.

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Though limited research has explored trafficker relationships involving family members as perpetrators, it is well documented that some victims of child trafficking are exploited by a family member or by a non-relative facilitated by a family member. This study utilized administrative data from the United States’ Kentucky child welfare system to examine how victim characteristics, case factors, system responses, and case outcomes are related to whether a child is trafficked by a family member perpetrator versus non-relative (only) perpetrator. Analyses were based on 698 alleged victims of child trafficking reported between 2013 and 2017. Findings suggest that victims of family-controlled trafficking were more likely to have a higher number of perpetrators, live in rural communities, and be younger. Further, instances of family-controlled trafficking were found to be more likely reported by anonymous, non-relative community members, and relative reporting parties compared to reporting parties of professionals, law enforcement, courts, and juvenile justice, as reflected in previous literature. Important findings revealed that having a family member involved as the perpetrator of trafficking predicted that the case would not be substantiated and/or founded, compared to cases not involving a family member. Implications for future research regarding the dynamics of family-controlled trafficking cases will be discussed. Findings suggest opportunities for enhanced practices, training, and capacity in rural communities. To make a significant impact on the reduction of family-controlled trafficking, this presentation sheds light on the need for enforced penalties for family members as traffickers.

Presentation Objectives:

· Define family-controlled trafficking

· Describe the issue of family-controlled trafficking in Kentucky

· Describe the risk factors associated with family-controlled trafficking

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Over the last decade, thousands of domestic sex trafficking victims have been identified and offered services. Though there is little evidence-based research on the mental health treatment of victims of human trafficking, one disturbing trend cannot be ignored: victims oftentimes exhibit strong attachments to their trafficker and/or the lifestyle of commercial sexual exploitation. Whether resolute to return, wavering in ambivalence, or desperately trying to suppress a desire to return, many victims experience some level of attachment to traffickers and/or “the game”. It is a troubling and perplexing reality that many victims feel powerless to combat. One resource, a survivor-written coercion-resiliency curriculum, is being utilized in over 100 victim-serving facilities in 38 states with extremely promising results in minimizing victims’ bond to traffickers and the lifestyle of commercial sexual exploitation. Ending The Game (ETG) educates and empowers sex trafficking victims by providing a structure and framework to uncover harmful psychological coercion (a.k.a. “The Game”) that victims may have been subjected to during their exploitation. It was recently praised in the Journal of Women & Criminal Justice (March 2021) for showing “…positive trends in improvement of regulatory capacity, relational capacity, sense of self, and future orientation.” This workshop will explain key foundational knowledge about psychological coercion in human trafficking and familiarize participants with the ETG Curriculum.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide foundational knowledge concerning coercion in trafficking and its role in recidivism

· Explain why victims exhibit strong attachments to their traffickers and/or “the game”

· Describe Ending the Game, a first-of-its-kind “coercion resiliency” curriculum that reduces feelings of attachment to traffickers and/or “the game”

· Describe The Cool Aunt sex trafficking prevention talk series for youth

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This presentation will discuss the research that supports the use of expressive arts and play therapy interventions for individuals who have experienced a traumatic event (Rappaport, 2015), such as human trafficking. Traumatic events will be defined, as well as specific triggers for some of these events (Kalmanowitz, 2012). Expressive arts and play therapy interventions will be facilitated with participants to enhance their work with this population (Harte; Hamilton; & Meston, 2013). Clinicians, graduate students in counseling, and other related mental health professionals should be well equipped with interventions to work effectively with this population. The mental health field will benefit from additional effective interventions with a targeted population if clinicians and students can develop effective interventions for working with clients who have experienced trafficking (Perryman; Blisard; & Moss, 2019).

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe play therapy and expressive art interventions for individuals who have experienced a traumatic event, such as human trafficking

· Provide examples of expressive art and play therapy interventions that are effective with individuals who have experienced trafficking

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