Exploring Agency Perspectives on Human Trafficking: A Qualitative Study

Background and Purpose:Human trafficking is an urgent public health concern. Despite challenges documenting the prevalence of human trafficking, there is growing awareness that people are trafficked into and across the United States. Although the prevalence and general awareness of human trafficking continues to grow, services and resources for victims remain understudied. With the rise of human trafficking agencies, many victims seek services from targeted agencies and programs. However, victims also seek services and come into contact with agencies that do not specifically target human trafficking (e.g., domestic violence agencies, sexual assault agencies, child protection services, homeless shelters). These agencies are in a unique position to identify, support, and enhance the safety of victims. To ensure these services are appropriate, research is needed to examine the preparedness of non-human trafficking agencies to identify and address the needs of human trafficking victims. As a way to begin to address this need, our team conducted an exploratory qualitative study exploring the awareness, knowledge, perspectives, and experiences of human service agency directors and providers regarding human trafficking.

 Methods:

We conducted 13 in-depth interviews with agency directors and 10 focus groups with 35 frontline staff at local human service agencies (e.g., domestic violence and sexual assault agencies, child protection services, homeless shelter, the juvenile justice system). Interviews and focus groups were facilitated using a standardized guide that addressed participants’ knowledge and awareness of human trafficking, past service experiences, current services, and perceptions of best practices.

 Interviews and focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and checked for accuracy. Multiple coders analyzed the transcripts using content analysis techniques and the ATLAS.ti software program. We created an initial list of codes using an open-coding approach and two representative transcripts. Throughout the coding and analysis process, the coders engaged in memoing, negative case analysis, and constant comparison procedures.

 Results:

Participants reported developing a general awareness of human trafficking (e.g., definition, global impact) in recent years through their professional work with clients and trainings facilitated by local human trafficking agencies and coalitions. However, many shared limited knowledge in several critical areas: federal/state laws, signs or red flags of human trafficking, and how to identify and respond to victims. These knowledge needs were identified as barriers to effective service provision.  Participants recognized they often encounter victims and/or potential victims in their work and expressed the need to be better equipped for a swift and sufficient response to victim needs.

 Conclusions and Implications:

This research takes a preliminary but important step toward understanding human service directors’ and providers’ awareness, perceptions, and experiences with human trafficking. Directors and providers believe the issue of human trafficking is highly relevant to their work in serving clients and acknowledge the fundamental need to be better prepared. To proactively and successfully respond to victim needs, actionable steps need to be taken. First, directors and service providers require education and training in order to successfully identify and serve victims. Further, human service agencies need specific procedures and protocols on how to respond to human trafficking.