The most significant barrier to reaching victims of sex trafficking is also the most basic: figuring out who they are.

They rarely self-identify. They are suffering from complex trauma which can manifest itself in a variety of ways…they can appear combative, despondent, anxious, and more. It takes specialized training to look beyond the exterior and recognize the indicators that this person may be a victim of sex trafficking.

First responders, which we define as educators, medical professionals, law enforcement, and human services professionals, have significant opportunities to identify victims and provide assistance:

EDUCATORS

According to Georgia Cares, 91% of the victims they serve were attending school when first approached by a trafficker.*

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

In a study published in 2014, 88% of the sex trafficking survivors interviewed reported that they received medical attention during the time they were being trafficked.***

LAW ENFORCEMENT

A 2016 survey found that 90% of the responding survivors were arrested during the time they were being trafficked, and 42% were arrested more than ten times.**

HUMAN SERVICES PROFESSIONALS

The only criteria a trafficker uses in choosing a victim is VULNERABILITY, and clients seeking help from human services organizations are among the most vulnerable in our communities.

These first responder interactions didn’t end with a victim exiting a life of sexual exploitation, not because they didn’t care, but because they had no idea they were looking at a victim. With specific training on how to recognize indicators and how to respond, these interactions can result in a sex trafficking victim becoming a sex trafficking survivor.

Rescuing Hope has four programs to provide this invaluable training:

According to Georgia Cares, 91% of the victims they serve were attending school when first approached by a trafficker.

So why didn’t the teachers or counselors report this? Why didn’t they embrace the child and protect them? The problem isn’t that educators don’t care, it’s that they aren’t equipped to identify the problem and act.
Educators need to be educated. Sex Trafficking 101 is a training program specifically designed to provide the knowledge and tools needed by teachers, counselors, administrators, resource officers and IT staff. They learn:

  • What sex trafficking is and how it operates.
  • How to recognize the indicators of a potential victim.
  • What trauma does to the brain and how this can affect a victim’s thinking and behavior.
  • How to interact with a victim using trauma informed care for the best chance to help them.
  • How to access resources for help.

The explanation of how this can happen was very insightful. Your presentation gave me a sense of how I can help combat these horrific acts.
Assistant Principal | North Carolina

The presentation was informative, compelling and hope-filled, even though the topic feels bleak and overwhelming.
School Counseling Supervisor | Georgia

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A 2014 study on the health consequences of sex trafficking revealed that 88% of victims came into contact with medical personnel while they were being trafficked, without identifying as a victim or being recognized as one.

How could this happen? Rarely will a victim proactively report they are being trafficked and they won’t always look or act like a victim, based on the perceptions of an untrained eye. With properly trained medical professionals, this presents a huge opportunity to provide a gateway to freedom for victims. Diagnosis: Trafficked trains medical professionals on how to recognize a sex trafficking victim and what to do next. They learn:

  • What sex trafficking is and how it operates.
  • How to recognize the indicators of a potential victim.
  • What trauma does to the brain and how this can affect a victim’s thinking and behavior.
  • How to interact with a victim using trauma informed care for the best chance to help them.
  • How to access resources for help.

This should be a mandatory course for all, including physicians, particularly for those in the trauma centers.
Nurse | Georgia

The strongest part of this training was learning how to approach a victim of sex trafficking and how to recognize it.
Nursing Student | Georgia

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As you can imagine, law enforcement plays a key role in the fight against sex trafficking.

Task Forces and coordinated operations work to arrest traffickers and shut down their businesses. It’s encouraging to see more stories of successful busts and victims escape in the news. But there are still huge opportunities for law enforcement to identify and assist victims of sex trafficking. A 2016 survey found that 90% of the responding survivors were arrested during the time they were being trafficked, and 42% were arrested more than ten times. Beneath the Surface, a P.O.S.T. certified course, trains law enforcement personnel how to recognize victims during routine operations, such as traffic stops and disorderly conduct complaints, and how to assist them in obtaining much needed services. They learn:

  • How traffickers recruit victims and maintain control of them.
  • How to recognize the indicators of a potential victim.
  • The myths and stereotypes that can result in a missed opportunity to assist a victim.
  • What trauma does to the brain and how this can affect a victim’s thinking and behavior.
  • How to interact with a victim using trauma informed care for the best chance to help them.
  • How to access resources for help, including Victim’s Advocates.

Within seven months of being trained in 2017, law enforcement in a region of Alabama rescued thirteen sex trafficking victims. The traffickers were earning on average $1,000 per day, per victim*.

The strongest part of the training was making me aware of the reasons that a victim may not talk to me or want my help.
Police Captain, Georgia

It is apparent that you are passionate about your mission to serve trafficking survivors as well as trained and well-versed as to the best practices for treatments and long-term recovery.
State Intelligence Analyst, Alabama | *Tuscaloosa Police Department

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The only criteria a trafficker uses in choosing a victim is VULNERABILITY, and clients seeking help from human services organizations are among the most vulnerable in our communities. That single mom struggling to make ends meet or that anxious young man in counseling could be under the control of a trafficker. Providing her with utility bill assistance and him with relaxation exercises is great, but there may be more we can do to help. Unmasked offers the simple insights needed to look beyond the basic needs and recognize someone in danger. They learn:

  • What sex trafficking is and how it operates.
  • How to recognize the indicators of a trafficking victim.
  • What trauma does to the brain and how this can affect a victim’s thinking and behavior.
  • How to interact with a victim using trauma-informed care for the best chance to help them.
  • How to access resources for help.
Request a training session
Download a Program Description

When more first responders know what to look for, more victims will find freedom.

Rescuing Hope First Responder Training Programs are designed to clearly and efficiently provide the insights needed. In less than two hours, participants will walk away with memorable stories and written materials for future reference. They will begin to view certain cues and behaviors through a different lens. And they’ll be equipped to help a sex trafficking victim later that same day, if the opportunity arises.


*Georgia Cares, 2016. www.gacares.org
**Lederer LJ, Wetzel CA. The Health Consequences of Sex Trafficking and Their Implications for Identifying Victims in Healthcare Facilities. Annals of Health Law. 2014;(Issue 1):61
***National Survivor Network. 2016. National Survivor Network Members Survey On the Impact of Criminal Arrest and Detention on Survivors of Human Trafficking.