The FOCUS on Runaways Project is a collaborative program to locate and provide services to runaway youth and their families to prevent sex trafficking and drug addiction in Lucas County. The program centers on initial assessment, referral, and follow-up assessment to evaluate the impact of a particular human trafficking intervention on reducing risk of human trafficking for youth who run away from home. Year one of the project utilized a community-based policing approach, while year two utilized a community-based agency approach. This presentation will provide an overview of the project, highlight the role and value of process and outcomes evaluation, utilize data to compare approaches and outcomes in year 1 and year 2 of the project, and provide recommendations for best practices regarding program evaluation.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the scope of the FOCUS on Runaways Project

· Provide an overview of the role and purpose of process and outcomes evaluation

· Utilize data to compare two the approaches (law enforcement vs. community-based) to human trafficking prevention as utilized in the project in years 1 and

· Highlight the results of the process and outcomes evaluation

· Provide recommendations for best practices of evaluating collaborative, community-based human trafficking initiatives

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In 2021, Jessa Dillow Crisp was asked by the Department of State Trafficking in Person’s Office to write a special box for their TIP Report on the intersection of trauma-informed care and survivor-centered practices. Through the process of research and engaging with both survivors and NGOs across the U.S., the common theme within anti-trafficking programs across the nation is the idea that having a survivor in a leadership position equates trauma-informed care. Sadly, this approach not only causes harm to the survivors providing guidance, but it creates a place where individuals are often re-traumatized due to the lack of trauma-informed care they are receiving. During this session, learn best practices and an ethical framework on intersecting survivor leadership with trauma-informed practices.

Presentation Objectives:

· Define survivor-leadership and trauma-informed care

· Discuss the importance of intentionally intersecting survivor-leadership and trauma-informed care

· Describe an ethical framework for intersecting survivor leadership with trauma-informed practices

· Share tangible examples of ways that this intersection has been done well

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Individuals involved in the life of human trafficking are susceptible to various forms of abuse, both physical, mental, and emotional that may require medical treatment. Lack of provider knowledge of trafficking and trauma-informed care could lead to poorly coordinated, fragmented service, negatively affecting the patient (Recknor, et al., 2020). This presentation begins by motivating providers to begin patient care at the point of entry by asking the question, “Who is in your waiting room?” From the waiting room, the presenters take participants on a journey through barriers to identification, red-flag indicators, assessment, and intervention based on lived experience. Knowing not all individuals may be ready for intervention and/or assistance, trauma-informed care is a major theme throughout the presentation. Understanding the intent of care is to provide intervention; this presentation helps providers understand how to “respect the no” using a trauma-informed approach. The importance of using this approach is heard not only through the voices of the nurses presenting, but also the survivor who openly reflects on, and shares, a number of past experiences of being treated in the healthcare setting. In addition to recognition and intervention, discussion will also include the need for continuing education, hospital policy development, when to involve law enforcement, as well as the need for community engagement and survivor input. By completion of this presentation, providers will be inspired not only to consider who is entering their waiting room, but also who is exiting their care and what difference they can make.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss red flags and barriers to identification of sex trafficking in a clinical setting

· Explain the importance of using a trauma informed approach when caring for human trafficking patients

· Describe resources available to support and care for human trafficking patients

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Literature review highlights the crucial importance of community integration for successful recovery in survivors of trafficking and scarcity of community integration programs (Shigekane, 2007; Wickham, 2009). The time-efficient, cost-effective Community Living Integration Club (CLIC) emerged as a doctoral capstone. The format encompassed 10 women in a residential recovery program participating in a six-week trauma-informed, client-driven club comprised of discussion topics and community-based activities to facilitate community integration. CLIC members selected six discussion topics, including felon-friendly housing, personal relationships, and community activities. Members generated plans for exploring these options in the local community. Transition Behavior Scales-3 (TBS-3) and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), both with self-report, provided reliable outcomes. Objective findings, along with pre-club and post-club subjective reviews, provided additional outcomes. CLIC outcomes showed specific improvements in skills in some participants. Qualitative findings showed improvements in 80% of participants in self-reported needs and goals. The Club provided opportunities for members to generate plans for life in their community after completion of the recovery program. The CLIC offers a time-efficient, cost-effective, trauma-informed, occupation-based, client-centered approach in the under-served and under-funded area of community integration. This presentation includes interactive discussion of methods to incorporate this program into multiple settings and adapt to various genders, cultures, ethnicities, and ages.

