Today’s reality includes high rates of burnout in helping professions, a mental health crisis intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, and rampant systemic injustices and inequalities. It is a critical time for those working to address human trafficking, through direct or indirect services, to consider how our individual and collective traumas might affect the way we work and what we create. In this session, presenters will outline how adopting trauma-informed care principles within your team and context can 1) support the wellbeing of your team members, who can then 2) create trauma-informed products, programs, or services, which can then 3) better serve those who interact with the products, programs, or services your team creates. Specifically, this team will share a method developed for those creating education or training called the TRUST-ED model: Trauma Responsiveness Underpins Sustainable Teams in Education Development. The TRUST-ED model can be applied by many types of service providers (direct and indirect) who are involved in work to address human trafficking. This model was developed by lead team members of a healthcare-focused curriculum about human trafficking during 2020, which was a year the team members grappled with a difficult combination of external and internal factors. They decided to treat themselves with the same trauma-informed principles they were researching for the healthcare curriculum. The result was a healthier, manageable pathway for each of the team members, and a profoundly improved set of new courses and educational solutions, evidenced by learner responses and SME evaluations.

Presentation Objectives:

· Explain how adopting trauma-informed care principles within your team and context can support the wellbeing of your team members

· Describe how team members can adopt certain processes and practices to create trauma-informed products, programs, or services

· Describe how products and services developed using trauma-informed principles better serve those who interact with the products, programs, or services

· Describe the TRUST-ED method for application by those creating education or training

Successful prosecutions depend on thorough investigations. Successful investigations start with a proactive approach. Preparing a community for a human trafficking response that is victim-centered, adaptable, and resourceful is crucial to recover victims and prosecute traffickers. This workshop will discuss how a community can prepare for a human trafficking response, law enforcement can corroborate the trafficking offense, and prosecutors can determine culpability. In addition, the importance of taking on the demand for sex trafficking and methods to attack demand, including legislative and law enforcement responses will be discussed. Anticipating the case allows for the development of trafficking prosecutions that can be built without reliance on the victim’s presence or cooperation during the trial. Evaluating the system in place to recover at-risk youth and initiating the resources needed for a successful recovery can allow for prosecutions without the need for a victim to testify. Participants will learn how to prepare a community response for a victim-centered approach to human trafficking cases.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss ways community service organizations can assist with the recovery of at-risk youth

· Identify law enforcement methods that can assist the prosecutor develop a case that is not reliant upon the sex trafficking victim

This U.S.-South Africa collaborative team conducted a TIP high-risk community survey during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 to examine the magnitude and nature of human trafficking in Cape Town. The project attempted the time and location sampling to obtain a high-risk sample in Cape Town and surrounding areas who met at least one TIP-vulnerability criteria (total n=665). The presentation will include main findings to date and the process describing challenges and research adaptations. Dr. Price will present TIP prevalence estimates obtained by applying the first edition of the Prevalence Reduction Innovation Forum (PRIF) statistical definitions issued by the U.S. Department of State (U.S. DoS, et al., 2020) and performance of two well-regarded TIP screening tools (VERA, 2024; US DHHS, 2018) with use of the PRIF definitions. Dr. Koegler will discuss multivariate analysis of demographic, individual risk, and comorbid factors, including adverse childhood experiences (Merrick et al., 2018), that are associated with PRIF definitions and screening indicators. Dr. Bender will focus on the analyses comparing characteristics of transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) persons with cisgender people to identify key vulnerabilities associated with being TGNC. Dr. Balogun will discuss challenges encountered during the data collection fieldwork, conducted at the height of South Africa Covid-19 surges, which include 13 ethics applications, low TIP awareness, shifting timelines, and a lack of facilitation despite government funding/support. The team adapted by conducting extensive, but unplanned, outreach bolstered by extensions in time and funding. The presentation concludes with recommendations for global TIP research.

Presentation Objectives:

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

· Discuss risk and comorbid factors of human trafficking among TIP high-risk community members

· Describe the implications and recommendations based on the research

· Describe challenges and adaptations of TIP community research and the pandemic impact on research methodology

Patte, who was working at Clemson University in 1984, will talk about her personal encounter with Bill Cosby. Cosby was the main homecoming attraction and as her job, she was responsible for acting as his host. Attendees’ can expect to hear a gut-wrenching story of what happened while spending 6 hours of time with him in a hotel room. In addition, the story itself will illustrate how the dynamics of a person with power and prestige can influence and change the dynamics of an interpersonal exchange between two people. Following her story, Patte will participate in a Q & A session, led by Dr. Celia Williamson, to bring forth how parts of her experience are woven in many women’s own personal sexual assault situations and life in general.

Presentation Objectives:

· Share her experience to shed light on denial, decisions, implications, and the road to self-love and acceptance

· Provide encouragement and support to attendees who have had similar experiences

· Show how using vulnerability and authenticity can help oneself and others

· Illustrate there is always hope – No. Matter. What.

Does your organization respect, honor, and value stories? There is a trend to place successful non-profit clients on a pedestal and ask them to share their story for the world, encouraging them to be the voice of their specific dilemma. While the movement to listen to and hear the voices of survivors and vulnerable populations is admirable and necessary, the execution of the goal has been difficult. In the movement of rushing towards the authentic, honest voice of survivors, this session calls for organizations to pause and allow clients to achieve true safety and adequate training that will give them the ability to thrive in this work. In this session, participants will be challenged to think through the vulnerabilities their clients have faced in the past and question if their organization is exacerbating the vulnerability by asking their clients to share their stories too quickly. Stories carry a sacred place in our society and the way we present them, the way we encourage the storyteller, reflects on our organizations. Participants will be asked to consider: 1) Does their organization have a timeline in place before a client can become an advocate? 2) Do they provide sufficient training around safety in storytelling? and 3) Are the stories they share reinforcing false narrative by editing or are they challenging their audience to understand trafficking in an honest way? Attendees will be given a list of resources that help in this area and suggestions on how to update their protocols to protect clients turned advocates.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the dynamics of storytelling and donor engagement

· Consider how the participants organization shares stories

· Explain steps and protocols that can be set in place to protect clients who are becoming advocates

Human trafficking has been increasingly recognized worldwide as a major public health problem. It is a crime based on exploitation of the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals of any community and is a violation of human rights. Children are especially at risk of victimization and may experience considerable physical and mental health consequences. Adding these problems to pre-existing vulnerabilities and adversities makes human trafficking a complex health issue that needs to be addressed by a multidisciplinary team including health care providers. Professionals working with children have the responsibility to screen and report suspected child trafficking and offer services as appropriate. This presentation will focus on what makes children vulnerable to being trafficked and how to prevent trafficking in children. It will help attendees recognize child victims of human trafficking and address their needs in a trauma-sensitive approach. It will also focus on what the medical evaluation entails and why it is important in high-risk children to address the health consequences of being trafficked. The presentation will be case-based, and attendees will learn from different examples and cases throughout the talk (Nazer, D. & Greenbaum J., 2020; Greenbaum, J. & Bodrick, N., 2017). At the end of the presentation, attendees will be able to recognize risk factors, identify victims, and more importantly realize how important it is to work collaboratively with other professionals to prevent human trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Define human trafficking, specifically in children

· Discuss how to recognize child victims of human trafficking

· Explain the health consequences of human trafficking

· Identify tools for medical providers to use for victim identification and assessment

· Explain health care needs of child victims

· Discuss how to advocate for children to help prevent human trafficking

Many people struggle to wrap their minds around familial trafficking, yet it is real and is happening all around us, creating victims silenced by generational secrets. Presented by a survivor of familial trafficking that is now a mental health professional, this session will look at the hidden elements of familial trafficking, including why someone might sell a relative, the intersection between familial trafficking, labor trafficking, and commercial sexual exploitation. Attend this session to learn how to identify a potential victim of familial trafficking and learn how to respond to their unique needs from a trauma-informed and survivor-centered way.

Presentation Objectives:

· Define familial sex and labor trafficking

· Discuss the alarming prevalence of familial trafficking

· Discuss red flags specific to helping individuals identify victims of familial trafficking

· Discuss trauma-informed and survivor-centered ways to engage with survivors of familial trafficking

In July 2017, Daniel Jean flew to Indonesia to report on child prostitution in Indramayu district. This report was the result of a year and a half of research, contacts, and approaches with Indonesian stakeholders, including one in particular, Mr. Jeremy Wutun, a social worker who served as a guide for Daniel once in the field. The extreme trivialization of prostitution is what surprised the photojournalist the most. He expected to take great risks in order to document the matter. He expected to find it extremely difficult to interview pimps and prostitutes, but reality surpasses fiction. Throughout this presentation, Daniel will introduce you to the unexpected face of prostitution through the testimonies of 17-year-old, Devii, who received us after she had just had a miscarriage and of 18-year-old, Lia, who was saved from prostitution by a grandfather determined not to leave his granddaughter in the clutches of Jakarta pimps. Daniel will also show you around a village made up almost entirely of brothels where both prostitutes and pimps have received him without raising the slightest objection. It will introduce you to girls, young and old, who see no other way to survive than prostitution. Finally, he will present Talitha Koumi and the nature of the fieldwork aimed at preventing or rescuing the victims of this modern form of slavery.

Presentation Objectives:

· Explain how the district of Indramayu has become the cradle of prostitution in Indonesia and elsewhere in South-East Asia

· Demonstrate, with supporting photos, how commonplace prostitution is in the Indramayu district

· Explain how the culture and the sense of duty lock young girls into the obligation to prostitute themselves at the request of their parents

· Present the testimonies of survivors of prostitution

· Explain the field work done by Talitha Koumi with her partner organization Yayasan Kusuma Bongas

This presentation will provide a basic overview of human trafficking, focusing on both domestic and foreign trafficking as well as labor and sex trafficking. Topics will include the definition of human trafficking, how traffickers recruit, indicators for victim identification, the impact of social media, and how individuals can make a difference in helping to combat and end human trafficking. Using the most current research and resources, the presentation is designed not only to educate but empower and activate the participant. Human Trafficking 101 is for people who are just learning about human trafficking and for people who would like to see the latest information available. Communities that are involved become the single most powerful tool we have to reduce and ultimately prevent human trafficking. The first step is to create a solid foundation of knowledge and awareness and how we can all be part of the solution.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide responsible facts about human trafficking

· Educate about current laws

· Identify labor and sex trafficking concerns

· Empower participants to make a difference

This presentation explores the backgrounds and experiences of trans and third gender youth involved in the sex trade in Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Bangkok (Central Thailand), and Chiangmai (North Thailand). The datasets show three unique contexts where young people of diverse SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity and expression) are involved in the sex trade and face a variety of challenges, including stigma and discrimination from parents, teachers, and law enforcement, as well as sexual violence from clients and members of the public (including law enforcement). Many trans and third gender respondents discuss this violence as a normative part of their lived experience. This represents a crucial gap in research and programming as few organizations are open to working with trans and third gender people outside of providing them sexual health related advocacy and programming. While most praxis-focused literature on trans and third gender people tends to focus on HIV and other STIs and often ignores their broader feelings and experiences as individuals. This presentation attempts to add nuance to these discussions and advocates for the development of better resources to educate professionals in the health, social welfare, police, and legal professions.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide a thematic overview of the study, including findings and a discussion on critical gaps in social research

