Moving forward: Collaborative accompaniment of human trafficking survivors by using trauma-informed practices

ABSTRACT

This article proposes a paradigm shift that redefines the implementation of trauma-informed care for human-trafficking survivors. Written from the multidisciplinary perspective of the authors, the article will develop and apply four strengths-based Trauma-Informed Practices (TIPs) that service providers, academics, and policy makers can utilize in improving response to all forms of human trafficking. The TIPs envision collaborative accompaniment as a way of creating safety and reciprocity with, for, and among survivors and those who accompany them. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that anti-trafficking response should give human-trafficking survivors something to move towards, not just something from which to “escape”.

KEYWORDS:

• Accompaniment
• anti-trafficking response
• collaborative
• human trafficking
• legal services
• mental health
• multidisciplinary
• service provision
• strengths-based
• trauma-informed care
• trauma-informed practices

Notes

1 A pseudonym has been used to protect the survivor’s privacy and anonymity.

2 The authors are grateful to the real “Marta” for courageously sharing her journey with them and allowing them to share it with the world.