September 2020 – Monthly Update

 

Presented to the San Diego Regional HT and CSEC Advisory Council on September 9, 2020.

 

The practices of the HT-RADAR program at the Center for Justice & Reconciliation at PLNU include:

  1. Aggregating regional human trafficking related research;
  2. Convening and facilitating collaboration between human trafficking data analysts and researchers working in the region;
  3. Facilitating the networking between practitioners, data analysts, and researchers;
  4. Identifying potential human trafficking research funding for researchers studying human trafficking in the region;
  5. Improving public knowledge of the results of research related to human trafficking across multiple disciplines and sectors through regular research updates, and an annual research conference.

To be added to our email distribution, please email ht-radar@pointloma.edu

For questions about HT-RADAR, please email or call Clara Anne Wagner at (619) 849-2771 & cwagner@pointlome.edu

 

The following information reflects the work and deliverables that occurred during August 2020:

 

HT-RADAR Quarterly Meeting

The next HT-RADAR meeting is scheduled for September 17th 2020 from 11:30am to 1:30pm and will be held virtually over zoom. 

Zoom Meeting Details: https://pointloma.zoom.us/j/94133837349?pwd=UlVDMmgrYmR6aDlsbFZuaEpkT0Z4UT09

Meeting ID: 941 3383 7349

Passcode: 302^9ujE2

 

Presentation #1: Experiences of Racism and Racial Tensions Among African American Women Impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Practice: A Qualitative Study

Lara B. Gerassi, Ph.D., LCSW  

Abstract: Barriers faced by Black women when navigating commercial sexual exploitation (CSE)-related services remain understudied. This qualitative study explores (a) Black women’s experiences of racism when accessing services in CSE-related organizations and (b) the existence and manifestation of racial tensions in practice. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 adult women who traded sex as adults and 20 CSE-related service providers. Findings suggest that Black women perceive preferential treatment given to White women. Racial tensions between women accessing programs were identified, as well as a promising practice of intergroup dialogue groups addressing racism, privilege, and oppression. Implications are discussed. 

 

Presentation #2: Cultural Oppression and Human Trafficking: Exploring the Role of Racism and Ethnic Bias.

Thema Bryant-Davis 

Abstract: Human trafficking is maintained within a context of intersecting forms of oppression. Cultural oppression, including racism and ethnic bias, creates additional risk for human trafficking and generates unique challenges for prevention and intervention. There are, however, cultural strengths that survivors of human trafficking have that may be utilized to aid their recovery process as well as psychotherapeutic interventions. In addition to traditionally recognized legal and economic strategies, ending human trafficking requires engagement in interrupting the factors that increase vulnerability to human trafficking, including racism and ethnic bias. By combating oppression, abolitionists can work to create a society that is committed to ending slavery. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

 

HT-RADAR Website

The HT-RADAR website has new funding opportunities, upcoming conferences, information about the HT-RADAR Research Conference and access to the abstracts from all Conference speakers’ presentations.

 

We have completed a revamp of the HT-RADAR website, including a new format for Funding Opportunities, Conferences, Newsletter Archives, Monthly Updates and Research Articles & Reports

 

Represent Resilience: Learning from Yesterday, Building a Stronger Tomorrow Art Initiative

The Office for Victims of Crime leads the Department of Justice’s response efforts to combat human trafficking and provides the most federal funding to those on the frontlines. In commemoration of the 20th anniversary, the Office for Victims of Crime is launching this art initiative—Represent Resilience—to feature original artwork by survivors, advocates, and anti-trafficking professionals across the country.

 

STOLEN: A Year-long Investigation Into Child Sex Trafficking & Exploitation

By Monica Dean, Tom Jones, Jay Yoo and Elroy Spatcher

 

From NBC 7 comes STOLEN; an expansive documentary series about sex trafficking and the exploitation of children in San Diego County and beyond. Told from multiple perspectives, STOLEN explains why the illicit child sex market thrives in San Diego County and across the U.S., while chronicling the strength of survivors, their families, and advocates working to break that destructive cycle and reclaim their stolen lives. Understand the issue in a new way by hearing the jailhouse recordings of a convicted trafficker manipulating two teen girls into selling themselves online.  The tapes led to an NBC7 investigation exposing gaps in the justice system that allow people who pay to sexually assault children to face little to no consequences. 

 

The seven-episode documentary series is the product of a year-long investigation that includes exclusive interviews and, for the first time ever, substantial proof of the scope of the problem in San Diego County schools. And as a global pandemic shifts the education system into a virtual space, experts warn of exploiters targeting children online, now more than ever before.

 

 All seven-episodes and accompanying content can be found here.

 

OVC National Victim Assistance Academy: Effective Management Series

September 2020 Building Resiliency

Application Here.

The training will be delivered online, over the course of 3 weeks, beginning on September 7, 2020. It is intended for managers and leaders in victim-serving organizations who are able to implement changes to policies and procedures. Each week, except for the prework week, will include a facilitated webinar, along with recommended readings, videos, and written assignments. You should expect to spend about an hour per week on these activities in addition to participating in the 75-minute webinar. Each webinar will be recorded, so if you are not able to attend one, you will be able to listen to the recording. CEUs will be awarded for those who complete all requirements.

 

Human Trafficking of Youth with Disabilities: What Youth Service Providers Need to Know 

Through the National Resource Center’s Innovations Mini-Grant program, the International Organization for Adolescents (IOFA), in collaboration with the National Human Trafficking and Disabilities Working Group, partnered together to increase identification of children and youth with disabilities who are victims of human trafficking and improve their ability to access appropriate services. They created a series of targeted education, training and outreach materials and tools for organizations serving trafficked youth; youth with disabilities; and at-risk youth; and to youth themselves. These resources include an educational booklet, and a series of webinars focused on what victim service providers need to know when serving youth with disabilities.