· Describe the implications and recommendations based on the study for service providers, researchers, advocates, and community allies

Survivors of sex trafficking (ST) experience a high prevalence of physical and mental health problems and frequently access healthcare during their victimization (Lederer & Wetzel, 2014). Healthcare providers are uniquely positioned to assist victims. However, a survey of Wisconsin healthcare providers revealed less than half could accurately identify victims, and 90% did not feel confident in their ability to effectively care for victims/survivors (Beck et al., 2015). The Healthcare Collaborative Against Sex Trafficking (HCAST) is a community-academic project with a goal to transform mental models and processes within healthcare and community services that reinforce health disparities among people impacted by ST. The collaborative includes survivors, community service agencies, and representatives from major health systems, community health centers, and free/reduced cost clinics in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. HCAST conducted focus groups of individuals impacted by ST, interviews with community service organizations, and strategic planning sessions of healthcare representatives to inform development of a program charter and strategic plan. Through this process, HCAST identified several root causes of health inequity for victims, including 1) lack of relationships between healthcare systems and community agencies, 2) the absence of training and treatment/referral guidelines which facilitates attitudes, beliefs, and practices contributing to healthcare disparities, and 3) power dynamics that prevent survivor input into healthcare policies. HCAST is addressing these barriers through the development and implementation of education, practice guidelines, and improved connections between healthcare systems, community agencies and survivors. This presentation will outline the process and lessons learned during HCAST charter development and implementation.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe important aspects of a systems change model to address health inequity

· Describe the process and results of a community-based situational analysis that informed strategic priorities for healthcare improvements

· Discuss successes and lessons-learned through the development of a healthcare-community partnership to address sex trafficking

In 2014, at Washtenaw Community College, Rita found out that she had a name for the horrific thing that happened in her childhood. People in her neighborhood assumed that she just liked to wander each evening. But they did not know the reason that she tried so hard to stay away from home. Silenced as a child, Rita found her voice speaking out, a way to deal with the frustration of being told that the sex trafficking was all her fault as a child. Education was Rita's way to understand and to heal. Rita got her Undergraduate Degree at Eastern Michigan University and then went on to get her Master’s in Social Work from Western Michigan University with a trauma focus. Rita continues to speak out to educate others on how to watch for human trafficking in their communities. In this session, Rita will share her story to help people who work with survivors know how to assist them. She also will share some of the organizations that were helpful to her on her journey. Finally, she will share how “Healing Is Worth It” to her so that she can be a better person for herself, her family, and others she may help along the way.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss how her survivor life experiences made her more resilient

· Describe how organizations have helped in the healing/thriving process

· Discuss how to live and enjoy life as the result of this experience

In February, the world witnessed what will be one of the worst-cases of armed conflict in Europe, producing a staggering 4,019,287 refugees as of 30th of March (UNHCR, 2022), with over 2.3 million refugees fleeing to Poland (Aljazeera, 2022). Women and children account for 90% of this figure. The speed and scale of the exodus has been described as “unprecedented” in Europe since World War II. However, this has only raised concerns and predictions on the exploitation of vulnerable and internally displaced people by human traffickers. While human trafficking is usually not the main focus in humanitarian crises like the Russian-Ukraine war and is sometimes omitted from formulations of emergency and humanitarian responses, there is no doubt that armed conflict creates a climate of impunity suited for human trafficking operations (U.S. Department of State, 2016). This presentation seeks to amplify this omission by answering the question: “What role does war play in the growth of human trafficking and how are victims of war protected from further exploitation? A desk-based methodology analyzing a broad selection of journal articles, cases and newspaper reports is used to explore the link between armed conflict and human trafficking, while considering the forms of trafficking during war, modus operandi of traffickers during war, the impact of armed conflict on victims of war (internally displaced and vulnerable persons alike), trends and forms of trafficking in armed conflict, prevention, protection, investigation and prosecution measures, and policies to protect victims and implementation challenges. The presentation concludes with recommendations for further research on both trafficker and victim identification during war, development of dynamic patterns for better investigation and prosecution of traffickers, as well as prioritization of human trafficking prevention and investigative measures within emergency and humanitarian responses during armed conflict.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide insightful information on the interconnectedness of war and human trafficking

· Explore the 3 main trafficking trends connected to armed conflict

· Describe the impact of human trafficking on victims of war

· Provide recommendations to protect victims of war from further exploitation

In 2021, the Institute for Shelter Care conducted a national study to examine the prevalence, characteristics, and challenges associated with cases of juvenile familial sex trafficking as experienced by justice professionals. Over 3,500 cases of child exploitation across 24 states were represented in the study. The findings are based on a mixed method descriptive research methodology. In this session, attendees will learn the results of this national study and the unique considerations of familial trafficking cases.

Presentation Objectives:

· Define familial trafficking and explain how it relates to, but is different from, domestic minor sex trafficking or incest

· Discuss the prevalence and profile of victims and perpetrators of familial trafficking

· Explain the complicated challenges associated with these cases

Recent high-profile human trafficking cases have steered media and researcher attention toward offenders (e.g., Dahlstrom, 2021; Kernsmith et al., 2021), prompting the question: What types of individuals are involved in trafficking crimes? By commodifying humans and their labor, human trafficking is distinct from other common crimes and from other types of trafficking, for example, drug trafficking, the most frequently prosecuted trafficking crime. These crimes may also differ in their underlying social networks and organizational structures (Busch-Armendariz et al., 2009; UNODC, 2020). Given these differences, this study analyzed whether significant demographic differences exist between offenders involved in drug and human trafficking, and within human trafficking, between labor and sex trafficking. Also, because statutes differentiate among the severity of sex trafficking crimes, the study assessed whether differences exist among sex trafficking defendants, depending on the severity of the crime. Using 21 years of federal criminal justice data and multivariate statistical tests, study findings indicate that human trafficking defendants differ in important respects from other offenders. When separating human trafficking into labor and low- and high-penalty sex trafficking, significant differences among defendants remain, which will be discussed in more detail in the presentation. Future research should differentiate human trafficking crimes by type and severity and examine whether findings from this exploratory study continue to hold. Researchers should consider partnering with legal professionals to explore additional reasons for the dominance of male offenders in high-penalty trafficking cases.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the differences that prior research has shown among human trafficking crimes

· Explain how these differences may be reflected in significant age, gender, race, and ethnic disparities among offenders

· Discuss the demographic characteristics of federal labor and sex trafficking defendants using data from a 21-year period between 1994-2014

· Describe how these data may be used to estimate statistical associations between defendant characteristics and the type of human trafficking offense

· Demonstrate the ways in which media portrayals of human trafficking offenders may and may not be reflected in the reality of offender characteristics over time

Online child exploitation and child trafficking due to technology has exploded around the United State and around the globe. These numbers have dramatically increased during COVID-19, and the effect of Internet Safety Presentations has a limited impact. The investigations developed strategies to proactively investigate these egregious predators that are members of these Darknet communities and chat rooms. These Darknet communities and chat groups talk about how to effectively exploit children while avoiding arrest. Investigations such as Ian Brewer, Jonathan Spraque, and George Castillo have yielded significant arrests and allowed investigators to find and protect victims. As a result, members were able to infiltrate the predator communities, gain understanding of their techniques, and implement strategies to investigate and help protect children. This presentation will focus on Darknet chat communities and the techniques that they use to exploit and groom children. There is a science and art of grooming and manipulation that predators use on children. Technology along with these strategies have victimized countless children impacting their lives. Predators are able to match children's language and style among other advanced grooming techniques. The presenter will discuss real cases and the methods that these Darknet members use and give case examples on the techniques and strategies that predators use. Attendees will learn about offender Darknet communities and methods and ways to investigate and prevent online child exploitation.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss Darknet and chat communities

· Discuss cases of child exploitation and trafficking

· Describe predator strategies, thought process, and how they groom children

· Explain remedies and ways to protect children

This is an introductory presentation of male victimization in human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Participants will learn the factors that contribute to the trafficking of males and will gain a better understanding of the lived experiences of male victims of sex trafficking. This presentation will cover the indicators of exploitation and what signs to watch out for, as well as the physical, emotional, and mental effects that complex trauma has on male victims (Deliver Fund, 2021; NCMEC, 2021; Palfy, 2016; Procopio, 2018). It will also cover the grooming techniques of perpetrators that try to recruit youth males into human trafficking (Palfy, 2021). Participants will learn what services are needed to provide support to male survivors of trafficking, based on fieldwork by Steven Procopio and new research based on interviews with male survivors by Ena Lucia Mariaca. This presentation will also cover recommendations for a multi-disciplinary response for frontline service providers such as law enforcement, healthcare providers and mental health professionals. The presentation will end with a call to action targeting policy and program recommendations to aid boys and men that have suffered from childhood sexual exploitation.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the factors that contribute to the trafficking of males

· Describe the lived experiences of male victims of sex trafficking

· Discuss new research on male victimization

· Explain what services are needed to provide support to male survivors of trafficking

Early career mental health professionals are likely to encounter individuals who have survived sex trafficking in private practices and community agencies (Ide & Mather, 2019). Yet limited information and guidance is available for preparing them to work with survivors of sex trafficking (Koegler et al., 2020). Multiple factors influence the preparedness of practitioners to work effectively with client-specific populations. Convenience sampling was used to answer the research question: To what extent does stage of practice, professional exposure to sex trafficking, personal exposure to sex trafficking, counselor self-efficacy, client-specific counselor self-efficacy, and positive attitudes toward survivors of sex trafficking predict preparedness of early career mental health professionals to provide services to individuals who have survived sex trafficking? Participants consisted of 112 mental health professionals who were in-training, pre-licensed, and licensed for five years or less from diverse specialty areas across the country. Findings focus on: 1) the predictor variables that seem to influence preparedness, 2) fostering the development of client-specific counselor self-efficacy and positive attitudes toward survivors of sex trafficking, and 3) how lack of information may impact preparedness of early career mental health professionals to work with this population. Results indicate that our prediction model was significantly associated with preparedness; however, client-specific counselor self-efficacy and positive attitudes toward survivors of sex trafficking were the only two significant unique predictors of variance in preparedness. This presentation concludes with implications and recommendations from the study, limitations of the study, and direction for future research.

