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may feel a duty to do extra work in shelter, such as cleaning, cooking, or taking care of children.18 Advocates working in shelter must be prepared to support victims of trafficking in an empowerment-based model of advocacy and address such considerations as they occur. 18“Human Trafficking Service Provider Manual” Advocates can establish trusting relationships and explain confidentiality and advocate privilege, as well as their role, prior to asking additional questions about the violence a survivor is experiencing. Advocates should always ask questions to help determine what the needs of the survivor are and how they can assist with any immediate basic needs. 18 CONFIDENTIALITY Assisting victims of trafficking may require the release of confidential information more often and to more organizations than when assisting non-trafficked survivors of domestic violence. Staff should always obtain the informed, reasonably time-limited, written consent of the victim when relaying confidential information to any person. SAFETY PLANNING Some victims of trafficking may face danger from organized crime, which can pose different threats than those from a single individual. The level of danger depends on numerous factors, including how much a victim’s testimony can harm the traffickers and how violent and extensive a trafficking network may be. Victims, both US citizens and non-US citizens, may face heightened security concerns if they return to their place of origin. Traffickers may have connections in the local community and may harm the victim and/ or their loved ones. Additionally, victims of trafficking may face risks due to increased isolation. They may come from abusive homes, be from a foreign nation, have no or limited English skills, be distrustful of police, and be unfamiliar with ways to seek help and safety. They may not have access to adequate resources and support and may experience heightened stigma. There may be various social and cultural stigmas or lack of resources for emotional and psychological healing. Advocates should be aware that the return and reintegration process can be very challenging and safety plan appropriately. When safety planning with victims of trafficking, advocates should: Carefully and honestly discuss the potential challenges of reintegration before creating a plan to return home Work with the victim to develop a safety plan that includes the possibility of working with law enforcement Always put the victim at the center of all advocacy Advocates should always put the victim at the center of all advocacy. 18 19 There are no guarantees that a victim of trafficking will receive benefits, supporting documents, or assistance from law enforcement. ADVOCACY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT In order to effectively support victims of trafficking, advocates must form working relationships with law enforcement at the federal and local levels prior to an emergency. Federal officials, particularly the United States Attorney’s offices, are critical to anti-trafficking responses and victim assistance. The TVPA mandates that in order for an adult victim to receive benefits, federal law enforcement has to verify that the person is complying with reasonable law enforcement requests. As such, local law enforcement plays an important role in applications for benefits and services, particularly for undocumented victims seeking immigration relief. It is important that advocates have a comprehensive understanding of these resources and discuss all options for relief available with victims of trafficking, including the potential benefits and consequences of working with law enforcement. TECHNOLOGY-BASED ADVOCACY Technology changes rapidly and advocates should be prepared to learn new strategies to creatively and effectively support victims. While technology is often a tool used by traffickers, it can also be a strategy employed by advocates and survivors. For example, a non-English speaking victim or survivor may benefit from a translation device such as a mobile application, to communicate with fellow residents at shelter. However, such technology should not be used in lieu of an interpreter for communication between advocates and victims. All technology in the domestic violence center should be carefully secured to protect the safety of all participants and staff. It is important that advocates work with survivors to safety plan around the use of technology. 20 INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION Trained and qualified interpreters are crucial in cases involving victims of trafficking with limited English proficiency or who are deaf or hard of hearing. Not only do they facilitate communication between the victim and the advocate, but they may be an excellent resource on the victim’s cultural and linguistic perspective. Interpreters should be offered in every aspect of the case, including support services, interviews with law enforcement, in the criminal/civil case, and when connecting victims with resources. Find an appropriate interpreter: Ask the victim if they prefer to work with an interpreter of a specific gender. Avoid volunteer interpreters unless they were trained in interpretation previously and have been identified by the agency prior to a specific case. Screen for potential conflicts of interest that the interpreter may have. Do not assume that the interpreter is qualified just because they speak the language. Be aware that although people may share the same language, there might be ethnic, cultural, or religious tensions between groups that might lead to miscommunication. Different social and educational backgrounds or regional dialects may lead to misunderstandings as well. Make every effort to obtain an interpreter who does not know the victim or the victim’s family or friends. Do not use family members or children as interpreters. Use only certified interpreters. Discuss protocol and expectations with the interpreter ahead of time: Do not assume the interpreter understands trafficking. Make sure that the interpreter is comfortable asking difficult questions related to exploitation. Understand that interpretation is a slow process. Interpreters may need breaks. The interpreter should interpret exactly what the victim and the advocate state. There should not be summaries or side conversations. If the interpreter needs clarification from the victim, the interpreter should inform the advocate that there is a need for clarification prior to additional communication with the victim. Interpreters or translators may come from a community where traffickers have strong connections. This can put the victim at great risk. It is important to build strong local alliances with ethnic-based community associations, interpretation services, and translator banks prior to requesting any services, in order to establish trust with common providers when seeking assistance. 20 21 Some benefits may only be available for a limited timeframe. For example, some refugee benefits are available for the first seven months and there is a four-year restriction of TANF benefits in Florida. Keep the victim at the center of the conversation: Prior to any conversation with the use of an interpreter, advocates should stress the importance of confidentiality with the interpreter and require that they sign a confidentiality agreement. At the start of each conversation, confidentiality should be reviewed in the presence of the victim. Ask questions in the first person and have the interpreter use the first person. Talk directly to the victim. Instead of saying, “Can you ask her if…” say “Can you tell me if…” If possible, keep the same interpreter throughout the case. 19“Bureau of Victim Compensation” FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND ADVOCACY Victims of trafficking often do not have money and personal resources, despite the labor they performed. In some cases, compensation for labor or services may be obtained through a successful court case. There are several additional financial resources available: Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) allows non-US citizens to utilize public assistance programs, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and Social Security Income (SSI). Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) program provides cash assistance for victims for up to eight months if they are found ineligible for TANF or SSI, but must participate in employment programs. Florida Crime Victim Compensation provides compensation for expenses related directly to crimes (including domestic violence and human trafficking) such as medical treatment, relocation