Presentation Objectives:

· Present a short summary of evidence for lack of community integration services

· Describe short-term, client-centered group experiences and findings

· Assist attendees to determine applications of CLIC to various cultures, genders, ages, settings, and ethnicities

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It is difficult to always determine if child abuse happened and if or how it happened. It is not usually difficult to determine who was abused. Systems often rely on interviews with those involved, assessments, investigations, and evidence to determine who the victim was, who the perpetrator was, the situation, and needs of the family. Less is known about how much professionals rely on informal cues, their gut reactions, and their intuition regarding certain cases. Consider an unlikely case study of abuse, not by an individual perpetrator, but by the system. System-imposed trauma is a set of circumstances in which the system, believing they are right, uses their power and authority to victimize and traumatize the innocent. In our efforts to protect vulnerable children against perpetrators, we can inadvertently do the wrong thing and thereby become the perpetrator that traumatizes others. The purpose of this session is to remind us that when we are passionate, committed to helping others, and sometimes overzealous, we need to proceed with caution so that we do not hurt the innocent in the process.

Presentation Objectives:

· Increase awareness about system-imposed trauma

· Showcase the devastating effects of system-imposed trauma

· Discuss how to increase the odds of providing safety and support to children in need

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In 2011, Timothy Sawa, along with two other Canadian journalists, faced an undercover sting and unprecedented criminal charges after investigating a wealthy and powerful clothing magnet for sexual misconduct. Accused sex trafficker, Peter Nygard, used his wealth and a rarely used part of the Canadian criminal code to launch a private criminal prosecution against the journalists. If convicted, the journalists faced a possible five-year prison sentence for having published a libel knowing it to be false. As a result, the legal team, led by Sean Moreman, and journalists at Canadian Broadcasting Corporation spent the next decade fighting the charges in court. That legal fight consumed valuable time and resources that could otherwise have been used to continue the investigation into Peter Nygard. Peter Nygard’s abuse of these sections of the Canadian criminal code may have deterred victims from going forward and may have chilled other media from investigating and exposing his crimes, allowing him to continue as an accused sexual predator for another ten years. Some have argued this section of the criminal code should be abolished because of its potential for abuse, citing this case. This presentation will explore the legal and journalistic ramifications of Peter Nygard’s perversion of the Canadian justice system, effectively helping him avoid scrutiny for decades. Participants will learn about the relevant sections of the Canadian criminal code, how Peter Nygard’s abuse of those sections allowed him to continue as a sexual predator, and how the journalists eventually exposed him.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the decade-long journalistic investigation into Peter Nygard,

· Explain how Nygard successfully used the Canadian justice system to enable his sexual predation and how he was eventually stopped

· Describe criminal libel laws in Canada and their potential for abuse against journalists in an attempt to cover up criminal behavior.

· Discuss the role of the media in investigating and exposing wrongdoing in all its forms

