Culturally Responsive Approaches to Anti-Human Trafficking Programming in Native Communities

This brief provides examples of the culturally responsive approaches the VHT-NC projects took with regard to (1) project staffing, (2) education and training, (3) outreach, and (4) case management and supportive services. Within these four programming components, the brief describes the culturally responsive approaches used, identifies the challenges the projects encountered and potential suggestions to address them, and highlights the potential benefits and strengths of these culturally responsive approaches.

The VHT-NC projects implemented a variety of approaches to enhance the cultural responsiveness of (1) project staffing, (2), education and training, (3) outreach, and (4) case management and supportive services programming components. For example:

• culturally responsive project staffing approaches included hiring Native staff, demonstrating cultural humility, and building staff’s cultural knowledge;
• culturally responsive education and training approaches included developing Native-focused and culturally specific content, ensuring materials were culturally relevant, and incorporating education/training into cultural activities and traditional practices into education/training;
• culturally responsive outreach approaches included ensuring materials were culturally relevant, consulting with cultural or Tribal advisors, utilizing cultural immersion activities, and offering traditional medicines; and
• culturally responsive case management and supportive services approaches included using person- and culture-centered practices, creating a Native-centered environment, using culturally specific tools and measures, providing culturally specific services (e.g., traditional medicine, cultural immersion activities, cultural and traditional healing), culturally safe relocation, and developing relationships with culturally responsive partners.

This brief is informed by primary data sources (72 virtual and in-person interviews conducted between March 2022 and August 2023 with project leaders, advocates, partners, and project participants) and by secondary data sources (award recipients’ performance progress reports).

Pecos Melton, A., Martinez, R., Melander, C., Tibaduiza, E., & Pfeffer, R. (2024). Culturally responsive approaches to anti-human trafficking programming in Native communities. OPRE Report No. 2024-303, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.