Human trafficking requires effective victim identification mechanisms. Current screening tools show varying effectiveness, often failing to capture diverse survivor experiences, particularly across demographic or cultural backgrounds. This pilot study introduces the Focus Adult Screener (FAS) to address these identification gaps. The research evaluated the screener through a comprehensive literature review and focus groups with survivors and professional providers. This approach ensured sensitivity to survivor experiences while incorporating trauma-informed, culturally competent perspectives. The study surveyed 315 participants from Lucas County, Ohio through five community organizations over four months, employing Item Response Theory and Exploratory Factor Analysis. Preliminary results demonstrate significant effectiveness, with the FAS accurately identifying 161 human trafficking victims among the 315 participants. This successful differentiation between victims and non-victims provides strong initial validation for the tool’s classification accuracy and diagnostic capabilities. The findings highlight the value of stakeholder input in development. The FAS shows promise in addressing gaps in trafficking response systems. Unlike many existing tools, this screener was specifically normed on a population that included confirmed trafficking victims, strengthening its validity for practical application. Future research should continue validation across diverse contexts and populations to refine its effectiveness further. This pilot study establishes a robust foundation for a reliable victim identification instrument, potentially improving support mechanisms and enhancing broader anti-trafficking efforts through accurate early identification.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Present the pilot study findings that validate the effectiveness of the FAS, including the statistical analysis and implications for improving victim identification in practice

•  Demonstrate how the FAS was developed and implemented as a novel screening tool for identifying adult trafficking victims, highlighting its unique integration of survivor perspectives and professional expertise

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Generative AI can be misused in several ways to exploit individuals such as phishing and social engineering. It can create highly convincing phishing emails and messages, making it easier to trick people into revealing sensitive information. AI can also be used to create realistic audio and video deepfakes which can be used to impersonate someone else. This can lead to anything from harming someone’s reputation to extortion and exploitation. AI can also be used to create realistic fake social media profiles, which can be used to scam people, such as romance scams or other types of fraud. These profiles can be highly convincing making it difficult for victims to detect the deception. “Nudifying” or “de-clothing” sites can take publicly available photos off social media and create exploitive content including child sexual abuse material (CSAM). These images and videos can be used to extort vulnerable populations both financially and physically. Minor victims can be coerced into creating more CSAM or pressured into a trafficking situation. At the same time, the creation of these deepfakes or generative AI CSAM are a drain on the resources of law enforcement who are attempting to deal with the influx of cyber tips. This session will cover the basics of AI technology available, how it will impact those working in the child exploitation and human trafficking space, information on what to be wary of, and how to support victims. It will also cover some of the limitations of the law, technology, and investigative abilities when it comes to the intersection of AI and social media.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide an overview of generative AI

•  Discuss the type of possible harm and their impact on social media

•  Discuss current limitations of the law

•  Discuss the future of generative AI on human trafficking and other exploitive crimes

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Although the prevalence of trafficking and its harmful impacts have been thoroughly studied, there remains a significant lack of understanding as to which programs and interventions are effective. Additionally, as the anti-trafficking movement evolves, it faces critical questions: What are the most essential needs of each survivor? How can organizations effectively measure impact on the outcomes that truly matter? What strategies should policymakers and funders prioritize to reduce vulnerability to trafficking? These are pivotal issues that must be addressed to create lasting change in the lives of survivors. This presentation will draw on several sources and include survivor perspectives derived from The National Survivor Study conducted by Polaris, published 2023 - In Harms Way: How Systems Fail Human Trafficking Survivors. This report states, “a passive role in data collection skews power dynamics and leaves survivors without control over what story the data tells and how it is used. More evidence is urgently needed to fill these data gaps and build effective programs and policies.” Also included will be key learnings from Everfree’s work, including trauma-informed approaches and survivor-centered care models, demonstrating how collaboration and data sharing across sectors can improve service coordination and effectiveness, while emphasizing the importance of lived-experience expertise in shaping best practices. Utilizing the data and responses from both resources, this presentation will demonstrate the importance of survivor informed and individualized service provision.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Present the latest data trends in survivor needs and gaps identified in current service provision models

•  Discuss the role of technology in scaling solutions and improving long-term outcomes for survivors

•  Discuss the importance of lived-experience expertise in shaping best practices for long term survivor success

