Human trafficking survivors often face considerable difficulty securing safe, sustainable employment upon exiting human trafficking and returning to the community. Without safe employment that pays a living wage, people who have been trafficked remain highly vulnerable to ongoing exploitation (Tran et al, 2017). Regenesys BPO is a social enterprise operating in the Philippines for over seven years that provides supported, technology-based employment to survivors of human trafficking, sexual abuse, and intimate violence, together with other vulnerable young people. The company aims not only to provide a living wage through enhanced technical skills and stable employment, but also a context in which survivors can progress toward achieving full and sustained reintegration. Research pertaining to vocational training and supported employment is lacking within the literature on trafficking specific services. Therefore, Regenesys BPO has needed to significantly adapt existing resources and innovate new approaches to ensure survivors can be successful in a competitive work environment. Strategies which are embedded within the workplace include an open, supportive, and nurturing workplace culture, trauma-informed performance management, formalized educational programs addressing physical, mental, social, and financial wellbeing, and workplace counseling (Gill & Tsai, 2018). The enterprise’s accumulated experience and emerging research demonstrate sustained improvement in mental health outcomes, increase personal empowerment, and strengthening of personal identity, self-esteem, and core capabilities (Poveda et al, 2019). Attendees will gain a deep appreciation for the significant role of higher skilled and supported workplace environments in survivor recovery and the specific dynamics and strategies within the workplace that support this outcome.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the importance of sustained, decent employment for survivors

· Describe the role of the workplace in survivor recovery and reintegration

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Within the last few years, the healthcare field has begun to address human trafficking by identifying and responding to patients who may have experienced trafficking. Innovative work has identified red flags that healthcare providers can look for and training has been developed on trauma-informed care. For the survivors who receive these services, the care can be life changing. In public health, the border of health work extends beyond treatment to also include prevention, like promoting healthy eating and physical activity to prevent diabetes. The same can be done in the area of human trafficking, looking upstream for ways to prevent trafficking from happening, protecting people from the abuse and trauma. One way that healthcare can prevent trafficking is through addressing forced labor in the production of medical supplies, especially in Asia. Labor trafficking is involved in the production of many goods that are used every day by consumers and businesses. Some progress has been made in the apparel and electronics industry regarding forced labor, and healthcare also has a role to play. In response to this need, CommonSpirit Health is developing a program to identify high risk products and work with suppliers to create safeguards for workers to prevent labor trafficking. Other healthcare systems are invited to join this work so that no harm will be done– to either the patients or those who make the products needed for patient care.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of labor trafficking in supply chains generally

· Describe how the supply chain of healthcare products are also part of this system

· Explain how the healthcare field can address this issue, thereby reducing labor trafficking

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Given the international nature of offenses about child sexual exploitation material (CSEM), the current presentation highlights the importance of conducting a comparative analysis of this offending group across the Australian and U.S. federal court jurisdictions. The researchers note that compared with the literature on victims of child exploitation, limited research has explored the characteristics of CSEM offenders. Further, little research has explored the messages delivered by the judiciary during sentencing regarding CSEM offenses. Exploring this data source offers substantive information about the offender, victim, and broader community and offers insight into the harmfulness of the crime. The objectives of this presentation are to: (1) identify any differences in the demographic characteristics of the cases (e.g., age, race, occupation, ethnicity), (2) explore the differences in the messaging of judicial sentencing remarks, and (3) obtain a deeper understanding on the characteristics of CSEM offenders and explore the censure sentencing judiciary impart. This presentation is an extension of the earlier studies conducted by the presenters in their respective jurisdictions and will discuss the current literature, which draws from the two prior studies to present hypothesized results and implications. This presentation should further contribute to an international perspective about both the characteristics of this offending group and the judicial censure delivered. In turn, the information within this presentation can be used to develop a more global holistic approach for preventing and treating CSEM offenses. This research is a valuable resource across multiple disciplines such as psychology, social work, criminology, law enforcement, and the legal professions.

