January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month , an opportunity to raise awareness on how we can all prevent and respond to human trafficking. Our theme for Human Trafficking Prevention Month 2023 is Partner to Prevent, highlighting the importance of partnerships and collaboration in strengthening anti-trafficking efforts. When we #Partner2Prevent, we can stop human trafficking before it happens and provide access to critical services for survivors. This week, we are spotlighting resources for all audiences.
Everyone, regardless of their personal and/or professional background, can help prevent human trafficking. Below are some resources to learn more about human trafficking and how to help prevent it. Also included are foundational resources professionals in an array of fields—healthcare and behavioral healthcare, social services, education, and others—can use to strengthen their services when working with people at risk for, currently experiencing, or who have experienced human trafficking.
Partner with survivors. People who have experienced human trafficking have perspectives and relevant expertise that are critical to the success and impact of anti-trafficking programs. Having a survivor-informed approach allows organizations and communities to better serve clients, craft programs, identify challenges and opportunities, and achieve agency missions and mandates. View the Building Survivor-Informed Organizations Toolkit for effective ways to engage those with lived experience. Learn more about the Human Trafficking Leadership Academy and its Recommendations on Survivor-Informed Practices.
Prepare your community. Human trafficking is a complex public health issue that requires a coordinated community-wide response. The Human Trafficking Community Readiness Guide , Increasing Community Response to Trafficking by Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships Webinar, and the What to Know: Municipal Response to Human Trafficking Fact Sheet discuss how local governments, providers, and organizations can best leverage community resources and form partnerships to build a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to addressing human trafficking.
Prevent with equity. Human trafficking thrives on inequity. While anyone can experience human trafficking, it affects different communities in different ways and disproportionately impacts those who are marginalized and underserved. Actively institutionalizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles is crucial to delivering comprehensive and effective anti-trafficking efforts without implicit bias. Learn more about how to improve the health and well-being of men and boys, women and girls, and transgender and Two-Spirit individuals; communities of color , including Indigenous peoples ; and people with disabilities impacted by human trafficking.
Report human trafficking concerns. Professionals who work with children and families, along with friends and family members, are often best positioned to help identify and report possible trafficking. Everyone can help by learning the types of trafficking and paying attention to the people around them. If you or someone you know has experienced human trafficking and needs support, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888, texting 233733, emailing help@humantraffickinghotline.org, chatting online, or submitting an anonymous tip. The Hotline’s Referral Directory also connects users to anti-trafficking organizations and programs that offer emergency, transitional, or long-term services.
Share your story. Let us know how you’re partnering to prevent human trafficking by adding your voice to the Voices of Freedom archive. With over 100 conversations recorded by more than 170 participants, Voices of Freedom is an ongoing collection of stories from people who have informed, shaped, and contributed to the successes of the anti-trafficking field over the past two decades.
Stay engaged. Follow OTIP’s LinkedIn and the Administration for Children and Families’ Twitter and Facebook , where resources will be posted throughout January and beyond. Help spread awareness of human trafficking by retweeting, liking, or commenting on posts and using the #Partner2Prevent and #EndTrafficking hashtags. The Human Trafficking Prevention Month toolkit has sample social media posts, sample email and newsletter content, and resources to share. Subscribe to OTIP’s newsletter and visit the federal interagency calendar of events to receive updates on and get involved in prevention and public awareness activities.
Strengthen your service delivery. Many people who experience human trafficking encounter providers before, during, and after their exploitation. The SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program , delivered through OTIP’s National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center , provides tailored trainings to help professionals appropriately identify and address the needs of people impacted by human trafficking. The foundational training modules (SOAR to Health and Wellness , Trauma-Informed Care , and Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services ) and the advanced training modules (Ethical Considerations and Universal Education and Screening ) strengthen human trafficking prevention and response protocols in diverse care settings.
Support those affected. Working with foreign national adults or children who have experienced human trafficking? Learn how to apply for a certification letter or an eligibility letter on behalf of a foreign national adult or child to connect them to comprehensive benefits and support services. Attend a child eligibility webinar, held the first Wednesday of every month, for help understanding available resources and complete the SOAR training on Working With Foreign National Minors Who Have Experienced Human Trafficking to strengthen your service delivery.
Learn more about National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and view additional resources.