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For over 15 years, 3Strands Global Foundation (3SGF) has been at the forefront of combating human trafficking through prevention education, survivor services, and advocacy. This session highlights two groundbreaking initiatives: the Survivor Advisory Board (SAB) and The Table Empowerment Center (The Table), located in Sacramento, California. The SAB is a leadership-driven platform where survivors of labor trafficking and sex trafficking inform policies, shape programs, and advocate for systemic change. Members play an active role in developing effective curricula, advising on best practices, and leading community engagement efforts. Complementing these efforts, The Table provides a safe, welcoming space for survivors and individuals at risk of exploitation. As one of the first drop-in centers of its kind in the U.S., The Table offers essential resources—including case management, counseling, job readiness training, childcare, and access to food, clothing, and hygiene products. Beyond immediate services, The Table prioritizes long-term empowerment by measuring the pre- and post-impact of individuals receiving case management, tracking progress in areas such as housing stability, employment, mental health, and overall well-being. These data-driven insights not only inform service enhancements but also strengthen the case for increased funding and policy support at local, state, and federal levels, ensuring that survivor-centered solutions remain sustainable and scalable. Attendees will explore the design, implementation, and impact of these initiatives while gaining practical strategies for launching survivor-led programs in their communities. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, this session will emphasize the critical role of collaboration in advancing sustainable, survivor-centered solutions to trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

•  Examine the role and impact of the SAB in shaping anti-trafficking initiatives

•  Explore the comprehensive services offered by The Table and their significance in survivor empowerment

•  Discuss strategies for implementing survivor-led programs and empowerment centers in various communities

•  Highlight the importance of collaboration between survivors, organizations, and community stakeholders in combating human trafficking

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For over 15 years, 3Strands Global Foundation (3SGF) has been at the forefront of combating human trafficking through prevention education, survivor services, and advocacy. This session highlights two groundbreaking initiatives: the Survivor Advisory Board (SAB) and The Table Empowerment Center (The Table), located in Sacramento, California. The SAB is a leadership-driven platform where survivors of labor trafficking and sex trafficking inform policies, shape programs, and advocate for systemic change. Members play an active role in developing effective curricula, advising on best practices, and leading community engagement efforts. Complementing these efforts, The Table provides a safe, welcoming space for survivors and individuals at risk of exploitation. As one of the first drop-in centers of its kind in the U.S., The Table offers essential resources—including case management, counseling, job readiness training, childcare, and access to food, clothing, and hygiene products. Beyond immediate services, The Table prioritizes long-term empowerment by measuring the pre- and post-impact of individuals receiving case management, tracking progress in areas such as housing stability, employment, mental health, and overall well-being. These data-driven insights not only inform service enhancements but also strengthen the case for increased funding and policy support at local, state, and federal levels, ensuring that survivor-centered solutions remain sustainable and scalable. Attendees will explore the design, implementation, and impact of these initiatives while gaining practical strategies for launching survivor-led programs in their communities. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, this session will emphasize the critical role of collaboration in advancing sustainable, survivor-centered solutions to trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

•  Examine the role and impact of the SAB in shaping anti-trafficking initiatives

•  Explore the comprehensive services offered by The Table and their significance in survivor empowerment

•  Discuss strategies for implementing survivor-led programs and empowerment centers in various communities

•  Highlight the importance of collaboration between survivors, organizations, and community stakeholders in combating human trafficking

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For over 15 years, 3Strands Global Foundation (3SGF) has been at the forefront of combating human trafficking through prevention education, survivor services, and advocacy. This session highlights two groundbreaking initiatives: the Survivor Advisory Board (SAB) and The Table Empowerment Center (The Table), located in Sacramento, California. The SAB is a leadership-driven platform where survivors of labor trafficking and sex trafficking inform policies, shape programs, and advocate for systemic change. Members play an active role in developing effective curricula, advising on best practices, and leading community engagement efforts. Complementing these efforts, The Table provides a safe, welcoming space for survivors and individuals at risk of exploitation. As one of the first drop-in centers of its kind in the U.S., The Table offers essential resources—including case management, counseling, job readiness training, childcare, and access to food, clothing, and hygiene products. Beyond immediate services, The Table prioritizes long-term empowerment by measuring the pre- and post-impact of individuals receiving case management, tracking progress in areas such as housing stability, employment, mental health, and overall well-being. These data-driven insights not only inform service enhancements but also strengthen the case for increased funding and policy support at local, state, and federal levels, ensuring that survivor-centered solutions remain sustainable and scalable. Attendees will explore the design, implementation, and impact of these initiatives while gaining practical strategies for launching survivor-led programs in their communities. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, this session will emphasize the critical role of collaboration in advancing sustainable, survivor-centered solutions to trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

•  Examine the role and impact of the SAB in shaping anti-trafficking initiatives

•  Explore the comprehensive services offered by The Table and their significance in survivor empowerment

•  Discuss strategies for implementing survivor-led programs and empowerment centers in various communities

•  Highlight the importance of collaboration between survivors, organizations, and community stakeholders in combating human trafficking