Presentation Objectives:

· Identify predictors of preparedness for early career mental health professionals to provide services to individuals who have survived sex trafficking

· Explain the significance of knowing predictors of preparedness for early career mental health professionals to work with client-specific populations

· Discuss how attendees can apply the findings from this study to their training as early career mental health professionals

This session will share information on using Indigenous culture and traditions to boost resilience in Indigenous populations. The presenter will discuss ways that providers can incorporate Indigenous knowledge and tools into prevention work with at-risk, exploited, and trafficked Indigenous population, based on research and recommendations the presenter co-created with the Human Trafficking Leadership Academy through the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center (NHTTAC) as well as experience from the field. The presentation will also include details on an indigenous prevention curriculum developed by the presenter in partnership with NHTTAC, survivors, and subject matter experts from across Minnesota, with examples of activities. This presentation will include key takeaways on ways to implement culture and tradition in daily case management, which participants can bring back to their work with Indigenous youth.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the importance of culture as prevention of human trafficking and in enhancing resilience among Indigenous populations

· Provide concrete ways to implement Indigenous culture and tradition into human trafficking prevention work

Human trafficking is a significant problem in which healthcare workers are in a unique position to intervene. This study sought to determine the self-reported knowledge levels of healthcare providers most likely to come in direct contact with victims of human trafficking. An anonymous survey assessing self-reported knowledge of human trafficking was developed through an iterative process and distributed nationally via email and medical online forums. Survey participants included a national sample of EMTs, fellows, medical assistants, medical students, nurses, nurse practitioners, nursing students, paramedics, physicians, physician assistants, physician assistant students, residents, and social workers. The primary outcomes were descriptive statistics and secondary outcomes were comparisons among demographic groups. Qualitative methodology via content analysis was implemented on an open-ended question. The 6,603 respondents represented all regions of the country. Less than half the respondents (42%) have received formal training in human trafficking, while an overwhelming majority (93%) believe they would benefit by such training. Overall, respondents thought their level of knowledge of trafficking was average to below average (mean=2.64 on a 5-point scale). There were significant differences in knowledge of trafficking by age group (p<.001), region (p<.001), and educational training level (p<.001). 949 respondents (14.4%) provided free-text comments that further described their opinions. Most respondents stated they have not received training but felt they would benefit from it. There were significant differences between demographic groups. Further innovation is needed to design a universally appropriate curriculum on human trafficking that is accessible to all healthcare providers as well as mandatory training programs for healthcare institutions.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the self-reported knowledge levels of healthcare providers most likely to come in direct contact with victims of human trafficking

· Discuss future research projects that can stem from this project

Through the lens of complex trauma and posttraumatic growth, this workshop will share recent findings from a qualitative study of 15 domestic sex trafficking survivors that focused on the impact and experiences of domestic sex trafficking survivors (Padgett, 2017). Using ecological and trauma-informed lenses, this qualitative, retrospective study used participant-centered methods to explore identity, sexuality, relationships, and factors that facilitated/hindered community reintegration for 15 adult female survivors. Participants identified with all aspects of complex trauma, including dissociation, self-perception/identity, relations with others, and systems of meaning. Key themes included losing and regaining power, shame, and the dangers of re-exploitation and re-traumatization. Participants highlighted relationship development as the primary source of healing and growth, emphasizing the value of peer-based support and survivor leadership. The findings of this study affirm the need for ecological and relational perspectives in care of survivors, and approaches using a trauma-informed, victim-centered lens. Findings affirm the value of understanding the nuances of complex trauma as well as celebrating the capacity for posttraumatic growth. Finally, findings suggest comprehensive recommendations directly from the voices of survivors for community members and service providers. Through rich data from interviews and photovoice captioned images, workshop participants will hear and see direct evidence of the aspects of complex trauma as well as the capacity for posttraumatic growth (Tedeschi and Calhoun 2004, Tedeschi and Calhoun, 2006; Spinazzola et al, 2001; Choi et al., 2009). Finally, workshop participants will receive recommendations directly from the voices of survivors on what factors help or hinder community reintegration (Evans, 2022).

Presentation Objectives:

· Explain complex trauma and posttraumatic growth and how they are observed in victims of domestic sex trafficking

· Provide recommendations for post-trafficking community reintegration that come directly from survivors of sex trafficking

Newtons Law states, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”, and when it comes to working with victims, this law heavily impacts helping professionals. We are constantly in a high stress state, and we assume when the workday is done, we return to normal functioning, when in fact we suffer from addiction, depression, and changes to our daily functioning. Because we are exposed to trauma daily, we have a personal reaction that equally affects us. Yet, as helping professionals, we are often taught that it is normal and/or our fault, and that by talking about it, we are not able-bodied professionals. This session will help attendees gain understanding of compassion fatigue and related terms, strategies to cope with it, and a review of accessible resources. This session will also empower attendees to advocate for change and provide recommendations for internal protocol changes for individual agencies. If we do not start taking care of ourselves, the victims we work with are affected. Victims are triggered daily by burnt out and fatigued helping professionals, and often talk about the horrors of trying to access help. It is our duty to help ourselves first, and thus provide successful outcomes for the victims we serve.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss definitions of compassion fatigue, burnout, secondary trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder

· Describe personal examples, relatable scenarios, and assess personal level of impact

· Explain coping strategies for personal and professional lives and how to create culture change at home and in the office

· Discuss how compassion fatigue is normal and provide tools for agency involvement

Human trafficking is a serious crime and one of the most severe human rights violations. Over the last 10 years, the conflict in Syria has caused massive loss of life and human suffering, as well as a complex displacement crisis. Thereby, human trafficking became a major problem in the EU and neighboring countries during the last decade (Forin & ICMPD, 2018; FRONTEX, 2019). The aim of this research was to compare and analyze protection policies for individuals and potential risk groups who have been victims of child trafficking and human trafficking through labor exploitation and sexual exploitation along the Mediterranean migration route in Italy and Turkey. The main research question is: “In light of human rights and sustainable development goals, how do Italy and Turkey protect children and adults from trafficking on the Mediterranean migration routes?” The research consists of a semi-structured interview and qualitative in-depth interviews. The sample of the research consisted of 15 experts from Italy and 31 experts from Turkey, with a total number of 46. In the research, the grounded theory basis was used, and the data were analyzed with the MAXQDA 2020 Pro Analytics program. As a result, 2942 codes, 17 sub-themes and 4 main themes emerged. The results are compared in the context of the two countries, according to the measures stipulated by the Council of Europe Convention, and solution proposals will be discussed.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe this risky situation among migrants and refugees which are led to human trafficking along Mediterranean migration routes

· Discuss the European model for victim protection policies.

In December 2020, Canadian fashion mogul, Peter Nygard, was indicted in the U.S. on nine separate counts of sex trafficking, racketeering, and related crimes after dozens of women came forward accusing him of using his business to lure them for his own sexual gratification. He is also currently facing charges in Canada, and even though many of the alleged assaults occurred at his estate in the Bahamas, Nygard has yet to face charges there. It was almost a year after the first accusations were made that he was ultimately arrested. Title 18 of the U.S. Code explicitly provides extraterritorial jurisdiction (the legal authority of the U.S. to prosecute criminal conduct that took place outside its borders) over certain sex offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children, including sex trafficking. However, numerous basic sex offenses lack the same jurisdiction that allow traffickers and other sexual predators to escape criminal charges if prosecutors are unable to establish the demanding evidentiary basis for more multifaceted crimes like trafficking. Expanding these crimes extraterritorially would allow federal prosecutors to confer charges related to crimes of sexual abuse and assault, regardless of the victims’ age and where the crime occurred. Granting extraterritorial jurisdiction and including crimes against all victims of sexual abuse will be a crucial step in ensuring all predators are brought to justice.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the current federal law related to the prosecution of trafficking cases

· Explain the applicability of the law as it relates to the case against Peter Nygard and the loopholes that allowed his abuse to perpetuate for decades

· Discuss the possible reforms to the current law for certain sex offenses, providing an additional path to justice for survivors and ensure all perpetrators are held accountable

This interactive workshop will seek to provide an overview of how to use yoga as a clinical intervention for treatment of trauma experiences of sex trafficking survivors. Research around this issue will be reviewed, including yoga as a clinical intervention and elements of trauma informed care for survivors of sex trafficking (Goodman & Calderon, 2012; Elliot, et al. 2005; Emerson, 2015; Jindani & Khalsa, 2015; Van der Kolk, 2014). The presenter’s lived experience as a sex trafficking survivor and the use of trauma informed yoga as an approach to find her own path to healing will also be discussed. During this workshop, providers and survivors will have the opportunity to learn about how to use trauma-informed yoga as an intervention to treat complex trauma symptoms for themselves and clients. Participants will be able to see how trauma-informed intervention is practiced and step-by-step instructions for effective application of yoga as a clinical tool will be reviewed.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss research-based concepts around trauma symptoms and trauma-informed interventions

· Describe trauma-informed yoga as an intervention

· Describe survivor's lived experience and the use of trauma informed yoga as a clinical approach to healing

This presentation details 20 social-psychological strategies pimps use to engage, entice, and maintain young women in the role of prostitute. It details how the pimp deters his victims from talking with police, why it is so hard for police to intervene, and what police can do to break the psychological control the pimp has over his victims. This research was conducted initially in 1973 with a review of Civil Rights literature including Malcolm X, Iceberg Slim Pimp: The Story of My Life, Manchild in the Promised Land, and Eldridge Cleaver’s Soul on Ice. To validate this research, the presenter interviewed classmates at California State University, Dominguez Hills who were pimps, members of the Prison Parole Program, and male Muslim activists who followed Elijah Muhammad, the Leader of the Nation of Islam. To further validate this research, she asked police to introduce her to working prostitutes. In 1973, this research was accepted by the Pacific Sociological Association in British Columbia. This presentation has been presented to over 11,000 prostituted children and can be triggering, often resulting in cries of “He did all of that. It was just a game.” This research has been taught to thousands of members of law enforcement in the U.S. and around the world and has been relied on by governments to prosecute pimp/traffickers. It has even been reviewed on more than one occasion by the United States Supreme Court.

Presentation Objectives:

· Train social service providers how to intervene in the relationship and psychological hold a pimp has on his victim

· Discuss when to intervene, how to intervene, and what to say and what not to say

Human trafficking is often interconnected with crimes such as domestic violence, gang violence, theft, drug crimes, and violent crimes. Victims and offenders of human trafficking may be involved in various investigations, which frequently goes unnoticed because law enforcement agencies tend to work exclusively within their own silos. It is important for agencies to recognize the overlap in investigative units and prioritize collaborative efforts and sharing information inside their own agencies, as well as with outside agencies. This study analyzed the innerworkings of a human trafficking investigation from Multnomah County in Portland, Oregon. The investigation encompassed multiple cases in which nine defendants were indicted on various charges and all nine pled guilty. These cases demonstrate the fact that human trafficking intersects with all types of crimes and can be immersed within families. The investigation spanned from May 2015 to November 2019 and included several agencies within Oregon and across the country. This analysis narrowed in on three separate human trafficking cases that involved six victims, one of them a minor. Data was compiled through MCSO Human Trafficking Person Profile Reports and interviews were conducted with stakeholders from various agencies. The data was examined to identify effective investigative techniques and methods of communication used to successfully indict and prosecute traffickers. Five themes were yielded from the analysis:
1) investigative techniques, 2) communication/collaboration, 3) victim centered/trauma informed care approach, 4) investigative techniques – gold standard, and
5) phenomena unique to human trafficking. Regarding these observations, recommendations to improve future human trafficking investigations are offered.