Presentation Objectives:

· Identify differences in the demographic characteristics of the cases

· Explore differences in the messaging of judicial sentencing remarks

· Provide a deeper understanding on the characteristics of CSEM offenders

· Explore the censure sentencing judiciary impart

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Scholars generally agree that exiting street prostitution is a complex process (Dalla, 2006; Baker, Dalla & Williamson, 2010). Unfortunately, women are rarely successful on their first exit attempt. However, studies of prostitution exiting have not adequately addressed women’s difficulties in asking for help in this arduous process, which may explain part of its challenge. This research project explored the concept of asking for help among a sample of 29 substance-using adult women exiting street prostitution in five programs in the greater Philadelphia area. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were analyzed to solicit women’s own understanding of their need for help in the process of exiting. Results indicate that most women found it difficult to ask for help in their exiting process, even though they knew they needed this help. Previous negative experiences with both kins and professionals, shame, and fear of stigma, as well as pride may hinder women from asking for help and serve as barriers to exit. A possible solution lies in taking example from peers with similar lived experience (Deer & Baumgartner, 2019; Hotaling et al., 2004; O’Hagan, 2009). Peers are able to relate to women’s past experiences in prostitution, serve as role models and show women the benefits of asking for help. In conclusion, by closely examining women’s narratives, this presentation sheds light on the neglected issue of asking for help; the study recommends incorporating peer support as role models in programs assisting women who exit street prostitution, similar to how it has been done in the fields of substance abuse treatment (Bassuk et al., 2016; Eddie et al., 2019) and mental health (Gidugu et al., 2015; O’hagan, 2009; Walker & Bryant, 2013) fields.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the study of the influence of support on women's exiting journeys out of street prostitution, including main research questions, methodology, and key findings

· Describe the implications and recommendations related to adopting peer support strategies in programs that assist women exiting street prostitution

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This session presents an overview of human trafficking and illicit massage businesses (IMBs) in Ohio and provides detailed policy recommendations aimed at reducing commercial sexual and labor exploitation within this sector. The study consists of original research that builds upon recent research on IMBs conducted by Polaris (2018), Heyrick (2020), and others. Ohio is unique in the U.S. in that massage therapy is licensed and regulated by the state medical board, but non-therapeutic or “relaxation” massage legally exists with nearly zero oversite or regulation. This loophole in the law has contributed to the spread of IMBs that often exploit primarily foreign workers for commercial sex or forced labor. This study examines the many intersectional causes and effects of this exploitation (e.g., race, culture, class, migration) and offers an overview of currently proposed state legislation (SB 55, HB 81), content analysis and coding of municipal ordinances from 28 different Ohio cities, an examination of Ohio-based IMB advertising and reviews from commercial sex web sites, quantitative analysis of four decades of Ohio media reports accessed from Lexis-Nexis, and formal interviews conducted with seven experts with IMB-related experience in Ohio (including: law enforcement, researchers, advocates, and massage therapists). Findings include an overview of IMBs in Ohio, an evaluation of existing municipal codes relating to IMBs, a set of policy recommendations, and an advocacy strategy and for community activists to create positive change.

Presentation Objectives:

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

· Describe the implications and recommendations based on the research

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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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Recent studies (Lederer & Wetzel, 2014) reveal near 88% of trafficked victims are examined in a healthcare facility while in servitude. Several researchers (Becker & Bechtel, 2015; Shandro et al., 2016; Gibbons & Stoklosa, 2016; Mumma et al., 2017) identified the following health issues occurring to trafficked victims: physical injuries, infections particularly urinary tract, head trauma, untreated chronic health conditions, diseases from unsanitary housing and dirty needles, substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, OB/GYN issues, and psychosocial distress. Unfortunately, only a limited number of victims are identified even though health professionals, especially nurses (currently 3.8 million), have the opportunity to assess the victims in a private and safe examination environment. A three-contact hour continuing education course on human trafficking, including recommendations from the Florida Board of Nursing and Sevens & Berishaj (2016), was developed and piloted by twelve nurses. From the initiation of the human trafficking course in July 2018, 1,250 nurses participated in the course. A pre-and post-test using Survey Monkey regarding confidence in assessing patients for signs and symptoms of trafficking was added to the course. Data were collected until 100 participants had completed the surveys. A 3 to 6 months post course Survey Monkey questionnaire about applying the information from the course in the clinical area was carried out and is ongoing. Data analysis demonstrated a pre-course knowledge base deficit with a post course significant increase in knowledge and desire for action (Lawrence, 2010). When trafficked victims come into emergency departments, urgent care clinics, and doctors’ offices, a nurse is there. This talk includes a discussion about collaborating with nurses and nursing organizations to identify and assist trafficked victims.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the knowledge base of nurses before and after a human trafficking continuing education course

