Access to services to victims of human trafficking in real time has been an ongoing challenge in the U.S. Victims of human trafficking rarely fit simply into the current service provision streams of unsheltered persons or victims of interpersonal or sexual violence. The Arizona community identified the need for a human trafficking specific response, and in February 2023, a statewide human trafficking hotline went live in Arizona. The Arizona Human Trafficking Hotline is a partnership between the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Arizona State University Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research with calls going to the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC) which is the Arizona Department of Public Safety 911 system. If the caller requests support services, the call is warm transferred to the Arizona Human Trafficking Hotline with trained agents. The Arizona Human Trafficking Hotline agents are led by a Lived Experience Expert with 12 years of experience providing supportive services including crisis response. The second Hotline agent is a native Spanish speaker. The Hotline agents provide immediate support through connections to services, assistance with transportation, emotional support, and assistance with providing basic needs. The Hotline agents can assist callers for up to 12 months of support. During the first year, the Arizona Human Trafficking Hotline received 1,187 calls with 112 unique cases developed with crisis and ongoing services provided. This presentation will describe the process of developing a response protocol including consent, information collection, response protocols, and capacity building activities in the Arizona community.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
PLEASE NOTE: This session will not be available to watch as an on-demand recording.
Dominique Roe-Sepowitz is an associate professor at ASU's School of Social Work and the director of the Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research. Her work focuses on addressing social issues impacting girls and women, collaborating with partners such as law enforcement, social service providers, and survivor support organizations.
Tanya Alegria, Program Coordinator of the Arizona Human Trafficking Hotline, brings over a decade of experience serving vulnerable populations. With lived experience, she has supported those struggling with mental illness, homelessness, and addiction and survivors and victims of trafficking. Tanya ensures they are seen, heard, respected, and empowered.
Liliana Anthony is a Program Coordinator for the Arizona Human Trafficking Hotline and is currently working toward a master’s degree in Social Work at Arizona State University. She is passionate about serving vulnerable populations and is eager to continue learning and growing with the hotline.