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“Well-behaved women seldom make history” (Ulrich, 2008). This quote could be perceived as a cry for activism or permission to misbehave, but the scholarly context is quite different. It is best explained by pointing “out that the ‘histories of ordinary’ women have not been widely known because historians have not looked carefully at their lives” (Harvard Gazette, 2007). This quote can be used to describe the life of human trafficking victims whose lives may appear ordinary but on the contrary are quite extraordinary. Victimization is often hidden in plain sight, as will be demonstrated through this narrative regarding one mother’s struggles to understand and find resources. The timeline provides insight, information obtained from certified medical records, and detailed experiences from encounters with providers and various law enforcement agencies as a result of years of her daughter’s victimization. Unfortunately, this story does not have a fairy tale ending. To the world, Carolyn Kinkoph’s daughter, Courtney, appeared to be a high functioning 29-year-old woman who often denied victimization, hid mental health symptoms, and was not self-aware of her own psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. The failure of several systems resulted in her death. Human trafficking not only affects victims, it can impact their family and friends who also need support. Carolyn’s story is a testimony that silos must be broken for coordinated efforts within each system and across systems to build a multidisciplinary team who works together for seemingly ordinary people to receive trauma-informed comprehensive care in order to lead extraordinary lives.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the survivor mother's life experience

· Discuss the evolution of awareness and the impact on treatment decisions for her daughter

· Discuss what was learned as a result of this experience

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The treatment of human trafficking (HT) survivors poses numerous challenges for counselors which should be addressed in supervision (Courtois & Ford, 2009). However, prior to ever working with a survivor of HT in a clinical setting, it is imperative that counseling students receive training on human trafficking in a trauma-informed manner. Counselor educators and supervisors must have a strong grasp on the issues that will arise in the classroom as well as in treatment, including the dynamics that will enter the educational and supervisory relationships. Research has highlighted the inherent risks of teaching about atrocities such as human trafficking, including re-traumatization and vicarious trauma (Carello, 2014). As such, counselor education programs much create and deliver curriculum that adequately trains students on the harsh realities of human trafficking while following a trauma-informed pedagogical approach. When students reach clinical fieldwork training, a Trauma-Sensitive Supervision model should be incorporated. Trauma-Sensitive Supervision (TSS) encompasses four major elements including expert knowledge of trauma theory and treatment, identifying and processing countertransference reactions, identifying and processing vicarious trauma experiences, and a safe and supportive supervisory alliance (Sommer & Cox, 2005). Navigating multicultural and social justice issues both within the educational and the supervisory relationship is also critical. Attendees will learn the benefits of using a trauma-informed teaching approach to educating students on human trafficking in counselor education programs and a TSS approach during clinical fieldwork. Attendees will also gain strategies on delivering trauma-informed curriculum from the presenters’ own experiences as counselor educators and supervisors.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the unique challenges faced by counselor educators, supervisors, and graduate students when working with human trafficking

· Describe how to apply trauma-informed teaching strategies for effective teaching of human trafficking

· Outline the key elements of TSS for cases of human trafficking

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Human trafficking (HT) has been recognized as both a public health and human rights issues worldwide. Despite the limited research supporting the role of occupational therapists (OT) in addressing the needs of HT survivors, the role of OTs in working with similar trauma populations such as domestic violence, homelessness, etc. are well documented in the literature (AOTA, 2014; Davis & Kutter, 1998; Waldman- Levi & Weintraub, 2014). Although OTs have a profound potential to impact the lives of HT survivors through patient-centered care and advocacy efforts, the role of OTs in HT is currently unknown. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of OTs on their role in prevention and rehabilitation of HT survivors. Researchers used a qualitative inductive approach with OTs in the state of Nebraska. Interviews were conducted with eight currently practicing OTs. The interview guide was developed by the research team and content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The interviews were conducted from October through November 2019. Five themes emerged from the qualitative data analyses. They included (1) awareness and knowledge on HT, (2) OT’s role in rehabilitation of HT survivors, (3) OT’s role in the prevention of HT, (4) role of OTs in community reintegration of HT survivors, and (5) challenges for OTs in working with HT survivors in their practice. The findings of the study suggest that OTs are not currently involved in anti-trafficking efforts, but have great potential in assisting HT survivors, particularly in community reintegration. The study findings have implications for practice, education, and informing future research.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the study focused on exploring the role of occupational therapists in prevention and rehabilitation of human trafficking survivors

· Discuss the implications of the study to occupational therapy practice, education, and future research

