Project FIGHT receives funding from The Office for Victims of Crime and The Governor s Crime Commission. This product was supported by cooperative agreement #2014-VT-BX-K020, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
As a child Theresa's father was a business advocate and his job always required their family to move from city to city. A stop along the way, the family believed the it was just another new city and the family just had to start over again. Theresa was 15 years old when the family moved to a high class Detroit suburb. Throughout school she had a slight love for one of her male classmates. As they grew closer the boy offered her a ride home after school one day. She accepted thinking nothing of it, when the boy took her to his house her life changed forever. Upon entering the house she was drugged and then raped. Shocked and mentally destroyed by what had happened Theresa kept it a secret from her family and went to school the next day. When she got to school she was approached by her once crush and he told her that his older cousin had taken pictures of her while the crime was being performed and she would have to "work" off the pictures. Her family was religious and she felt awful and could not let her family know of these events so over the next two years she was abused sexually. Theresa would be pulled out of class by the traffickers. She was also called in the middle of the night having to sneak out just to be exploited and used brutally in a basement full of men. The people who used her always knew where she was and threatened to take hers and her family members life if she spoke a word about what had been going on. All of this trauma happening Theresa's grades dropped as one would expect. Her family believed it was just a teenage girl with hormones and going through changes, no one ever thought or believed she could possibly be getting trafficked because she was home every night. Wikipedia Theresa Flores
Scope of the Problem Definition and Types Mindset of a victim Interacting with a potential victim Community Collaboration How you connect Project FIGHT
International Labor Organization estimates 20.9 million are enslaved globally $150 Billion dollar a year industry (second largest criminal enterprise in the world) Nationally, hundreds of thousands are estimated to be trafficked within our own borders North Carolina has consistently ranked within the top 10 states in the country
According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2013: Sex Trafficking: Commercial sex act induced by force, fraud or coercion, OR in which person induced to perform such an act has not obtained 18 years of age. Labor Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. Also see - State Law : NC General Statutes/ Chapter 14/ Art. 10A
Under Federal and North Carolina Law: Minors involved in commercial sexual activity Adults induced into commercial sexual activity through force, fraud or coercion; and Adults or Minors induced to perform labor or services through force, fraud or coercion
Force - Physical assault/beatings - Acid burns - Rape and gang rape - Restraint or bonded - Confinement - Kidnapping - Starvation - Forced drug addiction Fraud - Romantic relationship - False promises of marriage - Employment - Better life: jobs, education, citizenship - Increasing debt - Recruitment traps - Corruption Coercion - Threats of serious harm to self/loved ones - Confiscating documents or passports - Threatening to report to police - Threatening legal ramifications - Pictures / Video
Sex Trafficking Labor Trafficking Domestic - Online - Street Solicitation - Escort Services - Gangs - Pornography - Door-to-door sales - Restaurants - Drugs - Domestic Servitude Foreign Born - Brothels - Massage Parlors - Escort Services - Organized Crime Rings - Pornography - Gangs - Agricultural - Domestic Servitude - Restaurant - Health and Beauty - Organized Crime Rings - H2A guest worker VISA
Victim Demographics: Any Age Any Race Any Gender Rich or Poor One Commonality = A Vulnerability to Exploit Poverty Past History of Abuse Homelessness Lack of Support System Desire to be liked or to fit in with peers
Pimps Intimate partners/family members Gangs and criminal networks Brothel and massage parlor owners/managers Growers and crew leaders in agriculture Labor brokers Employers of domestic servants Small business owners and managers Large factory owners and corporations Source: Polaris Project
Past history of sexual or physical abuse Evidence of DV/SA Older boyfriend/partner Substance abuse Foster care History of Running away Reluctant to work with law enforcement Specific Tattoos (pimp names, gang symbols, branding) New possessions Any sudden changes in behavior or appearance Gang related activities, appearance, friends **Reference Handout**
1. Human Trafficking = Human Smuggling 2. Victims are predominantly foreign nationals 3. Victims won t cooperate with law enforcement 4. Must not be a trafficker because: Is a women 5. Must not be a victim because: Says he / she is not a victim Receives money or some type of payment Is attending school, shopping or is otherwise free
Average age of Entry is: 12-14 1 in 3 Runaways enter into commercial sexual exploitation within 48 hours on the streets (Shared Hope International) North Carolina - Safe Harbor Legislation
Business: selection process, courtship, isolation, transition, control with occasional indulgences
Trauma & Trafficking
Trauma and Youth Average age of entry is 12-14 Adolescence-period of significant cognitive development Identity recognition Emotional development Reasoning skills Problem solving Decision making Understanding consequences Differentiate right from wrong Challenge assumptions
Prior to Trafficking Past History of Abuse or Hardships Complex & Compound Trauma Affected Decision Making During Trafficking Fight, Flight or Freeze Physical, Emotional, Mental Abuse Trauma Bonds Life After Trafficking Emotional De-regulation Somatic Symptoms Trouble with sleeping, with relationships, with memory, etc.
