The Salvation Army of Central Ohio and Greater Cincinnati Implements Trauma-Informed Focus Groups

Since 2007, the Salvation Army has provided comprehensive case management for people who have experienced human trafficking, serving 1,300 survivors and linking them to numerous cooperating agencies and programs. In FY21, the Salvation Army used funds from OTIP’s Domestic Victims of Human Trafficking grant program to implement focus groups where survivors share what practices have been most helpful in sustaining their progress and those that discourage their program engagement. After completing a focus group, members are invited to complete a short questionnaire to provide facilitators insight into whether the length of time in the program has any bearing on their views regarding best practices for service providers.

Initial themes identified from the focus groups include the need for sustained, ongoing practical services to support long-term stability. Survivors also shared that it was important for service providers to see contributions from survivors as valuable and to offer opportunities for self-determination. These lessons will be shared with local response networks through webinars and in-person trainings. The focus groups serve to empower individuals who have experienced human trafficking and are critical for ensuring survivor-informed programming.

Learn more about the Salvation Army Central Ohio Area ’s and the Salvation Army Greater Cincinnati Area ’s anti-trafficking work