Human Trafficking Includes Sexual Violence: Why Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Resource Centers have the Ability to Serve HT Survivors, and How to Use that Ability

Wed, September 23 | 1:30 PM EDT– 2:30 PM EDT

Topic: Direct Service | Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Keri Black, MA

This presentation aims to educate and encourage victim advocates and advocacy programs wishing to expand upon their ability to serve survivors of human trafficking. In the presentation, participants will develop a better understanding of how their work as a victim services provider overlaps with anti-human trafficking work. The goal is that victim advocates, particularly those working in communities with limited resources for human trafficking survivors, will realize that they have a greater capacity to serve trafficking survivors than what they may have previously thought, and that they will leave the presentation with some ideas on how to capitalize on their already established skill set. This presentation is geared toward advocates who are predominantly working with survivors of domestic/intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence and Court Advocates. Through guided discussion and hypothetical case examples, participants will learn to utilize their victim services skills and knowledge to develop a case plan specific to the needs of a trafficking survivor. Participants will also be given the opportunity to reflect upon the services currently offered at their agencies and begin thinking about how those services can adapt to fit the needs of trafficking survivors. The presenter will discuss all services from this lens, including shelter services, case management, and legal advocacy. The hope is that this presentation will begin to diminish some of the feelings of fear and inadequacy that service providers have when it comes to serving survivors from specialized populations, such as human trafficking survivors.

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Presentation Objectives

• Define human trafficking (HT), sexual violence (SV), domestic violence (DV), and intimate partner violence (IPV), including specific victimization types
• Discuss the overlap of SV, DV, IPV and all forms of HT, and identify similar patterns of conduct and survivor responses
• Define the role of Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Resource Centers in their most basic construct, and discuss the nuances between centers, with an emphasis on barriers for smaller rural programs
• Present hypothetical case examples to illustrate the ability for most DV and SV Resource Centers to serve HT survivors in some capacity