· Discuss how confident nurses are after taking a human trafficking continuing education course

· Describe how nurses assess for trafficked victims in their clinical practice area after taking a continuing education course

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The U.S. Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act requires the U.S. government to evaluate other countries' anti-trafficking policies and impose economic sanctions on those countries which are not making significant efforts. Sanctions have been controversial, with some scholars arguing that they are counter-productive (e.g., Chuang 2006). Until now, no scholar has tested whether the threat of sanctions has encouraged desired policy outcomes. This study asks: Has the threat of U.S. sanctions promoted anti-trafficking policies? To overcome selection bias, the researcher first models whether a country eligible for sanctions is, in fact, sanctioned, and then estimates the credibility of the threat of sanctions for other countries in danger of becoming sanctionable. Survival analysis is used to estimate the influence of the threat of sanctions on the time to the introduction of six anti-trafficking policies: criminalization, any revision to the trafficking legal regime, first institutionalization of an intersectoral coordinating body, initiation of a national action plan, formalization of a National Referral Mechanism, and institutionalization of a victim reflection period. The analysis controls for the influence of reputational concerns, the actual imposition of sanctions, and many other factors. Findings indicate that the threat of sanctions has promoted criminalization, intersectoral coordinating bodies, and national action plans, but not other legal change or victim protection policies. In general, countries which have lower sanctions credibility are more likely to introduce the desired policy, suggesting that uncertainty is encouraging policy change. The presentation concludes with recommendations for further research, policy advocacy, and for the conduct of U.S. diplomacy.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the study (existing literature, research question, method, and findings)

· Discuss implications for policy advocacy and U.S. diplomacy

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Enacted in 2015, the Modern Slavery Act (MSA) is the United Kingdom’s response to ending modern slavery on a global scale. But how did it come to be? And what does the history of anti-trafficking law in the UK tell us about how the MSA is implemented today? Going back to the movement against white slavery in late nineteenth century London, this presentation will examine how anti-trafficking policies have shifted over time to produce tactics, such as border monitoring, employed in the MSA (Lammasniemi, 2017). First called white slavery, a phrase used by early campaigns to refer to young women forced into prostitution (Faulkner 2018; Knepper 2010), trafficking individuals has been a crime that both defies and defines international borders. This project uses discourse analysis and archival research to study how these early conceptions of human trafficking influence the MSA today. By examining the archives of the National Vigilance Association (NVA), a social reform group dedicated to ending white slavery, the presenter has found that race and gender were used to personify victims and perpetrators alongside personal accounts (Attwood 2015; Kempadoo 2015; Laite 2017). This encouraged the NVA to call for increased immigration monitoring networks and stricter border control. Now a bedrock of UK anti-trafficking policy, these approaches to curb trafficking often recycle – knowingly or not – white slavery discourse. Although this work focuses on the UK, fears over white slavery spread to the U.S. These discussions are relevant to all those working against human trafficking globally because it challenges today’s assumptions about survivors and perpetrators using a historic lens.

Presentation Objectives:

· Introduce the history of white slavery panics in the UK and U.S. to the audience

· Demonstrate how early formations of victims or perpetrators are racialized and gendered

· Discuss how these conceptions might influence policy today, like the UK Modern Slavery Act of 2015

