The Philippines, a highly collective country, heavily relies on relationships and family ties not only for social support but also to promote overall psychological well-being. For Filipino survivors of sexual trafficking and abuse, comprehensive and holistic aftercare service means considering the role their families have in healing and restoration. My Refuge House (MRH), a nonprofit organization that delivers residential and community-based services to survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, online sexual exploitation of children, and sexual abuse, has long held the belief that families should serve as both partners and recipients of care. Born out of this understanding is the creation of an integral sub-program, the Family and Community Development Services (FCDS), which focuses on critical aspects of family work, namely restoration, reunification, reconciliation, and reintegration. Through intentional relationship-building efforts and the implementation of trauma-informed service plans, MRH walks hand in hand with the families of survivors as they prepare for the successful return of their daughters, sisters, nieces, grandchildren, etc. This presentation will highlight the challenges that come with helping families navigate the complexities of trauma from trafficking and abuse. It will also shed light on the necessity of facilitating reconciliation between the survivor and their perpetrating family members to meet legal and court conclusions that best serve the interests of the survivors (e.g., plea bargains designed to avoid re-traumatization). Lastly, the session aims to delve into the vulnerabilities Filipino families are susceptible to and what initiatives MRH has introduced to promote strength and sustainability.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide a brief overview of the prevalence of commercial and online sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines and the role families play in the abuse experienced by survivors

•  Discuss the importance of partnering with families in the healing and restoration of survivor-participants

•  Describe MRH’s family and community engagement and the several initiatives introduced that are designed for the survivor’s successful reintegration

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The Philippines, a highly collective country, heavily relies on relationships and family ties not only for social support but also to promote overall psychological well-being. For Filipino survivors of sexual trafficking and abuse, comprehensive and holistic aftercare service means considering the role their families have in healing and restoration. My Refuge House (MRH), a nonprofit organization that delivers residential and community-based services to survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, online sexual exploitation of children, and sexual abuse, has long held the belief that families should serve as both partners and recipients of care. Born out of this understanding is the creation of an integral sub-program, the Family and Community Development Services (FCDS), which focuses on critical aspects of family work, namely restoration, reunification, reconciliation, and reintegration. Through intentional relationship-building efforts and the implementation of trauma-informed service plans, MRH walks hand in hand with the families of survivors as they prepare for the successful return of their daughters, sisters, nieces, grandchildren, etc. This presentation will highlight the challenges that come with helping families navigate the complexities of trauma from trafficking and abuse. It will also shed light on the necessity of facilitating reconciliation between the survivor and their perpetrating family members to meet legal and court conclusions that best serve the interests of the survivors (e.g., plea bargains designed to avoid re-traumatization). Lastly, the session aims to delve into the vulnerabilities Filipino families are susceptible to and what initiatives MRH has introduced to promote strength and sustainability.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide a brief overview of the prevalence of commercial and online sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines and the role families play in the abuse experienced by survivors

•  Discuss the importance of partnering with families in the healing and restoration of survivor-participants

•  Describe MRH’s family and community engagement and the several initiatives introduced that are designed for the survivor’s successful reintegration

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The Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT) is expanding its Root Cause Community Conversations to examine structural inequities that increase trafficking risk in Colorado. Using a community-led, data-driven approach, this project will identify systemic barriers in community safety, policing, labor protections, and economic conditions that heighten vulnerability. Accurately measuring human trafficking remains a challenge due to imperfect data, systemic turnover, funding fluctuations, and societal biases. The Colorado Project’s 10-year community-based participatory research (CBPR) offers a deeper understanding beyond prosecution and system counts. By using public health frameworks, it highlights who is counted, who is overrepresented, and who is missing in trafficking data. CBPR empowers survivors, underserved communities, and advocates with data-driven insights to shape local responses. It recognizes lived experience as vital expertise and ensures marginalized voices—including Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and housing-insecure populations—are central in policy development. Building on The Colorado Project 2023, LCHT conducts focus groups, community dialogues, and stakeholder engagement to generate data that informs policy and advocacy strategies. Findings are synthesized into actionable recommendations for policymakers, service providers, and advocacy organizations, addressing the root causes of exploitation and fostering systemic change. Drawing from project findings, the presenters underscore how marginalized groups in Colorado continue to be more vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking. They will share how they collected these data and the subsequent process for preparing Action Plan recommendations focused on inclusion, training, partnership actions, and housing needed to sustain survivor-centered and trauma-informed anti-trafficking responses. They will highlight regional differences across urban, rural, and frontier communities.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide a brief overview of the CBPR key questions and methodologies of the longitudinal Colorado Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking to better understand its application to prevent trafficking