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Two faculty members from different academic disciplines (theatre and social work) engage in social justice work in the Toledo community both seeing the value of storytelling and art forms to building confidence in voice and raising awareness about hidden community injustice (Schneider, 2003). The short film, Sons of Toledo, and poetry created by high school students from Toledo Public Schools will be presented and discussed. The process of creating film and poetry is a form of inquiry. Community involved art requires listening to lived experience and learning from and with community members. Gun violence is a problem in Toledo. According to local news coverage of gun violence in Toledo, there were 70 homicides in 2021, up from 62 in 2020, 15 of those victims were teenagers. The presenters will share their experience elevating community members as artists and story tellers and the challenges and value of this kind of work to better understanding a community and the emotional impact of gun violence on parents and children. The presenters will share their artistic process, research method, and experiences with art provoking advocacy and action by collaborating with programs like Cure Violence (Save Our Community) and Guns to Garden Tools (Rawtools) in the Toledo community (Hanzalik, 2021; Chang, Ngunjiri, & Hernandez, 2013). Participants will have an opportunity to consider the unique possibility of community engagement through artistic expression and the potential of collective art creation to social change.

Presentation Objectives:

· Consider the importance of creative community social justice projects

· Discuss the unique advantages of arts-based inquiry into social injustices like gun violence

· Describe the process of community action art interventions

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In Nigeria, human trafficking is a hidden crime, driven by the current economic situation of the country. The Nigerian government has demonstrated significant efforts to combat human trafficking in the country by creating the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The incidents of human trafficking in the Nigeria’s oil producing communities have remained among the highest in the country and higher than the national average. The objective of this investigation was to determine the impact of a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) model of multinational oil companies (MOCs) on the fight against human trafficking in the host communities. The researchers generated cross-sectional data from a total of 1,200 households selected across the host communities of Niger Delta using multi-stage sampling procedure. Results from the use of a combined propensity score matching and logit model indicated that MOCs hold the key to combating human trafficking by fostering effective partnership across different sectors, if highest CSR priority is assigned to reducing incidents of human trafficking in the oil producing communities. Embracing the fight against human trafficking should form the foundation of General Memorandum of Understanding (GMoUs) practice, which in turn will provide the enabling environment for more widespread responsible business. As most of the human trafficking in the Niger Delta is exploited by relatives or friends, MOCs, governments, and other stakeholders should increase awareness campaigns in public places on the risks of trafficking. Advocacy efforts should aim at changing the perception of rural people that life is better in the cities or abroad.

Presentation Objectives:

· Analyze the level of multinational oil companies’ CSR interventions in the fight against human trafficking in Niger Delta, Nigeria

· Examine the impact of multinational oil companies’ GMoUs in reducing incidents of human trafficking in rural communities of Niger Delta region in Nigeria

· Determine the consequences of reducing the incidents of human trafficking in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

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A history of violence and trauma, sometimes perpetuated by U.S. government institutions, have led to Native Americans facing unique challenges as a marginalized and underserved population. As a result, many indigenous survivors of human trafficking will seek support from the community-based and culturally specific organizations that they trust, rather than from victim service agencies. Collaboration is required to overcome the many obstacles, such as limited funding and resources, that impact tribal organizations’ abilities to fully support all survivors of human trafficking and other forms of gender-based violence. A joint project between the Commission of Indian Affairs and the Council for Women and Youth Involvement, both advocacy agencies housed under the North Carolina Department of Administration, serves as a model of a successful collaboration to increase recognition of human trafficking, and to connect Native American survivors to culturally specific resources and services. This project is funded through a three-year grant awarded by the Office of Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) within the federal Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF). To better reach and serve indigenous survivors, it is important to understand the historical implications that have led to their marginalization, the importance of culture as a protective factor, and how oppression impacts service delivery. This presentation will look at how to build trust-based relationships with Native communities, as well as best practices for collaborative responses to human trafficking that include community-based and culturally specific organizations. This presentation is a how-to on incorporating cultural considerations into service provision strategies that can build trust to develop lasting relationships with tribal communities over time.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of why Native communities are vulnerable to violence

