Summer 2019Newsletter
Research Subcommittee
2019-2021 Research Subcommittee Co-Chairs
Monica Ulibarri, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the California School of Professional Psychology Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program at Alliant International University and holds an appointment as a Voluntary Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD. Dr. Ulibarri received her B.A. in Psychology from Claremont McKenna College, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Arizona State University. Dr. Ulibarri’s research focuses on HIV prevention with marginalized populations such as women who are exploited by the sex industry, people who inject drugs, drug-involved couples, and commercially sexually exploited youth along the Mexico-U.S. border, with an emphasis on how gender-based violence, mental health, substance use, intersect with HIV risk behaviors. Two of her more recent studies examined the commercial sexual exploitation of adolescent girls in San Diego County. She is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in the state of California.
Lianne Urada, PhD, MSW, LCSW, current co-chair of the Research Subcommittee, is an Assistant Professor at San Diego State University’s School of Social Work and at the UCSD School of Medicine/Center on Gender Equity and Health. She has over 25+ publications related to human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, and vulnerable populations in the U.S. and other global settings (e.g., Mexico, the Philippines, and Russia) and is Principal Investigator on federal and non-federal grants. A UCLA graduate, she is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker from Los Angeles with 7+ years working with women living with HIV. In San Diego County, her human trafficking research includes a National Institute of Justice grant resubmission on housing models for survivors and examining sexual exploitation on college campuses. She also received a grant to investigate the intersection of homelessness, human trafficking, and the opioid crisis among downtown San Diego Central Library patrons.
Quarterly Meeting & Updates
On April 25, 2019, HT-RADAR held its eleventh quarterly meeting. The main presenter, Brittany Greenbaum, PhD presented her dissertation research entitled, “Traumagenic Dynamics and Psychological Adaptation in Sexual Exploitation.” Brittany Greenbaum graduated from Alliant International University, CSPP, San Diego Spring, 2019. Clinically, Brittany focuses on trauma recovery and cultivating compassion. In regard to research, Brittany has been an associate of the Trauma Research Institute for the past six years, writing papers and conducting research on child physical abuse, abuse by religious figures, and revenge pornography. The second presenter, Makenna Mays, shared the results of her work, “Survivor-Informed Recommendations for Healthcare Providers: Identifying, Communicating with and Treating Victims is Sex Trafficking.” Makenna recently graduated with a BA from Point Loma Nazarene University.
Next Quarterly Meeting: Thursday, July 25, 2019
Dr. Kristina Lugo will be presenting on her recent research, “Prosecuting Trafficking in Persons Cases: An Analysis of Local Strategies and Approaches.”
** To receive more information & to RSVP, please email
PLNU CJR Assistant, Rebeca Elliott: relliott@pointloma.edu **
Thank you 2018-2019 HT-RADAR Intern!
Finley Stitt joined Point Loma Nazarene University’s Center for Justice & Reconciliation (CJR) as one of CJR’s 2018-2019 interns. She will be a junior International Studies major with a Humanities minor. She is passionate about working against human trafficking. In addition to helping with CJR’s on-campus events, Finley assisted in HT-RADAR’s growing work.
Research Highlights
Policing labor trafficking in the United States
Amy Farrell, PhD; Katherine Bright, PhD Candidate; Ieke de Vries, PhD Candidate; Rebecca Pfeffer, PhD; & Meredith Dank, PhD
ABSTRACT
Despite new mandates to identify and respond to labor trafficking crimes, US law enforcement struggles to integrate labor trafficking enforcement with traditional policing routines and roles. As a result, human trafficking enforcement has primarily focused on sex trafficking and few labor trafficking cases have been identified and prosecuted. This study utilizes data from 86 qualitative interviews with municipal, state, county and federal law enforcement, victim service providers and labor trafficking victims in four US communities to inform our understanding of police responses to labor trafficking in local communities. Through the coding of these interviews across a series of themes, we identify three major challenges that impact police identification and response to labor trafficking crimes. These include lack of clarity about the definition of labor trafficking, lack of institutional readiness to address labor trafficking, and routines of police work that undermine police responsiveness to labor trafficking in local communities. Considering these challenges, we explore strategies law enforcement can take to improve identification, including developing non-traditional partnerships with labor inspection and local regulatory agencies. Additionally, interview data suggest a role for the police in ensuring labor trafficking victims are safe and their needs are met, regardless of the outcomes of the criminal justice process. This is the first study to examine police responses to labor trafficking from the perspective of police, service providers and victims.