•  Present research findings for participants to gain insights on the nature of the intersections of root causes of human trafficking including homeless response system, immigration systems, homophobia/transphobia, and systemic oppression

•  Describe tangible actions based on outputs and outcomes from LCHT’s Root Cause CBPR including toolkits, trainings, and funding opportunities

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The U.S. has been increasingly criticized by survivors and advocates for arresting trafficking victims rather than providing them assistance. Prosecuting survivors not only hinders their recovery but adds another layer of institutional trauma to their experiences while excluding them from many recovery programs. The presenters explore the alarming trend of the federal government charging sex trafficking victims with sex trafficking, criminalizing individuals who have already endured exploitation. This project conducts an analysis of case, outcome, and demographic information from federal sex trafficking cases between 2001 - 2024, pulling from Department of Justice records as well as media reporting on cases. By examining trends in these cases over time, particularly ways that sex trafficking victims face charges alongside or instead of their traffickers, this research illustrates the devastating consequences of this practice.  The researchers challenge the notion that such prosecutions enhance public safety, arguing that they actually deter victims from seeking help and cooperating with law enforcement in investigations against traffickers. The roles of race and gender and concepts of ‘ideal victims’ inform the analysis of institutional mechanisms that not only allow such cases to be prosecuted but reward agencies who participate in this process. This research is relevant to advocates, academics, and policymakers focused on human trafficking, criminal justice, and victim advocacy, and has practical application to anti-trafficking legislation and programs. The presenters call for urgent reforms to protect and support sex trafficking survivors, rather than further criminalizing them, and in this project explore stronger and more supportive institutional processes.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Share a descriptive overview of the prevalence of sex trafficking victims being charged in federal cases, along with other trends in cases over time, by compiling datasets on federal cases and reviewing specific case information

•  Contextualize notable changes in the institutional practice of charging victims with sex trafficking within the broader set of federal anti-trafficking policies, arguing that the U.S. focus on prosecutions ultimately harms survivors

•  Provide policy recommendations for federal initiatives and explore the implications of findings for projects aiming to address institutional harm

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This presentation explores the systemic, social, and economic factors contributing to domestic urban pimping and prostitution, emphasizing the importance of addressing root causes rather than symptoms. Through lived experience, research, and real-world solutions, the discussion will challenge misconceptions and highlight the pathways that lead individuals—particularly youth—into exploitative situations. The training will examine the intersections of poverty, housing instability, trauma, lack of opportunities, and the normalization of exploitation in marginalized communities. Additionally, it will address the role of systemic failures, including child welfare, education, and the justice system, in perpetuating cycles of vulnerability. Participants will gain insight into the recruitment tactics used by exploiters, the psychological manipulation involved, and the barriers that prevent individuals from exiting these lifestyles. The presentation will also introduce community-based interventions, mentoring models, and restorative justice approaches that have been effective in breaking cycles of exploitation. By centering lived experience and practical solutions, this training will equip service providers, educators, and community leaders with strategies to engage at-risk individuals and create pathways to empowerment.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Examine the root causes that contribute to domestic urban pimping and prostitution, including economic instability, systemic failures, and social conditioning

•  Analyze recruitment tactics and psychological control methods used in urban exploitation

•  Discuss intervention strategies, including mentoring, restorative justice, and community-based solutions

•  Provide actionable recommendations for service providers, educators, and community members to prevent exploitation and support survivors

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The literature illustrates that helping professionals’ decisions to intervene (e.g., improve well-being) are often influenced by characteristics such as their beliefs, attitudes, culture, education, and emotions. Studies exist that provide a glimpse into the role of attitudes and beliefs in reporting decisions. Yet, how and what types of attitudes and beliefs influence decision-making when intervening at different stages of the helping process with minor sexual exploitation/trafficking (MSE/T) cases are still understudied. This study sought to understand: 1) what attitudes and beliefs influence helping professionals to choose one of several intervention options? and 2) what is the role of client and case-specific factors in the decision-making? Using Pragmatic Qualitative Inquiry, 43 interviews were conducted via Zoom, involving 16 helping professionals, using a three-series interview structure. The participants represented all four U.S. regions, were predominantly female (87.5%), white (75%), and social workers (56.25%) by training. All helping professionals had experience intervening in MSE/T cases. Findings suggest that helping professionals held attitudes and beliefs that contributed to engagement in equal intervention options despite individual or case-specific factors, individualized intervention options to meet the unique needs of the clients, or inequitable intervention decisions resulting from individual or case-specific biases/stereotypes. The attitudes and beliefs are influenced by a lack of knowledge and resources, agency mission and values, and personal biases. Practice, policy, and research implications will be discussed, including increased education (e.g., in higher education and employment) across all professions, the need for deconstructing biases and assumptions, and supervision opportunities.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Understand what factors influence helping professionals’ attitudes and beliefs