Presentation Objectives:

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

· Describe the implications based on the research and recommendations for law enforcement and additional stakeholders

Existing evaluations of child trafficking prevention programs primarily focused on girls (e.g., Kruger et al., 2016; Murphy et al., 2016; Rothman et al., 2019). There is a need for evaluations of similar interventions for boys or both genders. This secondary data analysis assessed the impact of a 12-month-long community-based child trafficking prevention program in Bihar, India. Convenience sampling was utilized to recruit 352 girls and 325 boys in geographical areas identified as hotspots of child trafficking in

the state. Pre- and post-test surveys were used to collect data. Descriptive analyses, and independent sample t and chi-square tests were conducted to analyze changes for 8 key variables over time and across gender. The mean ages for both girls and boys in both the baseline and follow-up phases were just over 13 years old. The findings indicate that participation in the program resulted in significant differences in knowledge, self-efficacy, participation, and behavior among participants regarding child trafficking prevention. The finding about participants’ agency and confidence in reaching out for help in case of threats was one of the most positive aspects of the program. The results of this study are of value to community organizations involved or interested in creating or improving child trafficking prevention programs because this program equally focused on both girls and boys while also paying attention to the distinctive empowerment needs of each gender. The absence of transgender youth in the program will be discussed. The input of child survivors and those at risk of trafficking should be sought in the design and implementation of any child trafficking prevention initiatives.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the changes in participants’ knowledge, skills, and behaviors from pretest to posttest based on participation in the program

· Examine the significance of the changes in the program’s outcomes based on gender

· Highlight the distinctive contributions of the study to the literature on child trafficking prevention interventions

Anneke Lucas is a survivor of ritual abuse, mind control, and child sex slavery to the global elite. Now, she is an author and public speaker, leads workshops, and counsels with other survivors. At age six, Anneke was sold by her mother into an international pedophile ring involving world leaders. Like many victims, she was used in a well-oiled system of power where children were used for favors or blackmail. At age nine, she received mind control training to be a sex slave to the global elite and was promised a future of fame and fortune. However, there was a price to pay, and she knew she could not go along, even if it would cost her life. She refused, and though her life was spared, she was severely punished. At age 11, she was dramatically rescued from the ring by an insider, who gave her directions for her survival. Through her experiences at the seat of worldly power, through her long, ongoing healing process, and through service, Anneke developed intricate awareness of power, both on the global and personal level. The choice she made at age nine saved her integrity, and that act of rebellion was the thread that eventually led her back to her healed self. Every choice has an impact and a ripple effect and supports either truth and integrity or the toxic power system.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the experiences of a mind-controlled child sex slave

· Discuss the critical choice to forego power and riches for the sake of integrity

· Explain the need for integrity in a volatile world in order to fight a dark power system

Youth in the foster care system are disproportionately susceptible to human trafficking, but there are steps able to be taken to prevent their exploitation if we understand why they are more vulnerable (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2017 & Middleton, J., Edwards, E., Cole, J., Ayala, R., & Dobson, V., 2020). In this session, the Empty Frames Initiative team will discuss data that illustrates how youth involved in the foster care system are more susceptible to human trafficking, delve into the situations driving the data, and discuss what can be done to prevent exploitation. Data from multiple sources on the connection of human trafficking to foster care will be reviewed, specifically data from the Polaris Project, Kentucky's Department for Community Based Services, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Youth. Individual situations leading to the exploitation of this population will be discussed, all of the situations mirroring the national issues, but amplified because of foster youth’s lack of connections. An example of this heightened vulnerability would be the common narrative of a disconnected youth looking for companionship, but amplified vulnerability because of a lack of supervision OR where an exploited individual does not see themselves as a victim, but amplified vulnerability because the state does not identify them as a trafficking survivor with the knowledge that trafficking was happening in the home. There will be additional conversation focused on preventing exploitation by ensuring that youth are receiving trauma informed counseling while in care and are connected to foster care specific resources before transitioning out of care. This presentation looks to equip the anti-trafficking community to advocate for and protect youth in and leaving foster care.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the data available about foster care and human trafficking

· Describe the common backgrounds and shared experiences of youth in foster care

· Provide resources to take further preventative action

The Australian Government mandate to address the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking in the supply of goods and services to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) (“the Act”) has revealed a spectrum of corporate responses. In 2021-22, Unchained Solutions, in partnership with Macquarie University, conducted research to understand the extent to which Australian entities were effectively reporting on actions taken to assess, address, and monitor the risk of modern slavery to people employed in their supply chains and operations. Stage one comprised deskwork analysis of 150 modern slavery statements registered with the Australian Border Force, utilizing the Unchained comprehensive compliance checklist based on the Government Guidelines for Reporting Entities (Home Affairs, 2019), and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (United Nations, 2011). Stage two comprised interviewing fifteen corporate entity representatives who were instrumental in steering their organisation’s response to Act. The research also drew upon insights from current academic papers and industry studies. Findings focus on four main areas: 1) key external stakeholder engagement; 2) the extent of investigation beyond direct suppliers; 3) the process for measuring effectiveness; and 4) the consultation process. Results indicate that most entities have limited their compliance activities to desk work processes, lack an effective strategy to collaborate and incentivize direct suppliers to conduct due diligence, lack a clear understanding of risk with indirect suppliers, and have not articulated a framework for measuring effectiveness. This presentation concludes with recommendations for further research and clear indicators for continuous improvement.

Presentation Objectives:

· Articulate the main tenets of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth)

· Provide an overview of the study conducted in two stages, including main questions, methodology

· Present the key findings from the four main areas of investigation

· Articulate what future steps reporting entities could take for continuing improvement

The study of resilience has largely relied on definitions and conceptualizations of resilience created by academia, with little knowledge produced being grounded in the experience and perspectives of marginalized and stressed populations (Knight et al., 2021; Mendenhall & Kim, 2019). As the voices of these groups are rarely integrated into sanctioned institutional discourses of knowledge, inequality is easily reproduced (Cruz, 2008). Specifically, there has been little exploration of how survivors of sex trafficking define and conceptualize resilience, risking the development of theoretical perspectives and practice recommendations on resilience that are oppressive, demeaning, irrelevant, or harmful to survivors. Sixteen survivors were thus recruited to answer the research question, “What does ‘resilience’ mean to you?” via interviews. Thematic analysis resulted in five themes: resilience as (1) resistance, (2) transition, (3) a sustained force over time, (4) transformation, and (5) resources. Participants primarily defined resilience as the output of their inherent and enduring power to survive and to shape their lives in preferred ways despite adversity. Academic literature emphasizes that resilience results from dynamic interactions between individual traits and external resources (e.g., Pangello et al., 205; Ungar, 2019). Participants emphasized that while resilience is promoted by external resources and opportunities, it is existent even in their absence. Findings suggest that for resilience inquiry and praxis to resonate with survivors, it must first acknowledge the inherent power of survivors already demonstrated by their survival and that resilience-enhancing programs should be aimed at supporting survivors’ native resilience and providing opportunities for that resilience to be manifested in new and preferred ways, rather than aiming at helping them to “become” resilient.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the study and highlight the importance of survivor knowledge being integrated into the intellectual grounding of the field

· Describe survivors’ conceptualizations and definitions of resilience and compare these with academic conceptualizations and definitions of resilience

· Discuss implications and recommendations for resilience-enhancing research and praxis

Stories matters. Voices matters. Experiences matters. Autonomy matters. In a time where our stories and our voices can be so quickly shared, widely accessed, and just as easily distorted, the I Want You to See Me Project, is a platform for individuals who have been oppressed, marginalized, or exploited and gives them the reigns on how they want to be seen, heard, understood, and supported. The I Want You to See Me Project (“See Me”) is a creative, collaborative piece with the intention of shining a light on the stories and experiences that are often ignored, forgotten, or altered and amplifies the voices of those who have been silenced by society or among their community. This presentation highlights the results collected and lessons learned from implementing the “See Me” Project with various populations. By exploring the intersection of theatre and therapy, this presentation shares tools on how to create spaces to amplify the voices of others, instead of telling the stories of others. Audience members will learn the personal and societal barriers that prevent us from truly seeing one another, while also exploring the concept of storytelling through a digital era and will obtain a deeper level of understanding and connection across communities and populations. Participants will walk away with a greater understanding of how to support clients, friends, peers, and strangers through the process of claiming their stories.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide education on the concepts of Narrative Therapy, therapeutic storytelling, and the intersection of theatre and healing

· Describe how to support clients in finding autonomy, authenticity, and purpose through the act of telling their story

· Explore the ways in which increased digital connection has impacted storytelling in the global community

· Explain the concepts, principles, and outcomes of the “See Me” Project(s)

Trauma impacts a disproportionate number of people with disabilities (Harrell, E., 2021). While many mental health practices provide trauma care as a specialty, many mental health professionals feel unprepared to treat individuals with disabilities who have experienced trauma. This session will provide training on general issues related to disability, as well as specific information on adapting interventions, to increase both competence and confidence for mental health support to individuals with disabilities. Participants will also learn about the “medical model” vs. the “social model” of disability and the impact that they have on the ability of individuals with disability to access appropriate trauma intervention. Dual diagnosis (disability plus a mental health diagnosis) will be discussed as an important consideration in developing treatment plans. The presenter will review trauma basics and discuss their application to individuals with disabilities and the impact of trauma in the lives of individuals with disability. She will also discuss risk factors that contribute to high incidence of trauma in the lives of individuals with disabilities. Participants will learn about communication differences, as well as challenges in perspective taking (Theory of Mind), that can influence the mental health professional’s choice of intervention approach, especially in work with clients with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Finally, the presenter will discuss specific tools and strategies that can be used in conjunction with evidence-based trauma interventions to support clients with disabilities in their trauma processing.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe trauma-informed care for survivors with disabilities

· Discuss the current gaps in mental health services for survivors with disabilities

· Describe resources that victims/survivors with disabilities have and why more mental health specialists needs to be trained specifically to serve this population

· Explain the best practices when providing services to adult victims with disabilities

How to best assist LGBTQ+ young adults experiencing homelessness and reporting sex trafficking victimization is a developing field of knowledge. This study aimed to understand sex trafficking risk factors for LGBTQ+ young adults experiencing homelessness through the 2019 Youth Experiences Survey (2019 YES) and 16 follow-up interviews. The main findings include a) the odds of being LGBTQ+ and experiencing homelessness and reporting sex trafficking victimization were 2.41 times greater (95% CI: 1.22, 4.74) than being a cisgender heterosexual experiencing homelessness and reporting sex trafficking victimization; and b) risk factors that contributed significantly to a binary logistic regression model to predict being an LGBTQ+ young adult experiencing homelessness and reporting sex trafficking victimization included having a current medical issue, having a history of dating violence, having a childhood history of sexual abuse (ACEs sexual abuse), having a history of binging/vomiting, and having a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The interviews back up quantitative data for contextualization purposes. The findings of this study confirm the need for more services for LGBTQ+ young adults experiencing homelessness and reporting sex trafficking victimization.

