Centering Lived Experience in Human Trafficking Recovery: A Needs Assessment of Service Gaps and Survivor Involvement...

Human trafficking is a persistent and complex issue in Kern County, California, where data on how social service systems are responding to the needs of survivors are limited. We aimed to identify the service needs and gaps in efforts for human trafficking response among social service providers in Kern County and to explore the role of engaging people with lived experiences in service delivery.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey from April 26 through May 31, 2021, among 57 social service agencies in Kern County involved in assisting juvenile and adult survivors of sex trafficking and/or labor trafficking. In the survey, we included 77 questions addressing agency demographic characteristics, services provided, training needs, and the involvement of people with lived experiences of trafficking in service delivery. We analyzed quantitative and qualitative data.

Of the 57 contacted agencies, 27 (47.4%) completed the survey. Among the 27 responding agencies, 22 (81.5%) provided services to individuals who have experienced sex trafficking and 13 (48.1%) provided services to individuals who have experienced labor trafficking. Only 7 agencies (31.8%) had specialized positions for sex trafficking recovery services. Barriers to service delivery among agencies included funding shortages and limited training in trauma-informed care. Moreover, most agencies did not engage people with lived experiences of trafficking in decision-making roles.

Enhanced funding, targeted training, and increased engagement of people with lived experiences of trafficking among social service providers in Kern County are needed to improve the support system for trafficking victims and create a more effective, collaborative response to human trafficking in the region.