Research

The HEAL Research Initiative offers a collaborative online forum for researchers, students, and others with an interest in advancing empirical evidence about human trafficking. The goals of the initiative are to facilitate collaborative research projects and partnerships, provide support and assistance to those engaged in human trafficking-related research, and share ideas, resources, and products that may further the field. The Research Initiative leader is Laura Murphy, PhD.

From the HEAL Research Initiative

Health workers are in a unique position to help identify human trafficking - a BMJ commentary co-authored by HEAL

Human trafficking is a lucrative crime and a serious human rights violation. Conflicts increase the number of people exploited in trafficking within and outside crises areas. The war in Ukraine is likely to have considerably heightened the risk of trafficking

Addressing human trafficking through health systems - a scoping review by WHO, co-authored by HEAL

This report surveys current scholarly literature on health care and human trafficking to illuminate the critical role that health systems play in anti-trafficking activities. It provides an evidence base from which States and health systems can shape intersectoral policy and

HEAL Research Webinar: Outcomes for Human Trafficking Survivors (OHTS) Instrument

We discussed “Outcomes for Human Trafficking Survivors (OHTS) Instrument” with Dr. Stacey Cutbush and Samantha Charm from RTI International’s Division of Applied Justice Research. This presentation described the development and testing of a tool to measure service outcomes for human

HEAL Research Webinar: Queering the Support for Trafficked Persons - LGBTQ Communities and Human Trafficking in the Heartland

We discussed “Queering the Support for Trafficked Persons: LGBTQ Communitities and Human Trafficking in the Heartland” with Dr. Corinne Schwarz from Oklahoma State University. Schwarz and her colleagues conducted a study of service provider approaches to services for survivors of

HEAL Trafficking Webinar: Ethical and Practical Considerations for Collecting Longitudinal Data from CSEC Youth

We discuss “A longitudinal evaluation of a survivor-mentor program for child survivors of sex trafficking in the United States” (2020) with Katherine Bright, a PhD candidate at University of Rutgers School of Criminal Justice and one of the authors on the study.

HEAL Research Webinar: Experiences of Racism Among African American Women Impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation

We discuss Lara Gerassi’s 2019 article titled “Experiences of Racism and Racial Tensions Among African American Women Impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Practice: A Qualitative Study.” Dr. Gerassi, an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Social

HEAL Research Webinar: Integrating Research into Anti-Trafficking Presentations

This webinar is designed to increase your confidence when presenting statistics and research about trafficking, by teaching you how to evaluate research and statistics that are shared in the general public. Not all research is reported accurately – even by reputable organizations

Human Trafficking & the COVID Pandemic

Increased economic strain due to social distancing efforts will put many people at greater risk of sex and labor trafficking/exploitation. Health systems are in a position to prevent and respond to trafficking in this new environment. This handout, developed by

Dispelling common misconceptions within the anti-trafficking movement

Human trafficking is a relatively young field of research. Commonly-shared ideas about trafficking’s scope and nature are often based on early, often disproven research and even sometimes on comments made off the cuff by politicians and pundits. As a result,

HEAL Trafficking Webinar: Labor Trafficking Victimizations: Repeat Victimization and Polyvictimization

Is labor trafficking typically an isolated incident of victimization? Or are repeat victimization and polyvictimization relevant to experiences of labor trafficking, as they are for sex trafficking? How can we adequately measure forms of victimization among labor trafficking victims? Guest

HEAL Trafficking Webinar: Evaluating Screening Tools for Child Sex Trafficking

Guest Panelist: Jordan Greenbaum, MD, discusses her article “Evaluation of a Screening Tool for Child Sex Trafficking Among Patients With High‐Risk Chief Complaints in a Pediatric Emergency Department.” https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/acem.13497 Webinar Hosted By HEAL Research Committee Chair: Dr. Laura Murphy https://healtrafficking.org/research-committee/

HEAL Trafficking Webinar: Labor and Sex Trafficking Among Homeless Youth

What does human trafficking (i.e. labor and sex trafficking) look like among homeless youth in 10 cities? How do we research human trafficking? Guest Panelist: Dr. Laura Murphy, Director of the Modern Slavery Research Project, Loyola University New Orleans (https://www.modernslaveryresearch.org/)

HEAL Trafficking Webinar: How should we talk about human trafficking statistics?

Where is the anti-trafficking movement on data? How do we measure human trafficking using available data? Guest Panelists: Jessie Brunner, WSD Handa Center for Human Rights and International Justice, Stanford University (https://handacenter.stanford.edu/people/jessie-brunner) Amy Farrell, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice,

HEAL Research Webinar: Building and Using Conceptual Frameworks for Research

Cathy Zimmerman, PhD, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, is internationally known in the global anti-trafficking field as a rigorous and principled researcher. The goal of this HEAL Research Committee is to frame how to critically consider all investigations.

Public Health Research Priorities to Address US Human Trafficking

Rothman, E., et al. (2017). Public health research priorities to address US human trafficking. American Journal of Public Health, 107(7): 1045-1047.

Other resources for human trafficking research

Literature

Literature on the health care needs of trafficking victims, tools for identifying trafficked persons, and the role of physicians in fighting trafficking continues to grow.

Publications and Reports

This section provides a range of information about human trafficking. It includes media articles, major reports from federal agencies and other key organizations, and a curated list of articles from the peer-reviewed medical literature.

The Outcomes For Human Trafficking Survivors (OHTS) Instrument

The OHTS is an outcome evaluation instrument designed to help comprehensive service programs monitor progress toward outcomes among victims and survivors of human trafficking. It is appropriate for use by programs serving minors and adults, foreign-born and domestic victims, and

Qualitative Research: What is the Total Quality Framework?

Roller, M. (2017). Adapted from Applied Qualitative Research Design: A Total Quality Framework Approach (Roller, M.R. & Lavrakas, P. J., 2015. New York: Guilford Press) https://www.slideshare.net/MargaretRoller/qualitative-research-what-is-the-total-quality-framework