Presentation Objectives:

· Explore the particular vulnerability of LGBTQ+ young adults and the ways in which traffickers seek to exploit these vulnerabilities in order to compel young adults into commercial sex

· Discuss implications for service providers and researchers

The presenters of this session will discuss the importance of taking a collaborative approach to ensuring survivors of human trafficking have equitable access to healthcare. The session will highlight some of the situations that clinicians face that can be addressed when healthcare works with other disciplines to meet the survivors needs. These situations may range from having access to specialized clinicians able to provide specialized care to addressing language and communication barriers that may exist for the survivor. The presenters will highlight the importance of strong collaborative relationships between community and healthcare respondents in the process of advocating on behalf of the medical needs of the survivor and ensuring that healthcare is delivered in an equitable manner. The presenters will define a medical forensic examination and discuss the benefits of incorporating healthcare in the response to human trafficking. The session will reinforce the need for equitable access to healthcare by use of case studies that will identify complexities that can present challenges that require additional resources across all disciplines involved in providing a response. Identifying and addressing gaps in providing equitable services to such an already vulnerable population promotes a better experience for both the survivor and those providing the services. At the completion of the session, attendees will be able to recognize the role of healthcare and ways to work with healthcare to overcome existing barriers for survivors of human trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discus the importance of a collaborative approach to equitable access to healthcare for human trafficking survivors

· Explore the benefits of a medical forensic examination for survivors

· Identify and address challenges associated with providing an equitable access to healthcare for survivors

· Explore techniques to incorporate strategies for relationship building with community partners responding to human trafficking

Boys subject to intrafamilial child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) through trafficking face many barriers in disclosing their exploitation, often leaving victims and survivors dismissed or mishandled by service providers and society (Palfy, 2016; Smiragina, 2015). This study explores the vulnerabilities of male victims of intrafamilial CSEA, the unique characteristics of intrafamilial abuse, exploitation through trafficking, and the barriers to disclosure and recover by victims and survivors. Ten adult male survivors were interviewed multiple times to gain a deeper understanding of intrafamilial CSEA and how it compares and contrasts with non-familial CSEA. Multiple semi-structured online interviews were conducted with the 10 adult male survivors because they experienced 1) intrafamilial child sexual abuse and 2) the progression of intrafamilial child sexual abuse into intrafamilial child trafficking for sexual exploitation. The research team (Ena Lucia Mariaca, Andres Buenaventura, and Dr. Glenn Miles) explored the internal and external barriers to disclosure that boys encountered, particularly in familial settings, and employed a co-productive approach with the participants. Findings underscore the importance of trauma-informed practices for identifying and rehabilitating victims and survivors. Participants reported receiving effective assistance from service providers (law enforcement, medical, and mental health professionals) that exhibited trauma-informed practices. Recommendations include the need for service providers to receive training on 1) trauma-informed, person-centered practices and 2) how to avoid being influenced by traditional gender biases that largely overlook male victimization and female criminality in child sexual abuse and trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Give an overview of research conducted on male survivors of familial trafficking

· Provide a deeper understanding of the male experience in child sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking done by family members

· Offer recommendations for frontline service providers who may come in contact with a male victim or survivor of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking

Occupational therapy can contribute to recovery from exploitation through occupation-based approaches to recovery that promote health and wellbeing (George, 2019; World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2010), with participation in activities of everyday life being the main goal. In this emerging area of practice, occupational therapists’ roles include the remediation of physical functions, modifications of activities, the facilitation of participation, and managing contextual factors (Cerny, 2016; Gorman & Hatkevich, 2016; Layton, 2014; Thompson, 2017; Trimboli et al., 2019), as survivors of exploitation reclaim their rights of meaningful occupation, health, and wellbeing. In addition, there is emerging dialogue regarding the occupational injustices of exploitation, which include experiences of marginalization, imbalance, deprivation, and alienation where people who are trafficked are over occupied with activities that are exploitative or lack meaning and purpose, or when people are prevented from engagement in meaningful activity (George & Stanley, 2018). In this presentation, the findings of 3 studies are discussed. The first explores the challenges facing service providers in Australia working with survivors of trafficking (George et al., 2018). The second highlights the occupational injustices of human trafficking using international case studies (George & Stanley, 2018). The third highlights the gap in evidence for occupational therapy in recovery and calls for global collaboration between clinicians and researchers (George & Stanhope, 2020). Finally, a reflection on the importance of advocacy shows how the criminal justice system can respond fairly to the needs of survivors.

Presentation Objectives:

· Highlight the occupational injustices of human trafficking

· Explore the role of occupational therapy in the recovery from exploitation

· Promote the importance of advocacy in the fight against human trafficking

Commercial sexual exploitation of youth (CSEY) is being increasingly framed as a severe social problem. Many agree that understanding CSEY perspectives on help-related experiences is essential for improving the help offered to them (Hampton & Lieggi, 2020). Yet, the literature on helping CSEY is based mostly on professionals' perspective (Lefevre et al., 2019). This presentation will bring the perspectives of CSEY on help-seeking and help-related experiences to the fore. Findings of an interpretive qualitative meta-synthesis (QMS) of a corpus of 34 studies will be presented. Using the conceptual framework of help-seeking, the QMS yields novel insights into CSEY's perceptions of their involvement in commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), and how they define their problems, decide to seek help, and engage in the proper help. Particularly, the QMS underscores that CSEY don’t always perceive their involvement in CSE as problematic, nor identify themselves as victims of exploitation. The findings highlight the significance of developing social services that specialize in helping CSEY and involve CSEY in decisions about the support they are provided. Secondly, findings of a qualitative-constructivist study about CSEY's help-related experiences within key relationships will be presented. The findings are based on a naturalistic analysis of qualitative interviews with 20 CSEY. They reveal the multiple challenges encountered by CSEY when seeking and receiving help, and their perception of relationships primarily as a sphere of harm and abuse. Nonetheless, participants described "good, beneficial help" as taking place mainly within meaningful relationships (with family, friends and help providers). The study underscores the importance of meaningful relationships in the context of help-seeking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Familiarize the audience with the literature on help-seeking processes of CSEY

· Share research findings on the meaning of relationships in help-seeking processes of CSEY

Survivors of human trafficking benefit from specific clinical interventions based on trauma and survival of the experiences while enslaved. Clinical work with the subpopulation of transgender survivors includes implications specific to their needs. In this session, presenters will explore the needs and best practices of providing clinical services to transgender survivors of human trafficking and will define and discuss the relevant clinical concepts within the population of transgender sex workers and survivors of human trafficking. Based on research identified thorough the presentation and current gaps in research, clinical interventions specific to the population are few and need further development and review to include a more evidence-based clinical foundation (Abad, et.al, 2015; Baumann, et.al, 2019; Change, et al, 2019; Gama, et al, 2018; Mo, et.al, 2018; Nadal, et al, 2014; Ocha & Earth, 2013; Sawicki, et al, 2019; She, 2020). This information highlights the need for increased cultural competencies and training available to counselors working with the subpopulation.

Presentation Objectives:

· Define transgender and non-conforming identities of survivors of human trafficking

· Discuss self-reported experiences of transgender survivors

· Explore needs and best practices specific to the population

Social enterprises are hybrid organizations integrating principles of private enterprise with social sector goals to create income-generating and skills development opportunities for “hard-to-employ” populations (Berzin, 2012; Dees, 1998; Garrow, 2015). This session presents results of a multimethod study examining employment/ work integration social enterprise (EWISE) as a promising model for labor market (re)integration of women-survivors of sex trafficking, who consistently face a lack of long-term economic opportunities (Timoshkina, 2019). The research questions included: What are the primary characteristics of EWISEs? What EWISE models are suitable for labor market (re)integration of sex trafficking survivors? The study encompassed a review of 21 websites of social enterprises for human trafficking survivors, a systematic review of literature on EWISEs, and case studies of two social enterprises for marginalized women – Inspirations Studio (pottery) and Spun Studio (textile) operated by Sistering, a women’s agency in Toronto, Canada. The systematic literature review included empirical studies whose findings were reported in peer-referred articles (12) and research reports (5); they examined EWISEs in Canada, the U.S., Australia, the UK, and Ireland. The sources of data for the case studies included: (a) organizational documents, media reports and videos; (b) a survey of 15 Inspirations Studio members; (c) in-depth qualitative interviews with 9 Sistering staff members and 12 social enterprise members; and (d) prolonged field observations. The presentation will provide an overview of the existing social enterprises for sex trafficking survivors, discuss the primary characteristics of EWISEs, and offer practical recommendations for developing a range of employment programming for women exiting sex trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the research findings

· Discuss the practical implications and recommendations based on the research

When victims of child abuse, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, or sex trafficking are identified, we know trauma has occurred and internal recovery work from trauma is needed. However, few professionals know how to effectively respond. This workshop will focus on providing information on trauma, triggers, trauma-informed care, and trauma-focused care to help clients heal. Participants will learn the twelve internal and external journeys clients should travel that moves them from victim to survivor to thriver.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide participants with information on trauma and the effects of trauma

· Discuss the importance of trauma-informed work

· Discuss trauma-focused work and the difference between informed and focused work

Describe the components needed to move victims to survivors to thrivers

Irulars, meaning children of darkness (Thurston, E., 1909), are among the most vulnerable indigenous communities of India (Ganesh, 2021). Their vulnerability stems from their innocence, low literacy levels, and livelihood options (Solomon, 2018). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (2015) mandates the Right to Life, Survival, Development, and Participation. But in reality, Irulars are far from it. During the 2015 Chennai Floods, Irulars were one of the most affected, yet systematically excluded, communities. The Department of Social Work (Aided), Madras Christian College, India identified this injustice. Here began the Field Action Program (FAP), a departmental initiative to provide the Irulars with the knowledge, skills, and resources to claim their own civil and human rights (Self Advocacy). The FAP team, so far, has built houses and installed solar lamps and potable water tanks through multi-stakeholder collaborations. Irulars have historically been deprived of basic identity proofs and governmental provisions. Identifying this gap, FAP team liaisons, along with the government, provided Irulars with Aadhar Cards (community certificates). Community empowerment is a major agenda of FAP. Livelihood training and skill development programs have therefore been conducted. The road ahead for the Irulars is very wide. There is a need to build indigenous community leaders to sustain the rights-based activities and build a community participatory model of social development.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the current state of indigenous communities in South India with special reference to the Irular community

· Describe the Field Action Program (FAP)

· Enumerate the various programs conducted by the FAP for the benefit of the Irular community

· Explain the steps needed to make the Irular community empowered and self-reliant

