The Development of a Standardized Intake Form for Human Trafficking Survivors to Access Direct Services

• In Event: Poster Session 2

Abstract

The true incidence and prevalence of human trafficking within the United States remains unknown. Reported numbers of trafficking survivors are only estimates, as it is largely an underground industry (Ali, 2010). While survivors’ needs are multifaceted, oftentimes requiring long-term and trauma-informed care, systematic data collection on their access to direct service needs remains absent. This project addresses this gap by determining the need for a standardized intake form for human trafficking survivors to access direct services and by exploring the essential components of said intake form. Through an exploratory study incorporating semi-structured interviews with practitioners serving human trafficking survivors within Florida, the need for a standardized intake form was established. Preliminary findings highlight the necessity for collaboration amongst practitioners, a uniformed manner of data collection, and consistent, trauma-informed care within a comprehensive intake form. This reinforces the importance of addressing survivors’ needs efficiently yet personally. The development and eventual implementation of a standardized intake form has the potential to not only enhance service delivery to survivors, but also to aid practitioners and the community as a whole in understanding the true incidence and prevalence of a crime that is not scarce in nature (Munro-Kramer et al., 2019).

Authors

• Soriyah Amanda Khan, University of South Florida

• Hannah Murphy, University of South Florida

• Daighon Lipson, University of South Florida

• Shelly Wagers, University of South Florida