Save the Date: 2021 HT-RADAR Annual Research Conference

Save the date for the Annual HT-RADAR 2021 Virtual Conference on October 15, 2021 

The HT-RADAR 2021 Human Trafficking Research Conference is an opportunity to:

• Learn about local and national human trafficking research that applies to the specific needs, practices, and approaches of a variety of stakeholders (law enforcement, prosecution, victim services, survivors, etc.).
• Become informed of some of the most current local and national human trafficking research.
• Network with local and national experts from different areas of human trafficking research.
• Discuss how to implement research into specific stakeholder areas with consultation from local and national experts.
• Directly share research with stakeholders to potentially influence stakeholder practices, approaches, and policies.

Additional conference details to follow 

Interested in presenting your research on human trafficking? Please complete the following information form here.

Elections for Co-Chair Positions for the Research Subcommittee

HT-RADAR is partnering with the Research Subcommittee to hold the elections for the research sub committee co-chairs!

Nominations were accepted from May 1, 2021 to June 1,2021. Multiple nominees were contacted and two accepted their nominations and agreed to stand for election. With only two accepting and two co-hair spots available, we will not be holding a vote. The elected co-chairs will be contacted next week and announced at the July Advisory Council meeting. They will take over the co-chair responsibilities at that time.

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HT-RADAR Quarterly Meeting: HTI Labs: A Company Using Data Science to Unmask Trafficking Networks

The next HT-RADAR meeting is scheduled for June 24th 2021 from 11:30am to 1:30pm (PST) and will be held virtually over Zoom. 

Please make sure to register in advance for this meeting!

Registration Link: here 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Crysta Price, the founder of HTI Labs, a company using data science to unmask trafficking networks, will discuss the origins of her company, the hurdles to effective trafficking response, and the ecosystem of products that she is developing to overcome these obstacles in countering human trafficking. She will discuss what effective implementation of these approaches has looked like, focusing on the importance of impact-focused processes. She will conclude with discussions surrounding the broader implications of applying data science to combat human trafficking,  highlighting opportunities for novel data generation, reliable prevalence estimates, policy-minded research, and ultimately, more informed, and effective system response.

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Voices of Freedom: A Collaboration with StoryCorps

The Voices of Freedom initiative, a public–private collaboration with StoryCorps, is a project to record, preserve, and share the stories of individuals who have experienced human trafficking and allied professionals.

In the words of Dave Isay, Founder and President of StoryCorps, “StoryCorps tells the true American story—that we are a people defined by small acts of courage, kindness, and heroism. Each interview reminds people that their lives matter and will not be forgotten.” They see these attributes reflected in the lives of the survivors and professionals we work with on a daily basis and are excited to provide a platform that will capture their stories for future generations.

In recognition of the 20-year anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), the Voices of Freedom initiative will chronicle the impact of this seminal piece of legislation by preserving the stories of survivors and exploring the legislation’s legacy. They will also invite allied professionals working on policy, victim services, and prevention to share their perspectives on how the anti-trafficking field has evolved over the past two decades. These firsthand accounts will be preserved in the StoryCorps Archive at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and will be distributed as part of their broader public awareness and education initiatives. The perspectives shared throughout the project will also be used to inform their future priorities and initiatives.

Participants who share their story through the digital platform or record their stories with a StoryCorps facilitator will receive a digital download of their interview, which they can then grant permission to have archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and on the OTIP website.

For more information about the Voices of Freedom initiative, email EndTrafficking@acf.hhs.gov.

Additional details can be found here 

USCRI Releases Safety Planning Toolkit

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), in partnership with Heartland Human Care Services (HHCS), has released a toolkit for service providers in the United States and U.S. territories who are committed to working with foreign national youth survivors of human trafficking.

The toolkit, Safety Planning with Foreign National Children and Youth Survivors of Trafficking, uses notes, tips, activities, and checklists to provide practical strategies for TVAP providers engaged in safety planning with youth survivors of human trafficking.

The toolkit gives special consideration to safety planning with foreign national youth by recognizing the intersectional identities they hold and the physical and emotional risks to their safety that exist due to their various lived experiences of trauma.

The toolkit includes sections on safety considerations for foreign national children and youth, approaches to safety planning, age-appropriate safety planning, and other issues in safety, as well as tools and resources.

The toolkit is available here 

Report: Peer Support Groups for Individuals Who Have Experienced Human Trafficking and Substance Use Disorder Exploratory Brief

This brief explores how peer support groups may be helpful to individuals who have experienced trafficking and substance use disorder. By providing an overview of what peer support groups are, exploring the evidence base for existing models, and sharing insights from those with lived and professional experiences,the goal is to help providers and practitioners explore ways to enhance services for their clients and patients.

Full brief can be found here 

Collecting Human Trafficking Data

Data can help individuals assess organizational needs, identify areas for improvement, inform program strategies, and measure change over time. Organizations can use data to support protocols and programs, inform decision making, and drive action to serve victims of human trafficking. This document highlights how data collection can help build an organization’s capacity to serve all victims of trafficking.

Full access to the document can be found here 

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Webinars

HT-RADAR now offers information about webinars focused on anti-trafficking work and anti-trafficking research. As many of us are working remotely, here are some resources for additional educational opportunities:

Starting, Sustaining and Growing Your Anti-Trafficking Work 

Hosted by: The National Center for Victims of Crime

Are you trying to start, sustain, or grow your anti-trafficking work? This webinar by the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center discusses free coaching services and a new group being established to discuss funding strategies.

Addressing the Intersection of Substance Use and Housing

Hosted by: Freedom Network USA

This webinar provided attendees with an understanding of how substance use intersects with human trafficking and share practical examples of best practices to house survivors who may be actively using. Attendees explored how to follow a trauma-informed and voluntary services model while providing housing for survivors with substance use.

Exploring the Intersectionality of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence through a Complex Trauma Lens

Hosted by: Project TRUST

Project TRUST, in collaboration with the Sanar Institute’s October webinar, which focused on exploring the intersectionality of domestic violence and human trafficking through a trauma-informed lens.(Password for access: R^#%FfC7)

Conferences

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