· Describe the importance of culture and how cultural misinformation impacts service provision

· Discuss ways to build trust with Native communities and the importance of collaborative responses to address human trafficking

· Explain how to provide culturally specific services to tribal communities

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Attention to the problem of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) of youth is on the rise in many countries in the past decade. Whereas commercially sexually exploited youth (CSEY) are at extreme risk for various psychological, physical, and social problems, helping them involves profound and unique challenges. Accordingly, the main research question was “How do we engage CSEY in help-relations?” In-depth semi-structured interviews, analyzed using a grounded theory method, were conducted with 51 CSEY and 23 help providers (HP) focused on exploring the help-seeking processes of CSEY. The findings reveal a dual perspective on CSEY’s help engagements. Firstly, CSEY’s angle highlights the significance of both formal and informal help relations and underlines good help as ‘going beyond’ the boundaries of routine helping practice and relations. Secondly, six guiding principles that support the engagement of CSEY in help-relations were elicited from interviews with HP working with CSEY. A central principle was not to assume that CSEY view their involvement in CSE as problematic. The implications focus on recommendations for HP who work with CSEY. The difficulty of helping CSEY who don’t necessarily perceive their situation as problematic, and the complexity of engaging CSEY in help relations while maintaining a delicate balance between “going beyond” without patronizing CSEY will be thoroughly discussed.

Presentation Objectives:

· Share CSEY's perspective on help relations and the characteristics of what helps

· Share research findings about the complexity of supporting CSEY and engaging them in help-relations

· Discuss the meaning of these findings to the work of help-providers and social services that specialize in assisting CSEY

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From 2019 through 2021, 37 youth were identified as survivors of human trafficking by the Ohio Department of Youth Services (ODYS). We know this is only a fraction of the youth in the custody of the statewide juvenile justice system who have experienced exploitation. How can we do a better job of identifying youth who have experienced trafficking? How can we collaborate with other partners to better serve these youth? In this training, the presenters will discuss ODYS’ holistic response to human trafficking through highlighting four key subjects: (1) policy regarding the identification and response to youth in ODYS, (2) the use of the ODYS Human Trafficking Screening Tool (ODYS HTST), (3) strategic statewide partnerships with anti-trafficking organizations and other agencies, and (4) the importance of survivor-led prevention. At the end of this training, participants should be able to identify strategies for community collaboration, recognize the importance of survivor-led prevention, and understand how to implement the ODYS HTST in their own agencies, as it is a non-proprietary screening tool that can be utilized by other agencies and organizations. Although this training focuses on the practices of ODYS, the exploration of their goals and methodology for identifying and responding to juvenile victims of trafficking is relevant for all youth-serving organizations.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of ODYS

· Discuss key aspects of DYS’ statewide response

· Highlight the Human Trafficking Screening Tool

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We live under the shroud of rape culture. Sexual violence is “any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed against a person’s sexuality…by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting” (World Health Organization, 2014, p. 76). In the United States, someone is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds (RAINN, 2020). Such prevalence makes clear that addressing sexual violence, including sex trafficking, from a social justice standpoint is crucial. Yet, so is meeting the needs of individuals. While sexual violence runs amuck, those impacted are left traumatized, seeking help and refuge. Far too often, psychotherapeutic treatment and other direct services treat the symptoms, but not the cause; namely, the trauma. The Sexual Violence ALERT Points are core elements which can be incorporated into direct service provision to maximize healing from sex trafficking and other sexual violence forms (Rose, 2022). Focused on Assessment, Language, Engagement, Roles, and Trauma Treatment, the ALERT Points can be incorporated into existing theoretical approaches and services. In so doing, helping individuals heal more effectively is possible. This presentation seeks to aid direct service providers with foundational principles when working with those who have experienced sexual violence, including sex trafficking. Most importantly, information will be shared for how to provide effective psychotherapy and other service provision to support healing of sexual violence survivors and thrivers. Specific tools and resources will also be provided.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide and illustrate an effective approach to aid those healing after sexual violence in psychotherapy and other direct services

