Resource Library

In September 2018, the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center hosted a convening on behalf of the Office on Trafficking in Persons and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The objective of the convening was to pull together a variety of human trafficking experts and disaster response experts in order to learn about the intersection between the two, share best practices, identify gaps, leverage existing resources, and develop an outline for a multisector tool focusing on holistically protecting individuals from postdisaster trafficking. These are the minutes to the convening.  

Human Trafficking and Disaster Response Convening Meeting Minutes  (PDF)

Participating in peer support groups can lead to positive outcomes for individuals with substance use disorders, but many peer support programs are not trauma-informed and it is unclear whether they are the best fit for individuals who experience human trafficking. This brief describes the process of planning and providing training and technical assistance (T/TA) to a survivor-led organization that is piloting a peer-led, evidence-based, and trauma-informed program called Seeking Safety with individuals who are experiencing trafficking and a substance use disorder.  

Peer-to-Peer Brief  (PDF)

Universal education and screening are two different ways to identify the needs of someone who may have increased risk factors for trafficking or be experiencing trafficking. This fact sheet provides examples of evidence-based tools that are available for each approach and tips for fostering rapport and safety. 

Different Approaches to the Conversation: Universal Education and Screening Tools  (PDF)

When working with individuals who have experienced trafficking, decision-making regarding reporting, service provision, safety planning, and other processes may involve ethical dilemmas. This fact sheet describes the ethical principles and the ethics of working with sensitive information.

Ethical Considerations  (PDF)

This fact sheet includes resources to help you navigate federal and state laws related to mandatory reporting and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance.

Mandatory Reporting and HIPAA Compliance  (PDF)

A vital component of responding to trafficking is looking beyond your own organization to collaborate across sectors. This fact sheet includes examples of potential community partners and how each partner can support a response to trafficking.

Multidisciplinary Treatment and Referral Team  (PDF)

This fact sheet describes the components of developing and implementing a trafficking protocol, which should include staff training and supports, screening and care coordination procedures, mandatory reporting, multidisciplinary response, follow-up or follow-through procedures, and continuous quality improvement.

Fact Sheet: Protocol Components  (PDF)

Participating in peer support groups can lead to positive outcomes for individuals with substance use disorders, but many peer support programs are not trauma-informed and it is unclear whether they are the best fit for individuals who experience human trafficking. The Conducting “Seeking Safety” Peer-Led Program with Individuals Who Experience Human Trafficking and Substance Use Disorder brief  (PDF) describes the process of planning and providing training and technical assistance (T/TA) to a survivor-led organization that is piloting a peer-led, evidence-based, and trauma-informed program called Seeking Safety  with individuals who are experiencing trafficking and a substance use disorder. The September 2022 update to this previously published brief shares lessons learned from the pilot and offers considerations to inform potential next steps.

Peer-to-Peer Updated Brief  (PDF)

The HHS National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center hosted a 90-minute webinar that examines the intersection of human trafficking and the opioid crisis. Presentations were delivered by grantees from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Trafficking in Persons and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

View Webinar

In June 2022, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a Final Rule entitled Prohibition on Inclusion of Adverse Information in Consumer Reporting in Cases of Human Trafficking (“the Rule”). The Rule prohibits consumer reporting agencies from reporting adverse credit information resulting from an individual’s human trafficking experience. Federal agencies may authorize non-governmental organizations to provide the documentation that a survivor needs to apply for their adverse information to be blocked (“trafficking documentation”). This Program Instruction (PI) authorizes recipients of grants from the Office on Trafficking in Persons to issue trafficking documentation. This PI also provides information about the Rule and guidance on its implementation.