Boston Human Exploitation Advocacy Team (HEAT): Developing a Radical Response to Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Substance Use Disorder

• In Event: Innovations in Human Trafficking Research—Part 3: Community Partnerships addressing CSE and Substance Use

Abstract

Women affected by the continuum of commercial sex work, exploitation and co-occurring substance use disorder have unique needs that are poorly served by traditional models of psychological and medical care. Boston Human Exploitation Advocacy Team (HEAT) developed to overcome the well-described barriers to services many women experience during active addiction and ongoing exploitation. This paper will describe the key components of HEAT’s model, including low barrier service location and radically person-centered care with respect to time, space and place. Using clinical material, we will emphasize differences between our approach and other anti-trafficking services, including critical attention to power differentials, addressing commercial sex and addiction together, and deliberate avoidance of saviorism and colonizing practices.

Authors

• Abigail M. Judge, Boston Human Exploitation Advocacy Team (HEAT), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School

• Sandra Andrade, Boston Human Exploitation Advocacy Team (HEAT)

• Jada Y. Vaughan, Northeastern University