· Define and describe the Sexual Violence ALERT Points and their use in psychotherapy and other direct service provision

· Summarize and encourage specific trauma-informed care of sexual violence survivors and thrivers

· Provide tangible tools resources that can be used in treatment immediately

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Although there is limited empirical research that evaluates knowledge base and self-efficacy among healthcare professionals and frontline personnel, there seems to be no previous research that evaluates the awareness, knowledge, and self-efficacy of occupational therapists (OT). OTs, given their professional training and skills, have an important role in the holistic rehabilitation of human trafficking (HT) survivors. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, self-efficacy, as well as perspectives for future academic training ideas in HT among doctoral OT students. Doctoral OT students (N=67) enrolled in a Midwestern University were recruited via e-mail for this study. They represented two regions of the country (Midwestern and Western). The data was collected through an online cross-sectional survey. The survey instrument included a total of 30-items that focused on domains such as awareness, knowledge, self-efficacy, and curricula expectations. Data was collected in June 2020. The analysis of the data employed a univariate descriptive statistics approach using SPSS. Content analysis was applied to analyze qualitative data. The findings of this study suggest that although doctoral OT students were aware of HT, they possessed limited knowledge and low self-efficacy in potentially assisting survivors of HT in their rehabilitation process and their future clinical practice. However, study participants recognized the importance of HT training as an integral component of their academic training and conveyed their perspectives on how HT content should be incorporated into their future training. These findings have important implications for OT education, clinical practice, and informing future research.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the study focused on evaluating the awareness, knowledge, and self-efficacy of doctoral occupational therapy students on human trafficking

· Describe doctoral OT students’ views on HT curricular delivery modes in their future academic training and their recommendations based on study results

· Discuss the implications of the study to occupational therapy education, curricula development, and clinical practice

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Since 2020, Freedom Business Alliance (FBA) has led a series of research initiatives focused on the future of freedom businesses. This presentation will share findings from a phenomenological study where social enterprise partners offered their experiences leading businesses employing survivors of human trafficking. A series of roundtable discussions were held, where freedom business leaders collaborated to give feedback on the standards of excellence needed to develop best practices in the ethical employment of human trafficking survivors. Then, follow-up interviews were conducted with freedom business leaders who ranked their own approach to business practices as highly effective and profitable. These interviews were conducted around a large set of research questions, using phenomenological interviewing skills to allow the data to be informed by unique experiences of practitioners. Interviews were then analyzed for overarching themes, and recommendations were formed by the researchers based on the themes drawn from interviews. The authors will present the recently published Freedom Business Code of Excellence, as well as provide recommendations for a social enterprise model that incorporates the accounting needs of freedom businesses. The presentation will address 1) non-negotiable commitments to which every freedom business should hold, 2) components of a comprehensive, trauma-informed standard of care for human trafficking survivors in the workplace, and 3) models for profitable freedom business which account for business costs alongside the financial burden of holistic social services. This research has significant implications for the sustainable livelihoods of survivors. This research also impacts the future of policy aimed to incentivize the private sector to prioritize employment for survivors.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the methodology and findings from roundtable discussions that produced the Freedom Business Code of Excellence

· Provide a comprehensive explanation of the challenges facing Freedom Businesses

· Present a recommended model that offers guidance for the financial and programmatic goals of profitable and scalable Freedom Businesses

