healing the trafficking survivor: residential treatment
TRANSCRIPT
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