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The phrase "Nothing About Us Without Us" has become a rallying cry for the inclusion of marginalized communities in research, programming, and dissemination. While this tenant is fundamental, it poses challenges when engaging with vulnerable populations. In their work with the coalition, the presenters create opportunities for people with lived experience to hold compensated professional roles without the expectation that the individuals disclose lived experience or the details of that experience. While this may sound obvious, it is not a blanket approach. We often see the concept of lived experience used to provide legitimacy and value. Moreover, that value is usually derived from trauma porn or the expectation that having lived experience means sharing that experience with others freely and often. This approach contributes to an emerging dichotomy of "professionals" vs "people with lived experience" as if they are not one-in-the-same. All this begs the question: How do we ethically navigate engaging people with lived experience in the work? In this presentation, the presenters will explore the ethical challenges of engaging people with lived experience, the importance of ensuring those who do engage in the work feel valued beyond their lived experience, and how to provide support and recognition of the work done by experiential voices without requiring disclosure. They will do this by drawing on their work with the Empowering Voices of LiVed Experience (EVOLVE) program for survivor leadership and the coalition. Attendees will reflect on the ethics underlying how they engage people with lived experience.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the importance of engaging people with lived experience as experts in sexual exploitation

· Explore the ethical tensions that are inherent in engaging experiential voices without expecting discloser or identification

· Explain how the presenters navigate these tensions within their program and the challenges they continue to face

· Offer recommendations for more ethical engagement and provide space for reflection

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Education is a vital dimension of the human trafficking prevention toolkit. Many of the highest-risk sex-trafficked populations are school-age youth (U.S. Department of State, 2019). Among these youth, Black girls are disproportionately vulnerable to sex trafficking. This is attributable to the complex trauma experienced because of systemic racism and a legacy of colonial body politics. The modern fetishization of Black bodies is a product of European colonial expansion. The hypersexual scripting of the Black body helps explain why sex trafficking impacts Black girls at higher rates than other groups. The notion of sex-trafficked Black girls as a victimless crime stems from these historical narratives where these girls are perceived as sexually promiscuous and incorrigible (Phillips, 2015; Morris, 2015). Data reveals that when sex trafficked Black girls are identified, the criminal justice system treats them more harshly (Phillips, 2015). These same racial and sexual stereotypes have created a culture of punishment within schools, wherein youth of color are more likely to experience exclusionary discipline in comparison to their White counterparts. Presenters connect the disproportionate impact of sex trafficking to reporting barriers and the often harsher, exclusionary discipline and punitive treatment of Black girls experienced in the K-12 setting. This presentation calls attention to the pivotal role educators and educational leaders can play in identifying and preventing the exploitation of Black girls.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the history of racism in the U.S. as it relates to the hyper-sexualization of the Black body

· Note how racial disparities heighten the risk of sex trafficking among Black girls

· Discuss how trauma and generational trauma impacts sex-trafficked youth

· Highlight the role of schools as it relates to mandated reporting and what educators and school leaders can do to help identify and protect sex trafficked Black girls

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Too often, well-meaning care providers participate in a system that re-traumatizes survivors of childhood abuse and interpersonal violence (Elliot, Bjelajac, Fallot, Markoff, & Reed, 2005). Providers often misunderstand the presentation of trauma, misattribute behaviors to apathy or defiance, and focus disproportionate attention on the choices of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) victims instead of on oppressive social structures and practice standards that recreate their harm. DMST victims’ responses to their trauma, like cursing and insulting, can cause significant discomfort for providers, who respond in ways that echo the autonomy-limiting, dignity-denying patterns DMST survivors have learned to avoid. As social workers who observed our DMST survivors’ interactions with countless providers, we propose a relationship-based lens for applying trauma informed care. A relationship-based lens examines the provider’s relationship with their clients, and their relationship to the social obstacles that trap clients before, during, and after their exploitation. Specifically, we recommend leaning into one’s discomfort to better understand DMST survivor needs, applying specific interpretive and communication skills when a survivor’s cursing and trauma-informed behaviors escalate. Through active listening and consistent expression of regard, providers can more effectively recognize client-centered narratives and model new, healthier relationships which survivors can reference during their recovery. This presentation will assist providers who want to develop and apply skills to understand DMST’s client-centered narratives can help victims overcome their hesitancy to engage and begin to build trust, possibly for the first time.

Presentation Objectives:

· Educate attendees about how DMST survivors and victims present for care, given their exposure to compounding traumas

· Invite providers to identify their internal biases that can hamper client recovery

· Provide specific clinical tools to help providers engage appropriately and effectively with domestic minor sex trafficking survivors and victims

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