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This presentation addresses the significant risks faced by those involved in sugar dating or working in strip clubs with a focus on vulnerabilities for sex and labor exploitation. Strip club work has been found to include sex and labor exploitation as well as exposure to dangerous work environments. The actions and coercive control by strip club staff towards dancers mimics trafficker behaviors and in many situations, leads to sex trafficking situations. Sugar (i.e., Sugar Baby or Sugar Daddy) relationships have recently been exposed to have elements of coercion, secrecy, and targeting of young vulnerable females through aggressive marketing with promises of wealth and mentoring. This presentation explores how sugar relationships involve exploitation, coercion, and manipulation, with young individuals frequently pressured into engaging in these activities due to financial need, lack of support systems, or being coerced into the business by a trafficker. The promises of financial gain or gifts can mask a power imbalance, where young individuals may be subject to emotional, physical, or sexual exploitation. These relationships often blur the lines between consensual interaction and manipulation, with harmful effects on mental health, self-worth, and future relationships. Similarly, working in strip clubs exposes young workers to high rates of physical and emotional abuse, exploitation, and the normalization of being objectified. Many individuals enter the industry without understanding the long-term consequences, such as potential for substance abuse, trauma, and unhealthy coping mechanisms. This presentation focuses on risks, expectations, and how trafficking can occur from these types of employment.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Introduce the risks of sugar dating and strip clubs

•  Discuss risk factors of young people in sugar dating

•  Explain the transition from strip clubs to trafficking

•  Discuss vulnerabilities of young people with financial instability

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For over 15 years, 3Strands Global Foundation (3SGF) has been at the forefront of combating human trafficking through prevention education, survivor services, and advocacy. This session highlights two groundbreaking initiatives: the Survivor Advisory Board (SAB) and The Table Empowerment Center (The Table), located in Sacramento, California. The SAB is a leadership-driven platform where survivors of labor trafficking and sex trafficking inform policies, shape programs, and advocate for systemic change. Members play an active role in developing effective curricula, advising on best practices, and leading community engagement efforts. Complementing these efforts, The Table provides a safe, welcoming space for survivors and individuals at risk of exploitation. As one of the first drop-in centers of its kind in the U.S., The Table offers essential resources—including case management, counseling, job readiness training, childcare, and access to food, clothing, and hygiene products. Beyond immediate services, The Table prioritizes long-term empowerment by measuring the pre- and post-impact of individuals receiving case management, tracking progress in areas such as housing stability, employment, mental health, and overall well-being. These data-driven insights not only inform service enhancements but also strengthen the case for increased funding and policy support at local, state, and federal levels, ensuring that survivor-centered solutions remain sustainable and scalable. Attendees will explore the design, implementation, and impact of these initiatives while gaining practical strategies for launching survivor-led programs in their communities. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, this session will emphasize the critical role of collaboration in advancing sustainable, survivor-centered solutions to trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

•  Examine the role and impact of the SAB in shaping anti-trafficking initiatives

•  Explore the comprehensive services offered by The Table and their significance in survivor empowerment

•  Discuss strategies for implementing survivor-led programs and empowerment centers in various communities

•  Highlight the importance of collaboration between survivors, organizations, and community stakeholders in combating human trafficking

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This presentation explores the systemic and individual vulnerabilities that contribute to the risk of human trafficking, emphasizing the importance of a multifaceted prevention approach. Participants will gain an understanding of systemic factors such as poverty, lack of access to education, systemic racism, and displacement due to conflict or natural disasters. The session also highlights individual-level risks, including age, trauma histories, mental health challenges, and vulnerabilities faced by marginalized groups, such as LGBTQ+ individuals and migrants. A critical focus of the presentation is the role of intersectionality in trafficking vulnerabilities, showcasing how overlapping identities and systemic inequities compound risks. Through a case study, attendees will explore how these factors intersect and learn practical tools for identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in real-world contexts. The session will conclude by outlining actionable prevention and intervention strategies at the community, individual, and policy levels. Participants will learn how education, trauma-informed care, and advocacy for systemic changes can mitigate risks and strengthen protective factors. Attendees will leave equipped with knowledge and strategies to implement in their professional and community-based roles. This session will include interactive Q&A to address attendee questions and discuss practical applications of the material. By focusing on the interconnected nature of trafficking risk factors, this presentation aims to empower attendees with a holistic perspective on combating human trafficking.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide an overview of systemic and individual risk factors that contribute to human trafficking

•  Explain how intersectionality increases vulnerability and its implications for prevention strategies

•  Discuss actionable community, individual, and policy-level interventions to mitigate trafficking risks

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