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Four survivors of child sex trafficking describe their escape and healing journeys. They share their challenges in recovering from ritual abuse (RA) and mind control (MC) and how, in their quest for freedom, they overcame their abusers' attempts to control them. All of the panelists had symptoms of their abuse that were not recognized for many years. These included Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), nightmares, daydreams with violent content, brutal low self-esteem, tremendous guilt, addictions, and suicidality. The panelists experienced inexplicable attraction to macabre subjects or cult symbolism. Although very talented and intelligent, they often struggled to function in daily life. For the panelists, healing is a way of life. Despite the horrors of their childhood and the challenges they face in their life today, by accepting, appreciating, validating, and supporting themselves and others, they find a sense of peace and even joy. The panelists will describe their continuing work to empower themselves and other survivors. Peer counseling, workshops, art shows, and creating safe spaces for RA/MC survivors to share their experiences are just a few examples. They will also describe how they reach out to the general public through blogs, websites, podcasts, and videos. The panelists' goal is to dispel some common myths about ritual abuse and mind control. They hope that those working with sex trafficking victims will learn to recognize survivors of RA and MC and be able to support them in all aspects of their experience and healing.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe their healing from mind control, ritual abuse, and child sex trafficking

· Share the challenges and joys they have found in freedom

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Building stronger teams is crucial to developing successful and responsive services to victims and survivors. Melissa was the first Human Trafficking Navigator for North Dakota (ND) and will use her experience to enhance attendees' confidence and give direction to attendees in this session. Melissa will provide examples of team maintenance to attendees based on her experience in developing a new task force and several multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) in ND. This training will provide attendees with insight on priority areas when developing a team comprised of service providers, medical personnel, legal supports, and law enforcement. Attendees will understand the importance of MDT collaboration to ensure person-centered responses to victims’ needs, as well as considerations for team dynamics and norms and best practices specific to survivor and victim experiences. Additionally, the presenter will discuss MDT best practices, such as how to develop a trauma-sensitive team, cross-discipline training, and team transparency. Melissa will use her experience within team development over the last six years to answer questions and will include information on considerations when working with teams in bordering states or in other states and territories. The goal of this session is to enhance a team’s ability to respond to victims while ensuring that barriers and concerns are recognized, ensure any/all appropriate team members are included, gain greater perspective and confidence in team building, develop team goals, and provide ideas for team guidelines and responses to meet victims’ needs.

Presentation Objectives:

· Explain the importance of building strong teams and lessons to be learned throughout the process

· Provide information on creating community buy-in and how it relates to effective meeting facilitation

· Discuss what MDT are and how to have successful, productive meetings

· Provide suggestions on how to advocate for and ensure your team is trauma-informed and person-centered

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Countries of the Global North dedicate millions of dollars per year to assist nations of the Global South to combat and address human trafficking, with the U.S. government alone dedicating well over USD$100 million to this end each year (GAO, 2020; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022). A good portion of these funds go to projects to strengthen the institutional capacity of national governments and their relevant agencies to prevent trafficking, prosecute traffickers, and protect victims – with varying degrees of success. Winrock International, an international non-profit organization working in over 40 countries, has implemented such TIP capacity-building programming around the world since the late 1990s, and the presenters believe that Winrock, its expert practitioners, and their collective experiences can complement a growing body of academic and scholarly literature on the topic (Foot, 2016; Winterdyk 2018) with practical, real-life lessons from the field applicable to future international efforts. As such, this presentation will present best practices and lessons learned in strengthening government capacity to combat trafficking in persons, as determined by a literature review of evaluations of previous and ongoing Winrock projects to be triangulated with qualitative data from focus group discussions with experienced Winrock professionals in this field. Findings will focus on four main areas: Project Design, Stakeholder Engagement, Activity Implementation, and Monitoring Results. Many findings will likely apply to domestic capacity-building efforts in the U.S. The session will end with a discussion about ongoing capacity-building work in which they may be engaged.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss ongoing efforts to strengthen government capacity to address trafficking in persons within the context of international development programming

· Identify and describe best practices in Project Design, Stakeholder Engagement, Activity Implementation, and Monitoring Results

· Explore connections and applicability of Winrock best practices and lessons learned to participants’ anti-TIP work

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