A string of revolutionary civil lawsuits has grown under the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), which gives human trafficking survivors the ability to recover damages from corporations that have profited from turning a blind eye to trafficking. Babin Law filed the first lawsuit under the TVPRA against hotels. They believe the TVPRA is not only a promising tool for survivors to seek justice, but also establishes a duty for corporations to adopt stricter policies to identify and prevent trafficking within their operations. This presentation will provide an overview of the TVPRA and different cases brought against corporations. Sex trafficking survivors filed lawsuits against hotels as well as technology companies such as Backpage, Pornhub, Twitter, and others. Labor trafficking survivors have also sued companies for profiting from forced labor, such as Nestle, Mars, and Hershey who source chocolate made from child labor in the Ivory Coast. After explaining the evolution of TVPRA lawsuits against corporations, the presenter will delve deeper into the cases against hotels. The hotel industry has turned a blind eye to the obvious signs of human trafficking and continued to profit by renting rooms to traffickers. These lawsuits show the need for industry-wide change in hotel policies and procedures, like mandatory training and security protocols, to protect survivors of trafficking. Finally, these cases have a positive impact on survivors by providing a new tool to recover damages from their trafficking and a way for their story to be heard.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview and history of holding corporations accountable for profiting from trafficking under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA)

· Discuss different types of TVPRA cases currently filed against corporations in sex and labor trafficking contexts

· Dive into the claims Babin Law is bringing against hotels

Every four seconds, another person enters a human trafficking situation somewhere in the world. It is estimated that there are over 40 million people in modern-day slavery today, more than any other time in history. To make sense of this important issue and its relevance to today’s business community, Matt Friedman will offer a comprehensive update on this topic. His talk will explore the following: the changing human trafficking paradigm; the relationship between human trafficking and modern slavery; a comprehensive summary of global trends and patterns; an update on emerging legislation; a detailed description of the relationship between human trafficking and business risk; and a description of tangible, practical tools and approaches used by corporations throughout the world to help identify and address this potential problem. Attendees will walk away with a detailed understanding of the importance of private sector involvement in addressing the issue of modern slavery.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the relationship between modern slavery and supply chains

· Describe emerging trends related to this topic

· Describe what the private sector is doing in response to these trends

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) recognizes that human trafficking is a public safety concern. In 2020, the VA National Social Work Program Office, Care Management and Social Work, launched a national human trafficking initiative to better understand the impact of human trafficking within the veteran community. As the largest healthcare system in the nation, the VHA identifies health services as one of the most common points of access to care for victims. There is a nationwide myth that human trafficking does not occur among the United States Veteran population. However, our findings indicate veterans may be at an even greater risk of being trafficked than the general population due to an associated high prevalence of known risk factors such as homelessness, substance use, suicidality, history of witnessing violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and the lack of other social determinants of health (Papke et al., 2022). Healthcare providers often lack knowledge about trafficking or have preconceived notions of how an individual who has experienced trafficking will behave and look. This presentation will focus on trauma-informed care approaches and how they guide clinical practice with veterans who have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Subject matter experts on veteran intimate partner violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and trauma-informed care will share the model created for best practices through case studies. Participants will also be provided with resources for veterans.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the correlation between intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking

· Describe human trafficking red flags specific to veterans globally

· Discuss veteran-specific strategies for applying trauma-informed care approaches related to intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking

When it comes to finding solutions to end sex trafficking and exploitation, researchers have found survivors are uniquely equipped to help develop policies, advocate, engage with the public, or collaborate with governments to improve legislation and programming (Lockyer, 2020). Further research notes that through the adoption of survivor-led initiatives, organizations can better support survivors of trafficking (Deer & Baumgartner, 2019). However, despite this knowledge, research, policy, and services within the anti-trafficking movement continue to be led primarily by non-profit organizations and other stakeholders, leaving out those with lived experience (Lockyer, 2020). This may explain why despite all levels of government allocating millions of dollars to “fight human trafficking,” efforts so far have been largely ineffective at combating trafficking. Recognizing the need for greater survivor leadership within the anti-trafficking movement, this presentation will provide an overview of a survivor-led vocational skills program developed by Project iRISE. The iRISE Survivor Leadership program was designed and administered by survivors of trafficking. The psychosocial program model uses a strength-based approach to provide trauma-informed skill training that combines experiential education, socio-emotional learning, leadership development, and upskilling for employment. This presentation will provide an in-depth overview of the Survivor Leadership program, including the challenges faced by the survivor team, findings from the program evaluation, earlier success, the final impact of the program in the community, and considerations for survivor-led programming.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the problematic nature of current survivor engagement in the anti-trafficking movement

· Provide an overview of the Project iRISE Survivor Leadership program

· Discuss the benefits and challenges of the iRISE program and outline some of the lessons learned

· Provide recommendations for how organizations can implement their own survivor leadership training

Children with developmental disabilities are ostracized from peer groups at early stages of childhood development. "Normal" children will single out those viewed as different. Brenna Wallace was bullied in elementary school all the way to high school. Brenna was expelled from high school by a principal who also bullied students. All throughout school, Brenna was viewed as different, leading to a variety of concerning behaviors: violence, excessive use of imagination ("lying" others would say), and an obsessive need to feel loved and accepted. During this period, due to Brenna's disability, her mother wound up abusing her physically, mentally, and emotionally. Brenna, angry, frustrated, and alone at the age of 17, sought out relationships that made her feel accepted. Due to Brenna's vulnerabilities, she wound up in a personal sex slave relationship at the age of 19. Brenna was pimped, used, and was to be sold at the time of her escape. Brenna met her trafficker, through another disabled youth. Brenna's trafficker used the promise of a true family, love, and acceptance in order to expand Brenna's boundaries. Brenna would have sex for money, be used to bring in other females, and do whatever was asked of her. Brenna's life of trafficking ended by her own self-awakening through a real friendship. She has been free for 10 years. At the end of this presentation, attendee’s will be able to identify signs of abuse in neurodivergent populations, know what questions to ask and how to ask them, and how to help these people.

Presentation Objectives:

· Expose how vulnerable people with developmental disabilities are to trafficking

· Show through personal experience how people with autism are affected by trafficking

· Demonstrate how traffickers can target people with developmental disabilities

Current prostitution and anti-trafficking legislation in the U.S. does not account for the complexities faced by the majority of people in the sex industry (McCracken, 2019). Force and coercion exist, and yet placing individuals in the boxes created by prostitution and trafficking legislation (i.e., victim, criminal, trafficker, prostitute) exacerbates violence against individuals and subverts justice (Weitzer, 2010). The researchers ask how current prostitution and anti-trafficking laws impact consenting sex workers and victims of trafficking. In this session, they will present their analysis of interviews with 60 individuals who have engaged in adult consensual sex work and identity as victims of trafficking and/or have been convicted of trafficking. Centering their voices, they explore how their experiences confront and contradict the legal, political, and medial representations of trafficking and prostitution. The researchers find the majority of people involved in this study faced arrest for prostitution and trafficking when they were not exploiting others but rather victims of exploitation and/or were working with other consenting sex workers to keep themselves safe and free from exploitation and violence. The presenters show how the criminalization of prostitution impacts both individuals engaged in consensual sex work and victims of trafficking. They conclude that city, court, and state legislators must introduce legislation that creates amnesty for sex workers so they can report violence, coercion, exploitation, and/or trafficking against themselves or others without fear of arrest. Finally, the presenters recommend adult consensual prostitution be decriminalized so that consenting sex workers and victims of trafficking are not made more vulnerable due to prostitution arrests and convictions.

Presentation Objectives:

· Explain the differences between adult consensual sex work and exploitation/ trafficking in the sex industry

· Provide an in-depth understanding of how victims of sex trafficking can be caught in the criminalization net of sex trafficking charges and convictions

· Discuss how the intersections of violence, exploitation, and the criminal legal system impact the lives of individuals in the sex industry (both by choice and force)

· Describe the various aspects of carceral and punitive prostitution legislation

Concerns surrounding the Toronto Police Services (TPS) handling of missing persons occasioned the 2021 Independent Civilian Review into Missing Persons Investigations. This published 151 recommendations for improving police response to missing persons. Accordingly, the TPS Missing and Missed Implementation Team (MMIT) emerged to address these recommendations. One recommendation was establishing partnerships with researchers to generate evidence-informed practice and policy. While such partnerships are not new, they have not always generated anticipated outcomes. Historically, they have failed at the point of trust—the key to any successful collaboration. Nevertheless, MMIT formed valuable partnerships with academics, Elliott and Ferguson, specializing in missing persons and victimology. Together, the team led a study exploring the connection between missing persons and victimization to enhance police risk assessment. Informed by the study findings, the Review, and victimological theory, the team then developed a Response Assessment Tool that, monumentally, comprises evidence-informed vulnerability factors linked to missing persons, including human trafficking, 2SLGBTQIA+ identities, sex work, and beyond. This presentation outlines this Tool, detailing how it induces consistent and equitable policing, especially for vulnerable and marginalized groups. It focuses explicitly on how this Tool improves police response and case outcomes for missing persons linked to human trafficking, including the alliance between the MMIT and TPS Human Trafficking Unit’s Children at Risk of Exploitation (CARE). Attendees will leave this presentation armed with insights to improve policing with evidence-informed strategies, forge police-academic partnerships considering this positive representation, and advance scholarship on the areas needing attention regarding missing persons and human trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of current international research on missing persons and human trafficking

· Explain the team members’ research project that explored the connection between missing persons and human trafficking in Canada and its key findings

· Demonstrate how the police-academic partnerships led to the translation of research findings into police practice and policy

· Outline how the police-academic partnerships led to the development of a police response tool that streamlines, enhances, and standardizes police handling of these cases and improves case outcomes

Occupational therapy emerged amid war and trauma, establishing itself as a credible healthcare profession by providing effective mental health treatment to those in need (AOTA, 2017; Goodwin University, 2021). Today, occupational therapy has grown to expand its reach to virtually any setting in which people occupy their time. The effects of human trafficking on physical, emotional, psychological, and cognitive functioning result in an array of dysfunction that can be addressed through interdisciplinary care, including occupational therapy. However, human trafficking education and training for occupational therapists is sparce. This course has been developed to bridge the gap between human trafficking education and training, and occupational therapy theory and practice. This presentation will cover aspects of the development of this course, course content in relation to occupational therapy and human trafficking, the future of occupational therapy in combatting human trafficking, and more. This course provides those within the occupational therapy profession discipline-specific content concerning human trafficking. This course is intensive; however, has been designed for occupational therapy personnel of all levels (students, practitioners, educators, researchers, etc.), as well as those who may be interested in a career in occupational therapy. Attendees of this presentation will gain insight into the various roles the profession has in combatting human trafficking, with a focus on the education and training of current and future occupational therapy personnel.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss occupational therapy’s role in combatting human trafficking

· Promote the importance of human trafficking education and training for occupational therapists

· Provide an overview of a course development plan for human trafficking education and training at the collegiate level

As a victim-serving nonprofit, it is important that victim-centered best practices carry over to our social media awareness efforts. In this workshop, participants will learn how to create trauma-sensitive social media campaigns that respect ethical storytelling and victim-informed best practices and how sensualized social media campaigns can lead to inaccurate education of juvenile sex trafficking. As a result, community members and multidisciplinary partners can misinterpret the realities of juvenile sex trafficking which can lead to prolonged victimization of youth. This workshop provides accessible creation tools, teaches collaborative social media campaigns, and incorporates examples from modalities such as nonprofit organizations and nonprofit leaders. The best practices described in this session elevate lived experience(s) through evidence-based research and survivor-informed studies including Rebecca Bender and Jessa Dillow Crisp.