Turn Vulnerabilities into Prevention Opportunities. Past History of Abuse Address past or ongoing trauma by assisting child in accessing services and talking about issues Linking of Love, Sex, and abuse Talk to youth about health relationships from a young age Environmental Factors Address environmental factors if possible or talk about the youth s concerns in their current environment Social Factors and the Media Talk to youth about gender roles and expectations Educate youth about the truth about pimping/prostitution / pornography Set ground rules and be aware of social media and predators
1. Safe Space 2. Provide options 3. Listen 4. Consider Trauma 5. Use their language 6. Meet them where they are 7. Don t make promises you can t keep 8. Follow through
Assess safety Assess any medical needs Consider any high level mental health needs Consider any present substance abuse Begin with non-invasive questions How are you? Are you comfortable? Hungry? Thirsty? Is there anything that you need right now? What is one thing I can do for you right now? Focus on safety & building rapport Not on obtaining information at the first meeting Have a safety plan and immediate next steps
National Human Trafficking Resource Center North Carolina Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NCCAHT) Project NO REST (UNC-CH SW) Partners Against Trafficking Humans in NC (PATH NC) North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission No ONE agency can do this alone!
1-888-373-7888 www.traffickingresourcecenter.org This publication was made possible in part through Grant Number 90ZV0102 from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, Office of Refugee Resettlement, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, Office of Refugee Resettlement, or HHS.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 3 Direct Service Provider Chairs 3 Government & Law Enforcement Chairs 2 Training & Education Chairs 2 Community & Faith- Based Chairs GENERAL MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEES DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS & LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING & EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS COMMUNITY & FAITH-BASED GROUPS (Includes businesses) RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS NCCAHT COORDINATOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAMS MISSION: NCCAHT is a diverse network of federal, state, and local agencies and non-governmental organizations that collaborate in knowledge and practice to eradicate human trafficking in North Carolina. Members educate the community about human trafficking, promote the investigation and prosecution of the crime, advocate on behalf of victims, and create local coalitions to link victims to legal, social and medical services.
SB/NC Session Law 2015-279: Sex Trafficking Prevention & Referral Protocol in NC Schools NC State law that boards of education must educate schools about the dangers of sex trafficking NC DPI, UNC-CH SSW, NC School Boards Association, NC Association of Educators, Center for Safer Schools and the Child Sexual Abuse Coalition Other Materials Shared Hope International Intervene and Chosen My Life, My Choice
Since August 2011 In 2011 received a 2-year subcontract with the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault to provide case management to foreign born victims of human trafficking. In 2014 awarded a Governor s Crime Commission Grant and an Office for Victims of Crime Grant. In 2015 Project FIGHT expanded and enhanced its program to two new North Carolina Salvation Army locations New Bern and Salisbury. (now Charlotte) Project FIGHT s Structure: - Project FIGHT Coordinator - 4 case managers (2 in Raleigh, 1 each in New Bern and Charlotte) Fall 2016 adding Greenville and Ashville - Case managers lead RRTs in all three areas - Volunteer Group of 15-20 individuals meets monthly
Provides comprehensive case management to victims of human trafficking across NC: Rapid Response Team emergency case management Food, clothing, & connections to emergency shelter Connections to immediate and long term resources such as: mental health, medical care, short term and supportive housing, employment, education, life skills, legal needs. Phase-based, Trauma-Informed and Victim Centered
August 2011 Through December 2015 Total Referrals to date: 262 117 cases have been opened for case management 145 cases have been assisted with resource and referral information or connected to services in their area 56 were not human trafficking cases after the assessment
August 2011 Through December 2015 Project FIGHT Raleigh, NC Project FIGHT Charlotte, NC Project FIGHT New Bern, NC
August 2011 Through December 2015 140 120 100 80 60 40 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 20 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
August 2011 Through December 2015 Unknown Both Sex Labor 0 50 100 150 200
41-60 5% Unknown 17% Minors 12% 26-40 32% 18-25 34% 2015 Unknown category were technical assistance calls where FIGHT assisted another agency but the agency did not release specifics of case.
August 2011 Through December 2015 Sales 13% 9% 1% 1% Domestic Servitude Restaurant 9% 14% 12% 8% Club/Bar Brothel Agriculture Factory 5% 6% 21% 1% Escort Prostitution Other
August 2011 Through December 2015 South America 1% 1% 1% 1% 8% 1% Countries 16% Mexico 7% Southeast Asia 8% Central America USA 56% Caribbean Federation of Micronesia
August 2011 Through December 2015 Transgender 2% Male 12% Female 86%
August 2011 Through December 2015 Behavioral Health 2% 1% 4% 6% 1% 8% 5% 2% 10% Legal Provider Law Enforcement 6% 31% Medical Provider 2% 8% 7% 8% *89 of these referrals were from Rapid Response Team members from Raleigh, New Bern, and Salisbury. * 47 of these referrals were from other Rapid Response Teams. 2% Polaris SA/DV Agency Self or Family Member
National Human Trafficking Resource Center 1 (888) 3737-888 Project FIGHT The Salvation Army www.projectfightnc.org projectfight@wakearmy.org Dale.Alton@uss.salvationarmy.org or (919) 390-6487 Christine Shaw Long Christine.Shaw@uss.salvationarmy.org (919) 390-6740