 

Webinars

HT-RADAR will now offer 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:

 

Skills for Overcoming Burnout – Refueling the Fire

Too often, the fire that fuels those of us working in the social sector ends up becoming the fire that burns us out. Across the nonprofit world, organizations are perpetuating unhealthy work cultures, getting mired in conflict and divisions, and struggling to respond to systemic issues proactively instead of reactively. Nonprofit staff often end up feeling anxiety and hopelessness, working ineffectively in their teams, and traveling on the path to burnout. This live, online training will enable you to cultivate resilience-based practices in your own lives and in your organizations, to create a culture of sustainable activism. In the session, you will be guided through an assessment of your individual, team, and organizational resilience. You will learn how to develop effective methods of self and collective care, understand how stress and trauma impact individuals and teams, and learn strategies to cultivate stronger team communication to address conflicts and resolve tensions.

 

Best Practices for Screening and Assessing Patients for Trafficking

This webinar provided resources and best practice techniques for health care professionals to screen and/or assessment for labor and/or sex trafficking.  Experts shared strategies, screening and assessment tools, and the limitations of existing instruments to assist hospitals and health systems with providing trauma-informed and person-centered care.

Building Trust among Partners and Sharing Credit

What does it mean to be a “good partner?” In this roundtable discussion, we discuss community questions around how to support and assess partnerships, and what does it really look like to share credit among multiple partners in a collaborative. Featuring Sheri Brady, Jennifer Splansky Juster, Paul Schmitz, Tracy Timmons-Gray, and Junious Williams.

 

No Shelter in Place: Sexploitation of homeless youth and their increased vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 crisis

 

Upcoming Conferences 

This resource is regularly updated.  Questions?  Or know of conferences that you’d like to share with the HT-RADAR network? Contact us! 

During this uncertain time conference dates are changing frequently. Please note these dates may be changed and changes will be updated on the HT-RADAR website.

 

2020 Human Trafficking: Beyond Awareness with Primary Prevention

September 21-23, 2020 in Raleigh, NC

 

The University of Toledo’s International Human Trafficking & Social Justice Conference

Virtual Conference: September 23-25, 2020

 

Florida’s 2020 Human Trafficking Summit 

Virtual Event: October 6, 2020

 

International Conference on Human Trafficking and Social Justice

October 29-30, 2020 in Los Angeles, CA

 

APHA Annual Meeting and Expo

Virtual Event: October 24-28, 2020

 

The JuST Conference

The 2020 conference has been rescheduled to November 17-19, 2021 in Washington DC. 

 

Funding Opportunities 

This resource page is regularly updated.

 

Institutional Challenge Grant

The Institutional Challenge Grant encourages university-based research institutes, schools, and centers to build sustained research-practice partnerships with public agencies or nonprofit organizations in order to reduce inequality in youth outcomes.

Close Date: September 10, 2020

 

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Research Programs

The National Endowment for the Humanities’ Summer Stipends program aims to stimulate new research in the humanities and its publication. The program works to accomplish this goal by:

(1) Providing small awards to individuals pursuing advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both (2) Supporting projects at any stage of development, but especially early-stage research and late-stage writing in which small awards are most effective and (3) Furthering the NEH’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the humanities by encouraging applications from independent scholars and faculty at Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and community colleges.

Close Date: September 23, 2020

 

2020 Health and Wellness Grant Program

The 2020 Health & Wellness grant program will support nonprofit organizations’ capacity to mitigate and prevent adverse health outcomes. We support organizations with existing programs which address one or more of our funding priorities: Basic Needs, Social Services, Physical and Mental Health and Collaborations.

Close Date: October 1, 2020

 

2020-21 County Victim Services (XC) Program

The purpose of the XC Program is to provide federal Victims of Crime Act

(VOCA) funding to counties across California, and to the City of Los Angeles, to

help each fill victim service gaps/needs. 

Close Date: October 1, 2020

 

2021 Culture of Health Prize

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize (the Prize) elevates the compelling stories of places where residents are working together to transform education, jobs, transportation, housing, and more so better health flourishes for all. A Culture of Health recognizes that where we live—such as our access to affordable homes, quality schools, good jobs, and reliable transportation—affects how long and how well we live.

Close Date: October 15, 2020

 

The San Diego Foundation COVID-19 Community Response Program

Please use this form to share information on your COVID-19 community program with The San Diego Foundation Community Response team. Filling out this form does not guarantee funding, but it will inform response efforts with valuable information. If you have issues with your submission, please email the Community Response team at communityresponse@sdfoundation.org

Close Date: On-Going 

 

Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Fund Addendum, New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) under CPRP APS

The Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Addendum is designed to increase women’s economic empowerment in conflict prevention and recovery activities focused on issues such as at-risk and marginalized women including survivors of trafficking. Recovery activities might include re-building livelihoods, workforce and vocational training, innovative financial tools, job placement, workplace safety, and access to capital.

Close Date: April 15, 2021

 

COVID-19 Resources, Services, and Support

The Office on Trafficking in Persons is focused on preventing human trafficking and working to ensure that children and adults who have experienced trafficking and their families get the support and care they need to live safe and healthy lives. As in times of disaster response, we recognize that disruptions to local services, housing and economic stability, and social disconnection can further increase risk of victimization and exploitation.

Close Date: On-Going