Amy Farrell, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northeastern University and the Associate Director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. She is also the Co-Director of the Violence and Justice Research Laboratory, housed within the Institute on Race and Justice at Northeastern University. Professor Farrell’s research is aimed at understanding and describing how the criminal justice system administers justice. Over the past decade she has focused much of her scholarly attention on understanding how the criminal justice system responds to the newly prioritized crimes such as human trafficking. She was a co-recipient of the National Institute of Justice W.E.B. DuBois Fellowship on crime justice and culture in 2006 and a recipient of NIJ’s Graduate Research Fellowship in 1999.
Internationally trafficked men in the USA: Experiences and recommendations for mental health professionals
David R. Hodge, PhD
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to delineate the experiences and recommendations of internationally trafficked men—one of the most overlooked subgroups among survivors of human trafficking. To conduct this qualitative study, a hybrid purposive/snowball sampling strategy was used to recruit men (N = 21) who were trafficked into the USA. A post-positivist epistemological perspective informed an interpretive content analysis of the data. The results indicated that respondents were trafficked from either Latin America or Asia, with forced labour representing the most common type of exploitation. Analyses yielded an array of recommendations regarding: (i) services needed to assist victims escape traffickers and (ii) strategies that mental health professionals might implement to assist victims overcome the trauma associated with being trafficked. The results suggest male trafficking victims have significant needs and professionals who work with victims in various capacities can benefit by implementing survivors’ recommendations.
David R. Hodge, PhD, received his PhD from the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. Currently, he is a professor at the School of Social Work at Arizona State University. He also holds non-resident appointments at the University of Pennsylvania, Baylor, and Duke University and is a fellow in the Society for Social Work and Research. Dr. Hodge is an internationally recognized scholar on the topic of spirituality, religion, and culture. His scholarship has appeared in over 100 scholarly articles in addition to numerous encyclopedia entries, book chapters, conference presentations, and popular media. His latest book is titled Spiritual assessment in social work and mental health practice (Columbia University Press, 2015).
Sex trafficking victims at their junction with the healthcare setting—A mixed-methods inquiry
Arduizur Carli Richie-Zavaleta, PhD; Augusta Villanueva, PhD; Ana Martinez-Donate, PhD; Renee M. Turchi, MD, MPH; Janna Ataiants, PhD Candidate, & Shea M. Rhodes, Esq.
ABSTRACT
U.S.-born citizens are victims of human trafficking typically exploited through sex trafficking. At least some of them interact with healthcare providers during their trafficking experience; yet a majority goes unidentified. Although protocols and training guides exist, healthcare providers often do not have the necessary skills to identify and assist victims of sex trafficking. Understanding where victims seek care and barriers for disclosure are critical components for intervention. Thus, this study interviewed survivors of sex trafficking to ascertain: a) healthcare settings visited during trafficking, b) reasons for seeking care, and c) barriers to disclosing victimization. An exploratory concurrent mixed-methods approach was utilized. Data were collected between 2016–2017 in San Diego, CA and Philadelphia, PA (N = 21). Key findings: 1) Among healthcare settings, emergency departments (76.2%) and community clinics (71.4%) were the most frequently visited; 2) medical care was sought mainly for treatment of STIs (81%); and 3) main barriers inhibiting disclosure of victimization included feeling ashamed (84%) and a lack of inquiry into the trafficking status from healthcare providers (76.9%). Healthcare settings provide an opportunity to identify victims of sex trafficking, but interventions that are trauma-informed and victim-centered are essential. These may include training providers, ensuring privacy, and a compassionate-care approach.
Arduizur Carli Richie-Zavaleta, DrPH, MASP, MAIPS, is a faculty member in the Graduate and Professional Studies Program of the University of New England and in the Sociology Department of Eastern University. She earned a doctoral degree in public health from the School of Public Health at Drexel University. Her academic background also includes sociological and human rights studies. Her research focuses on deepening the understanding of human trafficking victims in order to inform best practices and policy. Dr. Richie-Zavaleta focuses on advocacy efforts through educating the public about the victimization of sex trafficking and proposing ways to narrow the existing gaps on research and practice. She currently supports the work of the Research Committee for the San Diego County Human Trafficking & CSEC Advisory Council as an alternate co-chair and consultant.
Opportunities & Resources
Funding Opportunities
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- Specialized Services & Mentoring for Child and Youth Victims of Sex Trafficking & Sexual Exploitation
- Close Date: July 29, 2019
- Strengthening Investigative Tools & Technology for Combating Child Sexual Exploitation
- Close Date: July 29, 2019
- Evidence to Action: Increasing the Impact of Research to Mobilize Efforts against Forced Labor
- Close Date: August 7, 2019
- Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program
- Close Date: August 16, 2019
- Sociological Initiatives Foundation
- Close Date: August 16, 2019
- Specialized Services & Mentoring for Child and Youth Victims of Sex Trafficking & Sexual Exploitation
please visit: ht-radar.com.
About HT-RADAR
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- Learn more about HT-RADAR & the Advisory Council
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