Trauma Informed Interventions for Human Trafficking Victims/Survivors

Women’s Rights Information Center’s (WRIC) proposes to increase the safety, self-sufficiency, and well-being of victims of human trafficking in Bergen County, New Jersey through the following measures: 1) Target outreach to marginalized populations and enhance screening and assessment to identify trafficked individuals earlier; 2) Reduce trauma with short-term clinical interventions; and 3) Increase employability skills and economic independence through job-readiness programs. WRIC’s primary goal under this grant is to develop service programs for victims of human trafficking, and to expand its current evidenced-based, trauma informed, therapeutic services to victims of human trafficking. Additionally, WRIC will work to expand the knowledge base and capacity of staff to work with and recognize trafficking and to hire staff with trafficking expertise. WRIC will work with its Northern New Jersey community with the intended outcome to increase trafficking victims’ safety, independence, self-sufficiency, and well-being. Over the course of the project period, WRIC intends to provide wraparound support and therapeutic services for at least 30 victims of human trafficking. As WRIC increases capabilities to better identify victims of human trafficking, it will also expand outreach to vulnerable and underserved communities which include Latino(a), African American, Asian, the unemployed/underemployed, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ populations. WRIC seeks to identify and support those exploited and respond effectively. WRIC’s partnership with investigators, prosecutors, and NJ based programs will facilitate the support and recovery of trafficked victims.