12:00 - 12:30 p.m.

Registration for attendees

ADA Jessica Melton, Chief of the Queens County Human Trafficking Bureau

Human Trafficking 101
Patti Pfeiffer
Speakers Bureau
 

This engaging presentation provides information/resources for adults and professionals about human trafficking identification, response, and prevention. NJ consistently ranks 12th in the nation for confirmed cases of human trafficking (National Human Trafficking Hotline - NHTH) and is geographically positioned to be a hub for trafficking. NJ is also a tourist destination, bringing a transient population that is hard to track. NJ’s Avanzar DreamFree program collected data between 2009-2019 demonstrating that 80% of the sex trafficking survivors served were United States citizens. The NJ State Police Cyber Safety Task Force found that, since the pandemic, online exploitation of children has increased by 200%. And according to the NHTH’s latest data, over 40% of confirmed cases in 2020 involved familial trafficking.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the Red Flags of human trafficking, and why human trafficking is so prevalent in NJ.
• Describe what is and what is not human trafficking, including some of the inherent causes of human trafficking.
• Discuss and recognize the grooming practices traffickers use both online and in-person, and why online trafficking has increased in the past few years.

Restoring Hope and Community through Interdisciplinary, Interagency Collaboration
Robert “Bob” McLaughlin, MDiv, MTh, MSW, PhD, LSW

Human trafficking leaves its victims stripped of everything and with a vast array of potential needs to be addressed. A diverse group of agencies and organizations are needed to address human trafficking, whether by fighting the crime, supporting the survivors, or providing advocacy. These organizations can maximize their efforts when effectively collaborating across disciplines and agencies/organizations. What does collaboration look like? What challenges are experienced? And what is needed to facilitate better the type of interdisciplinary, interagency collaboration demanded to work towards social justice? Results from a recent assessment of service providers in New Jersey show that we are comparable to the situation in other states.

Findings point towards the need for specific types of training. Finally, a pilot program that harnessed the strengths of a University, a Non-Profit Organization, and a Religious Congregation is described to illustrate the kind of collaboration that maximizes resources and works towards restoring community.

Screening for Human Trafficking
Rolidel Czekajlo, LSW
Senior Director of Services, Covenant House New Jersey

Victims of human trafficking can be difficult to identify, which is a necessary process to connect victims to much needed services and support. This presentation will focus on the benefits of utilizing screening tools to assist with the process of identifying victims of human trafficking, and will focus on two tools- Quick Youth Indicators for Trafficking (QYIT) and Rapid Appraisal for Trafficking (RAFT). Universal Education (UE) tools will also be reviewed. This presentation will provide an overview of the importance of screening, review the tools, and discuss the process of implementing a universal screening protocol. Next steps after a potential victim is identified will also be reviewed.

The Dream Free Program of AVANZAR
Dawne Lomangino DiMauro
Director of Statewide Services

The Dream Free Program will explore the trends of human trafficking that are happening around New Jersey and the victimization of our youth. This team specializes is early identification and engagement of victims and providing in-community, intensive care management. We will explore engagement strategies that are trauma responsive, culturally appropriate, and intensive. Working from the four P model of Prevention, Protection, Partnership and Prosecution. We will discuss how important collaboration is when working to secure a survivor's safety, empower them to thrive and create justice for their experiences.