Presentation Objectives:

· Explain how to create trauma-sensitive social media campaigns that respect ethical storytelling and victim-informed best practices

· Explain how to incorporate trauma sensitivity and victim-informed care into your nonprofit’s social media strategy by eliminating sensualized social media campaigns

· Increase accountability with attendees through trauma-sensitive, victim-informed social media awareness efforts

In 2020, Israel adopted the Nordic model to reduce prostitution by criminalizing the purchase of sex, expanding services for wo/men in prostitution, and educating the public on prostitution's harms. The main objective of this research is to assess the impact of the law on sex buyers' behavior and attitudes. A 2021 panel survey targeted 5,437 men in Israel. The data will serve as a baseline for a 2023 survey, assessing the impact of the law. 506 men (9%) reported paying for sex during the last 5 years. 7% reported paying for sex in 2019, and only 5% in 2020, the year the law went into effect. This decrease was also caused by COVID-19 lockdowns. Among men who bought sex in the last 5 years, 45% reported not being affected by the law, 21% had not heard of it, 9% had stopped buying sex due to the law and 25% were doing so less, more discreetly or abroad. 40% of sex buyers reported having quit buying sex, 37% are considering quitting or undecided. Only 23% intend to continue. Half of all sex buyers had not told another person that they had bought sex. Findings indicate that the law is beginning to reduce use of prostitution. Increased efforts to raise awareness of the law among sex buyers are necessary. High rates of ambivalence and shame among sex buyers indicate the high potential of the law and education to reduce the use of prostitution.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide a brief background on the Israeli law based on the Nordic model of criminalizing prostitution consumption

· Provide an overview of the study purpose and methodology

· Present selected findings, particularly those relevant to assessing impact of the law

· Describe the implications and recommendations for increasing the law's impact

One of the greatest challenges limiting the impact of human trafficking research is the availability of data collected in a consistent manner required to support analysis. While many organizations have information on the people they serve, they differ in what information is collected, how it is formatted, and the security procedures used to protect this highly sensitive information. This presentation provides a standardized process for collection and securing data on victims and survivors (e.g., Devers & Frankel, 2000; National Institutes of Health). Designed by expert data scientists specifically for human trafficking research, the process enables data to be shared with organizations, academic teams, and agencies engaged in human trafficking research. Adoption of this process supports collecting data safely, securely protecting identity, and empowering greater use of advanced analytics in human trafficking research. The presentation describes what data to collect, how to format it for maximum value to researchers, and best practices for data privacy, security, and ethical use. Attendees will gain an understanding of the process for collecting data that can be used in scientific studies, along with a detailed set of instructions for collecting, compiling, securing, and sharing data with other researchers.

Presentation Objectives:

· Present a scientific data protocol for standardized collection of human trafficking data in a manner that can be shared with researchers

· Provide a format for archiving the data and suggestions on spreadsheet software often used for this purpose

· Describe best practices for data privacy, security, and principles of ethical use of sensitive data

· Provide examples of research now in progress that will benefit from the use of a standard data process

Healthcare providers report little confidence in their ability to identify and respond appropriately to the needs of individuals impacted by sex trafficking (ST) (Beck et al., 2015). Several national healthcare associations recommend training and institutional guidelines to improve institutional responses, but more research is needed to understand survivors’ perspectives on their health care needs and barriers to accessing quality care (Armstrong & Greenbaum, 2019). Focus groups of women currently and formerly impacted by ST were conducted to better understand their health care experiences and how health care delivery and systems could be improved. Adult women were recruited with the support of six community service agencies that serve victims and survivors of ST. A total of 27 women participated in 5 focus groups. Thematic analysis was employed to describe data from transcripts within and across focus groups. Focus group participants provided a rich discussion of barriers to health care during and after victimization by traffickers and actions healthcare organizations could take to improve access to quality care and identification of patients impacted by ST. Themes underscored the need for comprehensive and collocated services that address the changing needs of survivors across the lifespan, important elements of provider education and training to promote identification and engagement of patients at risk for ST, and initiatives to promote patient physical and emotional safety during health care visits. The presentation will highlight relevant literature outlining policies and best practices to address the barriers to health care identified in focus groups.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the study, including objectives, methodology, and results

· Describe the implications of survivors’ perspectives to healthcare policy and practice

· Discuss key action areas and specific improvements healthcare providers and organizations can take

The legacy news media reports primarily on the most attention-grabbing subjects of our current day. The legacy media is defined as veteran newspaper and television news outlets that have pre-dated their establishment before the information age (social mobilization of information). Alison Dagnes, a professor of political science at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, described some of the ways sensationalism is used: “Amplifying language, trying to use very big words that are exacerbating. Something that invokes ... a whole lot of emotion.” This can be anything ranging from celebrities, Hollywood, politics, foreign affairs, and more. The problem with awareness for sexual exploitation or human trafficking is that the subject matters only become headlines within a local city’s news media. With this, even some of the most egregious crimes in this section of sexual criminal activity essentially gets little to no airtime within the news-cycle, or even on social media. The intent of Natly’s presentation is to illustrate how, no matter what the legacy news media presents, in trend, human trafficking and modern-day slavery grows, and goes unnoticed. This is a compounding problem that, if ignored, will grow exponentially than ever before. Now in our information age, we have the incredible ability to notify our local communities of said dark horrors, as well as encompassing an element of education. The onus is on us as local residents to our native jurisdictions to make human trafficking detectable and accounted for. This also entails local action, once illustrated criminal data points trend. Cleaning up our own communities and ridding of human exploitation starts with us. Natly will demonstrate effective ways to quickly research and deploy local criminal headlines (of sexual exploitative nature), perform root-cause analysis on what local criminal justice systems should advocate for, and deploy this information to your local communities for taking civic action to combat human trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Demonstrate how to sift through the media headlines to identify local sexual exploitation, or human trafficking reporting

· Identify the faults in the criminal justice system that could forecast ease on the criminal or detect faults on any further criminal justice downstream processes that present opportunities of reform

· Offer ideas that would mobilize this information within your communities to garner local civic action for change

Sex trafficking is an inherently coercive and exploitive act with direct and indirect financial implications. Survivors are often left with financial consequences directly related to the financial abuse endured during their trafficking situation. “Coerced debt” is a type of financial abuse that is defined as all non-consensual, credit-related transactions that occur in an intimate relationship where one partner uses coercive control to dominate the other partner (Littwin, 2012). Much of the extant literature on coerced debt has been conducted with service-connected women who have experienced domestic violence. However, little research has been conducted on the impact of coerced debt in the lives of people who have experienced abusive relationships in the context of sex trafficking. This presentation will discuss findings from a study conducted with thirty-four individuals who experienced sex trafficking in the United States. Individuals were invited to participate in qualitative interviews through convenience and respondent-driven sampling of an online anti-trafficking listserv. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was done to answer the following research questions: “Did survivors experience coerced debt as part of their trafficking situation?” and, if so, “What types of coerced debt did they experience?” Descriptive findings about the frequency and nature of financial abuse and / or coerced debt in the lives of trafficking survivors will be presented. This presentation will conclude with a discussion on the current state of practical and legal remedies for addressing coerced debt and recommendations for future research and policy to address this issue.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of “coerced debt” in the context of abusive relationships

· Present findings from a qualitative study conducted with survivors of sex trafficking about their experiences of financial abuse and/or coerced debt during and after their time in the sex industry

· Discuss the implications of this study for practitioners, policy makers, and future research

The goal of this presentation is to assist with awareness and understanding human trafficking when working with individuals with Developmental Disabilities (DD). The session will cover DD individuals’ risk factors and why they are so vulnerable. The presenters will share stories about experiences with this population who have been trafficked, how to report, how to recognize the signs, and how to support individuals and families if they experienced human trafficking. The session will also cover some labor trafficking stories in order to protect the DD population from employers who have immoral practices. Attendees will take away how DD individuals’ vulnerabilities have made them targets in the United States and abroad. Finally, the presenters will share resources to assist the DD individuals and the general population about human trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the risk factors and vulnerabilities for the DD population

· Describe how DD systems need to work together for positive outcomes of the victim

· Explain the importance of why the Developmental and Learning Disabled population need to learn about trafficking in order to prevent victimization

CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest Catholic health care systems and the second largest nonprofit hospital system in the nation, implemented a system-wide Abuse, Neglect, and Violence policy/procedure. A key component of this policy/procedure is the PEARR Tool, which guides health professionals on how to offer victim assistance to patients in a trauma-informed, healing-centered manner. In this presentation, attendees will learn more about the PEARR Tool and recent research to evaluate its effectiveness. The PEARR steps are based on an approach in which patients are empowered with information about violence and resources before further screening is conducted. The goal is to have an informative conversation with patients to promote health, safety, and well-being and to create a safe environment for affected patients to naturally share their own experiences and possibly accept further services. PEARR stands for Provide privacy, Educate, Ask, Respect & Respond. The PEARR Tool, a three-page handout that summarizes the PEARR steps, is based on learnings gathered from CommonSpirit physicians and staff who have had experience in identifying and assisting patients affected by abuse, neglect, and violence, and on learnings shared by national subject matter experts and organizations. This includes learnings from the “CUES model”, an evidence-based intervention from Futures Without Violence, in which health professionals are encouraged to use safety cards to talk with all patients about the health effects of domestic and sexual violence. The presenters include a clinician and survivor of human trafficking, both representatives of CommonSpirit Health and its system-wide Human Trafficking Response Program.

