Human Trafficking Resources and Training Opportunities
Human trafficking is a hidden epidemic affecting millions worldwide. As we work to shed light on this injustice, education, and training are essential for equipping communities, businesses, and individuals to identify, prevent, and combat trafficking. Below, I’ve compiled resources to help you learn more about human trafficking and take actionable steps to raise awareness and support survivors.
What Is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is the exploitation of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for labor, sexual exploitation, or other forms of abuse. It happens in every community and often targets the most vulnerable populations. Understanding the scope and signs is the first step in acting.
Educational Resources
- Online Courses and Training Programs
- Polaris Project Training: Comprehensive training sessions on understanding trafficking, survivor support, and actionable steps for prevention.
- Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) Training: Free e-learning modules covering trafficking awareness, victim identification, and trauma-informed care practices.
- Shared Hope International: Offers webinars and online resources focusing on domestic minor sex trafficking.
- National Human Trafficking Hotline: Training and resources for communities, educators, and service providers.
- Informative Documents and Toolkits
- UNODC Toolkit: Global insights into human trafficking with guides for identifying and reporting cases.
- DHS Blue Campaign Resources: Printable posters, fact sheets, and toolkits tailored for different community sectors.
- The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): Training and education resources for preventing child exploitation.
- Reading Recommendations
- Books:
- “The Slave Next Door” by Kevin Bales and Ron Soodalter
- “Half the Sky” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
- Reports:
- Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report: A global analysis of trafficking by the U.S. Department of State.
How to Recognize the Signs of Human Trafficking
Training on recognizing trafficking indicators can save lives.
Key signs include:
- Unexplained injuries or signs of abuse.
- Lack of control over identification documents.
- Signs of fear, depression, or subservience.
- Drug and alcohol abuse with underlying anger.
- Multiple cell phones.
- Inconsistent stories.
- Unusual work hours or being unpaid.
- Drop in grades and poor attendance.
Organizations Providing Survivor Support
- Innocence Freed: Providing aftercare, therapy, and community support to survivors.
- Covenant House: Offers housing and support to homeless and trafficked youth.
- Hope Ranch: Hope Ranch is dedicated to empowering women who have been sexually exploited to heal from the horrors of their abuse and learn to walk in restoration through God’s truth and redemption.
- Love146: Prevention and survivor care for trafficked children.
- Selah Freedom: Selah Freedom is a non-profit, anti-human trafficking organization with the mission to end sex trafficking and bring freedom to individuals who have been exploited.
How You Can Help
- Host a Training or Education Event: Bring experts from Innocence Freed to your organization or community for a trafficking awareness seminar.
- Donate or Volunteer: Support nonprofits like Innocence Freed or others working directly with survivors. DONATE
- Report Suspicious Activity: Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) or text BEFREE (233733) if you suspect trafficking.
- In Nebraska: If you suspect trafficking 833-757-5665
Be the Change
Education and advocacy are powerful tools in the fight against human trafficking. Share these resources with your network, empower others with knowledge, and join the global movement to end trafficking.
Other Resources
Responding to Human Trafficking Through the Child Welfare System | TOOLKIT
2023 Human Trafficking Task Force Report
Office on Trafficking in Persons
Contact us at info@innocencefreed.org for tailored training or to learn more about our work at Innocence Freed.