Spring 2023Newsletter
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Research Highlights
Creating a Collaborative Trauma-Informed Interdisciplinary Citywide Victim Services Model Focused on Health Care for Survivors of Human Trafficking
Although human trafficking is recognized as a public health issue, research on the health effects of human trafficking and best intervention practices is limited. We describe 2 citywide collaborative victim services models, the THRIVE (Trafficking, Healthcare, Resources, and Interdisciplinary Victim Services and Education) Clinic at the University of Miami and Jackson Health System in Miami, Florida, and the Greater Houston Area Pathways for Advocacy-based, Trauma-Informed Healthcare (PATH) Collaborative at Baylor College of Medicine, CommonSpirit Health, and San Jose Clinic in Houston, Texas, funded in part by the Office for Victims of Crime, which focus on trauma-informed health care delivery for victims of human trafficking. From June 2015 through September 2021, the THRIVE Clinic served 214 patients with an average age of 28.7 years at the time of their first visit. From October 2017 through September 2021, the PATH Collaborative received 560 suspected trafficking referrals, 400 of which screened positive for labor or sex trafficking. These models serve as a framework for replication of interdisciplinary practices to provide health care for this unique population and preliminary information about the strategies put in place to assist victims during their recovery. Key lessons include the importance of a citywide needs assessment, patient navigators, interdisciplinary care, and building community partnerships to ensure safe housing, transportation, identification, health insurance, vocation services, input from survivors, peer-to-peer mentorship, and medical–legal services. Further research is needed to understand the detrimental health effects of trafficking and the health care needs of victims. In addition, a need exists to develop optimal models of care for recovery and reintegration for this patient population and to address public health, legal, and medical policies to ensure access to and sustainability of comprehensive, trauma-informed, interdisciplinary victim services.Jain J, Bennett M, Bailey MD, et al. Creating a Collaborative Trauma-Informed Interdisciplinary Citywide Victim Services Model Focused on Health Care for Survivors of Human Trafficking. Public Health Reports. 2022;137(1_suppl):30S-37S. doi:10.1177/00333549211059833
An Annotated Bibliography on Human Trafficking for the Mental Health Clinician
Robitz, Rachel MD; Asera, Alex; Nguyen, Phuong PhD; Gordon, Mollie MD; Coverdale, John MD; Stoklosa, Hanni MD, MPH; Chisolm-Straker, Makini MD, MPH
ABSTRACT
Objective: This annotated bibliography provides an overview of sentinel and influential literature about human trafficking for general mental health practitioners.
Methods:
A modified participatory ranking methodology was used to create the list of articles.
Results:
We identified 25 articles relevant to trafficking and mental health which covered the topics of epidemiology, treatment, identification, policy, and research methodology.
Conclusions:
The articles presented cover a broad range of trafficking types and topics. However, there is a dearth of literature about labor trafficking and the trafficking of men, boys, transgender, and nonbinary people.
Learning Each Other’s Language and Building Trust: Community-Engaged Transdisciplinary Team Building for Research on Human Trafficking Operations and Disruption
Lauren Martin, PhD; Mahima Gupta, BA; Kayse L. Maass, PhD; Christina Melander, MSW; Emily Singerhouse, BA; Kelle Barrick, PhD; Tariq Samad, PhD; Thomas C. Sharkey, PhD; Tonique Ayler, AS; Teresa Forliti, BA; Joy Friedman, HSD; Christine Nelson, MA; and Drea Sortillion, BS
ABSTRACT
Background: Human trafficking for sexual exploitation (referred to as sex trafficking) is a complex global challenge that causes harm and violates human rights. Most research has focused on victim-level harms and experiences, with limited understanding of the networks and business functions of trafficking operations. Empirical evidence is lacking on how to disrupt trafficking operations because it is difficult to study; it is hidden and dangerous, spans academic disciplinary boundaries, and necessitates ways of knowing that include lived experience. Collaborative approaches are needed, but there is limited research on methods to best build transdisciplinary teams.
Aim: The aim of this study was to understand how to form a community-engaged transdisciplinary research team that combines qualitative and operations research with a survivor-centered advisory group.
Methods: We conducted a qualitative meta-study of our team that is seeking to mathematically model sex trafficking operations. Data were collected from the minutes of 16 team meetings and a survey of 13 team members. Results: Analysis of meeting minutes surfaced four themes related to content and style of communication, one related to value statements, and one capturing intentional team building efforts. Survey results highlighted respect, trust, integrity, openness and asking and answering questions as key aspects of team building. Results show that an action research approach to team building, focused on trust and communication, fostered effective collaboration among social scientists, operations researchers, and survivors of trafficking.
Conclusion: Team building, shared language, and trust are essential, yet often neglected, elements of team science. This meta-study provides important methodological insights on community-engaged transdisciplinary team formation to tackle vexing social challenges.
Community Health Centers and Sentinel
Surveillance of Human Trafficking in the United States
Michael Gallo, BS; Hannah Thinyane, PhD; and James Teufel, PhD, MPH
ABSTRACT
Human trafficking is increasingly understood as a global public health concern that harms individuals, families, and communities by directly and indirectly causing a multitude of adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Intersecting with a complex range of social determinants of health (eg, income, migration status, social exclusion), human trafficking manifests itself through various forms of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. Researchers, policymakers, and survivors have promoted reframing human trafficking, which is traditionally perceived as a law enforcement issue, as a public health issue. The US public health community has broadly responded with high levels of engagement, including delineating research priorities, developing prevention strategies, and advocating for policy changes.
Gallo M, Thinyane H, Teufel J. Community Health Centers and Sentinel Surveillance of Human Trafficking in the United States. Public Health Reports. 2022;137(1_suppl):23S-29S. doi:10.1177/00333549211041603