Presentation Objectives:

· Educate attendees about human trafficking using the PEARR approach

· Describe how to assist patients with referrals to community agencies using the PEARR approach

· Explain how to access resources and tools that can assist with this process

This panel consists of four survivors of child sex trafficking, ritual abuse (RA), and mind control (MC) programming. As survivor leaders, they know many others who have endured similar mixed forms of abuse. Those working with sex trafficking victims often focus on exploitation through prostitution or pornography, missing signs of other forms of extreme abuse. Panelists range in age from 58 to 85 and collectively have 121 years of healing. They will discuss how they were introduced to sex trafficking by their families and how their experiences ranged from being exploited by a local group of pedophiles to global elite child sex trafficking rings. Panelists will describe their mind control experiences. MC is a torture-based method of fragmenting a person's self to use them as sex slaves, spies, or assassins. Those abused in cults and/or subjected to MC are easy prey for further manipulation and abuse by sex rings. If the victims escape, they are often coerced back into the rings, despite the best efforts of their helpers to keep them safe. RA is the repetitive ritualistic abuse of children and non-consenting adults in a group setting in the name of an ideology. Panelists will discuss how they were abused by Satanists, Nazis, and dark occultists in the United States and Europe. Ritual abuse and mind control are seen in a subgroup of sex trafficking victims. Awareness of this kind of trauma is vital to helping survivors in their escape and healing. In Part II, panelists will describe their escape and entry into healing. They will also discuss personal examples and signs and symptoms of RA/MC. Resources for working with RA/MC survivors will be provided.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe each survivor's mind control, ritual abuse, and child sex trafficking experiences

· Describe the effects of the abuse and signs exhibited of being a survivor

To increase understanding of the intersections between substance use and human trafficking (sex and labor), this presentation describes a project focused on creating a coordinated plan between the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Safe Harbor Human Trafficking Prevention and Overdose Prevention programs that are currently underway and will be completed in fall 2022. The project includes a literature review, environmental scan, engagement with program grantees, stakeholders, and persons with lived experience in different regions of the state, all culminating in a report providing qualitative data and interpretation to inform future state-level and community-based efforts based in health equity and designed to raise awareness while also supporting multidisciplinary prevention, harm reduction, and intervention initiatives. Of specific interest is the role substances play in survival sex and in tactics by traffickers, as well as challenges and opportunities for cross-informed, trauma-responsive care within both trafficking prevention and substance use treatment services. This project is conducted as part of Safe Harbor Director Caroline Palmer's Master of Public Health program practicum at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where she is a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow in the Violence Cohort.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of how state-based programs in human trafficking and substance use/overdose prevention can work together to support services responses

· Explain the findings of the literature review, community engagement, and final report

· Describe recommendations for next steps in terms of prevention, harm reduction, and intervention responses on the state level and in partnership with service providers and persons with lived experience

Now more than ever, decisions that have widespread impact on our world are made based on data collected on a nationwide and/or multinational scale (i.e., big data). This data can come from many sources including governmental efforts (e.g., census), academic pursuits (e.g., ABCD) and/or the efforts of community and/or national organizations (e.g., Transpop). Though much of this data is available to the public, it’s potential remains often unknown and/or underutilized by community experts, activists, and researchers. This presentation will focus on how community members, and researchers can find and use big data ethically to examine, understand, and combat violence and injustice on a national scale. The presenter will first discuss how even those without advanced statistical knowledge might find out about, access, and utilize big data for their cause. Dr. Stenersen will then present a recent effort that used big data to unearth the extent of police harassment and violence towards transgender and gender diverse people involved in sex trade in the United States. The presentation will then include a brief demonstration on how to use a free software (JASP) to conduct analyses using publicly available data. Finally, the presentation will conclude with a discussion in which audience members can share their own topics of interest and brainstorm how big data can be used to support their cause.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss how to find, access, and use big data to combat injustice

· Provide an example in real time about how to use big data to answer community- and researcher- generated questions

· Discuss how audience members can integrate big data into their own work

The National Council of Jewish Women Canada (NCJWC) is committed to enhancing the lives of individuals within communities through education, service, and social action. It seeks to create positive change by empowering women, assisting the vulnerable, educating the public, and advocating for others. In 2013, after hearing an account from a survivor of sex trafficking at its national conference, the NCJWC Board unanimously passed a resolution to take on sex trafficking awareness as a key project. Given the reality that sex trafficking victims have become younger, NCJWC began its focus upon educating parents, grandparents, and caregivers about this risk to children. NCJWC recognizes that educating parents is key to averting victimization and critical to healing children who have become victims. NCJWC has created an educational power point presentation (NOT IN MY FAMILY) that engages audiences to better understand the risks posed to children and how to help children if they have become victims. NCJWC has also developed partnerships and coalitions and successfully advocated to governments to raise awareness about sex trafficking, culminating in the Government of Canada declaring February 22 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day. As a women’s organization where many members are mothers and grandmothers, NCJWC has created a powerful collective voice to address this critical issue. This work is relevant and serves as a model to other community organizations, women’s organizations, and ethnocultural groups who wish to mobilize and educate members about the dangers of human sex trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

· Explore and emphasize the responsibility and power of community groups in addressing the issue of sex trafficking

· Share a resource that has been developed for parents

· Share the approach that has been taken in building partnerships and coalitions to raise awareness

· Identify risk factors and ways of prevention sex trafficking

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

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

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

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

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

Sugaring is marketed as a mutually beneficial financial relationship between a younger, more financially insecure individual and an older, wealthier individual for dating and companionship (Upadhyay, 2021). Sugaring is prevalent in university communities; however, there is limited research on public perception of this common phenomenon and its associated health risks. The two guiding research questions of this study were: (1) What is the level of acceptance of sugar relationships by students and faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)? and (2) What is the level of awareness among students and faculty of sugar relationships in the VCU community? A survey that measured acceptance and awareness of sugaring was distributed to students and faculty on both the undergraduate and graduate campuses of VCU. Survey responses were analyzed using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Fisher’s exact test to compare differences between the two groups. Faculty had a statistically significant lower acceptance of sugar relationships compared to students (6.0 median score compared to median 17.0 score respectively, p <0.001). Students demonstrated a significantly higher awareness of the prevalence of sugaring compared to faculty (p< 0.003). There was similar awareness of the unintended health risks of sugaring between students and faculty. Further research is warranted to elucidate the factors associated with levels of acceptance and awareness of sugaring. Educational efforts are needed to increase awareness of sugaring prevalence, especially on college campuses.

Presentation Objectives:

· Define the phenomenon of sugaring and establish the importance of research on this topic

· Explain the reasoning behind carrying out the study at VCU

· Illustrate the research methods and share results

· Discuss the impact of the study and areas of future research based on findings

There has been a growing push to pass state safe harbor laws to align governmental and community responses to the reframing of the issue of sex trafficking of minors (STM) that was ushered in with the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). Kentucky enacted a safe harbor law, the Human Trafficking Victims Rights Act (HTVRA), in 2013, which mandated a comprehensive protective system response (Shared Hope International, 2015). A research study was conducted to examine the effect of legislative change on system responses to sex trafficking of minors. The research question was “What changes in systems’ processes for identifying and responding to STM have occurred since the enactment of the law?” First, change from pre-implementation to post-implementation of the safe harbor law in awareness, knowledge, and practices for responding to STM was examined in key informant surveys (n = 365). Second, state administrative data was analyzed to examine several policy outcomes related to the immunity, protective, and rehabilitative provisions of the law. Findings include the need for increased awareness and training and adoption of protocols, including screenings, in systems that work with at-risk youth has occurred in the post-implementation period. Child welfare’s mandated role to accept reports and to investigate alleged trafficking of children has centralized a formal response. However, the increased screening and reporting of trafficking of children has not resulted in a meaningful increase in criminal charges. Positive impacts and challenging obstacles in Kentucky’s responses to sex trafficking of minors will be discussed.

Presentation Objectives:

· Summarize and evaluate the impact of a safe harbor law, with particular attention to positive impacts and recommendations for improvements

· Describe the varied ways children are trafficked in commercial sex in metropolitan and non-metropolitan communities across one state

· Share methods for evaluating the impact of safe harbor laws, including the use of secondary data

This training will address the dynamic intersections of systemic discrimination of vulnerable populations and how these intersections connect to the criminalization of trafficking survivors. Marginalized communities are not sufficiently identified as victims and are disproportionately criminalized. Topics will cover cultural relationships with different trafficking survivors and the victim-offender intersectionality. Next, the training will discuss opportunities to overcome criminalization of survivors through: (1) policy work, (2) access to legal support, and (3) community education. Policy changes have shaped important relief for survivors in many states, and the presenters will provide some examples from California and New York. Likewise, they will discuss how trauma-informed lawyers representing survivors leads to more empowering legal interactions and case results. Lastly, they will discuss the importance of training legal stakeholders including prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and probation.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the ways in which trafficking survivors are criminalized and how systemic discrimination of marginalized populations plays into the criminalization of survivors

· Describe the various changes to the applicable laws around the country

· Discuss the various legal needs and remedies available to survivors and how access to a lawyer is a critical component of accessing justice

· Explain the importance of educating legal system stakeholders as a means to create a more trauma-informed and victim-centered experience for survivors

The instructor and several members of a class on disparities, diversity, and social justice in social work will discuss the results of their work over a semester using arts-informed inquiry to self-reflect and critically analyze theories of privilege and oppression. Weather knitting (also known as temperature blanket/scarf/project) is a folk-art form where women knit or crochet each day using the temperature to decide the color of yarn used. Most recently, weather knitting has been used as a science-art-community effort to better understand the impact of global warming. Dr. Sloane and her students use weather knitting as a way to considering how we make advocacy choices daily and better understand the limitations of concepts like cultural humility and cultural competence as they relate to social work education and social work practice. Students involved in this class chose their art medium - yarn, collage, or poetry. Art-informed research requires the artist/researcher to stop and reflect on their actions and become aware of the discrimination and privilege that surrounds them, much like paying attention to the weather. In this presentation, students will share excerpts from their journaling of their advocacy activities and representing their actions in artwork based on a color key of advocacy they created at the beginning of the semester (Myzelev, 2021; Shopa, 2021). Because the knowledge creation of women is often dismissed, this class uses traditions of women’s art inquiry as a legitimate method to better understand power/political dynamics and the environment of discrimination.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe ways that art can be used for self-reflection and consciousness raising about discrimination

· Consider the ways in which knowledge creation by individuals on the margins of society are dismissed

· Demonstrate how art can be used as data collection and a legitimate form of inquiry

Although it is important to recognize that human trafficking can happen to anyone, it is necessary to have critical awareness about the intersections of racism, sexism, and systems of colonization which disproportionality increase the vulnerabilities for people of color. In a two-year review of all suspected human trafficking incidents across the United States, 94% of suspected sex trafficking victims were female with Black females accounting for 40% and Latinx females accounting for 24% (Rights4Girls, 2018). Furthermore, data shows 40% of women who were victims of sex trafficking identify as American Indian or Alaskan Native, despite representing only 10% of the general population (NCAI Policy Research Center, 2016). Oppression is the use of power to disempower, marginalize, and silence individuals who are often thought of as “others”, while continuing to uphold the power and privilege of those who oppress. The selling of Black and Indigenous women and children for sexual purposes has occurred for centuries and it’s time to call it out and dismantle the oppressive systems which continue to allow its manifestation. Attendees will learn more about how human trafficking connects to broader systems of structural oppression, explore how society’s values, ideas, and power relationships have normalized the violence experienced by people of color, and learn about our collective responsibility to eradicate and respond to human trafficking through an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens.

Presentation Objectives:

· Evaluate the occurrence of trafficking through the lens of intersectionality

· Define anti-racism and anti-oppression

· Call out the structures of oppression and societal values that normalize violence against “others”

· Identify the individual and collective actions that can be used to apply an anti-racist, anti-oppression lens towards anti-human trafficking work