healing the trafficking survivor: residential treatment

Healing the Trafficking Survivor: Residential Treatment Considerations

Amanda ShultesGRC MSW Program

-  Traffickingandcomplextraumadefined-  5,500casesdocumentedin2015,75%ofwhichwerecases

ofsextrafficking1-  Asof2013,33existingprogramsoffered682bedsand27

programswereindevelopment/implementationtooffer354additionalbeds2

-  Socialworkvalues:socialjusticeandworkingwithoppressedgroups;service–accesstoandprovisionofappropriateservices

-  Theoreticalbasis:strengths-basedapproach,resiliencetheoryandpost-traumaticgrowth

Definitions, Rationale & Theoretical Basis Connecting Trauma, Abuse & Trafficking-  Characteristicsofsurvivorsandimpactoftrafficking

-  Developmentalandintergenerationaltrauma,traumaticattachmentsandbetrayaltraumatheory

-  AdverseChildhoodExperiences(ACEs):connectsnegativechildhoodexperiencestopooradulthealthoutcomes7

-  Biologicalimpactoftrauma:survivalbrain,chronicstressresponseactivation,rigidemotionregulationandcognitiveprocessing8

-  ComplexPTSDsymptoms:traditionalPTSDfeatures,aswellasimpairedemotionregulationandrelationalfunctioning-  Keyfeatures:dissociation,emotionaldysregulation

Organizational DevelopmentTrauma-InformedCare(TIC)andOrganizationalCulture:-  SystemslevelandservicelevelapplicationofTICvalues-  Survivorleadershipandinclusionoflocalcommunities-  Staff:hiring,trainingandcontinuingeducation,vicarioustrauma

andself-care-  SanctuaryModel5:micro,mezzoandmacrolevelpracticeProgramRequirements,BarriersandBestPractices:-  Fundingandreferralsources-  Barriers:identification,lackofknowledge/services/funding,“NotIn

MyBackYard”orNIMBY-ism-  Bestpractices:

-  Agencylevel:ARCframework6,useofsurvivorleaders-  Directserviceslevel:safetyplanning,comprehensiveservices,

evidencebasedinterventions

Policy & Advocacy Context-  Federallevel:

-  TraffickingVictimsProtectionAct-  Impactofprostitutionlegislation-  Lawenforcementapproachvs.victim-centered

approach3-  Survivorsascriminalsvs.victims-  Arrestandpunishmentvs.protectionandprovision

ofservices-  Statelevel:

-  SafeHarborlaws:providelegalprotectionandprovisionofservices,statesofferoneorbothdependingontheirdefinitionof‘minor’

-  Advocacyfocus:-  Misidentification-  Vacaturlaws:connectsprostitutionandothercharges

totrafficking,allowsrecordtobeexpunged4

Therapeutic Interventions-  Groundedinabiopsychosocialandpersoninenvironment

approachandutilizesHerman’s9phasedtreatmentmodel-  Safety:

-  TraumaAffectRegulation:GuideforEducationandTherapy(TARGET)10

-  SkillsTraininginAffectRegulation(STAIR)-  Trauma-FocusedCognitiveBehavioralTherapy(TF-

CBT)11-  TraumaRecoveryEmpowermentModel(TREM)12

-  RemembranceandMourning:-  EyeMovementDesensitizationReprocessing(EMDR)10-  NarrativeTherapy-  CognitiveProcessingTherapy(CPT)13

-  Reconnection:-  SensorimotorTherapy14-  SeekingSafety15-  MindfulnessMeditation16

SafeSpace17

Thisworkprovidesadiscussionofconsiderationsforresidentialprogramstreatingtraffickingsurvivors,emphasizingcomprehensiveservicesandefficientorganizationaldesigntosupportthecreationofadditionalagenciestoservethispopulation.Buildingonafoundationinthestrengths-basedapproach,resiliencetheoryandpost-traumaticgrowththeory,thisworkconsidersthe

policyandadvocacyclimateofanti-traffickingwork,explorestheconnectionbetweentraffickingandtraumaandgeneralsymptompresentation,andprovidesrecommendationsfororganizationaldevelopmentrootedintrauma-informedcare.ItdrawsontheexperienceofexistingorganizationsanddiscussesspecifictreatmentinterventionsfordirectpracticewithtraffickingsurvivorsbasedonHerman’sphasedtraumatreatment.Thisworkseekstoconnecteachoftheserelatedtopicstotheprovisionofservicetotheindividualtherebyempoweringserviceproviderswhodesireto

workwiththisvulnerablepopulationwiththeknowledgeandexpertiseonhowtodoso.

Abstract