•  Learn how helping professionals’ decision-making differs based on attitudes and beliefs to intervene in MSE/T cases

•  Recommend changes that strengthen helping professionals’ ability to engage in equitable decision-making

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The increasing prevalence of sexual extortion ("sextortion") has drawn significant media and law enforcement attention, yet research on its impact on adolescents and university students remains limited. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has further complicated this issue, enabling perpetrators to manipulate and exploit victims through AI-generated content. This study replicates and expands upon the work of Patchin and Hinduja (2018) by investigating sextortion among U.S. middle school, high school, and university students, focusing on AI's role in escalating digital threats. This research examines key factors influencing sextortion experiences, including school type (public vs. private) and university settings, to assess the impact of digital safety policies and support systems. Additionally, adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to sextortion because of their developmental stage. It evaluates educational efforts, analyzing the effectiveness of school- and university-based prevention programs. The study also explores frequency and context, identifying how often sextortion occurs, its recency, and whether incidents involve romantic relationships, friendships, or strangers. Additionally, it assesses AI's role, focusing on deepfakes and AI-driven tools in sextortion cases. Finally, it measures awareness and prevention, evaluating students' ability to recognize, report, and seek help. Using a quantitative survey of a nationally representative sample, this study employs ANOVA and chi-square tests to analyze sextortion patterns, educational interventions, and AI-related risks. Findings will provide insights into digital safety gaps, inform institutional policies, and enhance intervention strategies to protect students from sextortion threats better.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Assess differences in digital safety policies, resources, and response mechanisms between public vs. private schools and universities

•  Discuss the impact of school- and university-based programs in raising awareness and reducing sextortion victimization

•  Discuss how often sextortion occurs, recent trends, and whether incidents involve romantic partners, friends, or strangers

•  Explore how AI-driven tools, such as deepfakes and image manipulation, contribute to sextortion incidents and student awareness of these risks.

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The U.S. has been increasingly criticized by survivors and advocates for arresting trafficking victims rather than providing them assistance. Prosecuting survivors not only hinders their recovery but adds another layer of institutional trauma to their experiences while excluding them from many recovery programs. The presenters explore the alarming trend of the federal government charging sex trafficking victims with sex trafficking, criminalizing individuals who have already endured exploitation. This project conducts an analysis of case, outcome, and demographic information from federal sex trafficking cases between 2001 - 2024, pulling from Department of Justice records as well as media reporting on cases. By examining trends in these cases over time, particularly ways that sex trafficking victims face charges alongside or instead of their traffickers, this research illustrates the devastating consequences of this practice.  The researchers challenge the notion that such prosecutions enhance public safety, arguing that they actually deter victims from seeking help and cooperating with law enforcement in investigations against traffickers. The roles of race and gender and concepts of ‘ideal victims’ inform the analysis of institutional mechanisms that not only allow such cases to be prosecuted but reward agencies who participate in this process. This research is relevant to advocates, academics, and policymakers focused on human trafficking, criminal justice, and victim advocacy, and has practical application to anti-trafficking legislation and programs. The presenters call for urgent reforms to protect and support sex trafficking survivors, rather than further criminalizing them, and in this project explore stronger and more supportive institutional processes.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Share a descriptive overview of the prevalence of sex trafficking victims being charged in federal cases, along with other trends in cases over time, by compiling datasets on federal cases and reviewing specific case information

•  Contextualize notable changes in the institutional practice of charging victims with sex trafficking within the broader set of federal anti-trafficking policies, arguing that the U.S. focus on prosecutions ultimately harms survivors

•  Provide policy recommendations for federal initiatives and explore the implications of findings for projects aiming to address institutional harm

Read More