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assistance, wage loss, and some out-of-pocket expenses.19 Victims of trafficking may not have bank accounts or experience controlling their own finances. Advocates should be prepared to provide support and education related to financial literacy and economic justice as needed. 22 WORKING WITH SPECIFIC POPULATIONS This section provides advocates with information regarding working with human trafficking victims identified within specific populations or communities. While it separates people into individualistic categories, it is important to note that many victims of trafficking identify within two or more of these categories. This list is also not exhaustive, but focuses on the unique needs of some populations who may experience trafficking. Advocates should be prepared to work with any center participant as an individual with a unique identity, experience, personality, and background. VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING WHO ARE US CITIZENS Although much of the general public assumes that modern-day slavery only affects people who are not citizens of the US, it is important to note that US citizens can also be victims of both sex and labor trafficking in the US. A US citizen who has been the victim of trafficking may: Face stigma and prejudice from society Have no immediate access to identity documents or proof of residency Have underdeveloped life skills Have cognitive or physical disabilities Suffer from trauma Have chemical dependency Have criminal arrest records Be underage Have limited social support systems Victims who are citizens may be eligible for public assistance programs because they are victims of a federal or state crime US citizens who are victims of trafficking do not need to be certified by the US Department of Health and Human Services to receive any benefits. 22 23 A victim of trafficking who does not have legal documents could be eligible for immigration relief, including the T & U Visas, and the battered immigrant self-petitioning provision of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). It is important that the advocate consults a qualified immigration attorney who can advise on the options available. VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING WHO ARE NON-US CITIZENS Individuals who have migrated from a foreign country may be particularly vulnerable to trafficking because they may have limited social networks, limited literacy and English proficiency, and/or may fear deportation. Similar to domestic violence batterers, traffickers may manipulate and distort beliefs held by the victims and may take advantage of cultural, linguistic, and immigration-related concerns as sources of power and control. Advocates should not make assumptions about the needs, backgrounds, and experiences of any victim and should facilitate open lines of communication in order to address concerns as they arise. Linguistic and cultural differences may pose additional challenges for the victim throughout the process. Victims of trafficking may not have supportive environments such as family, religious institutions, or community programs and may have difficulty adjusting to the unfamiliarity of available resources, such as the type of food. They may not have experience with various technologies and conveniences in shelter or in public. Victims of trafficking who were not born in the US require multi-faceted assistance, particularly if they choose to stay in the US. Victims may prefer to stay in the US for a number of reasons. They may be assisting with the prosecution of the traffickers, have family or friends in the region, be concerned about putting others at risk, or feel shame in their experiences. Advocates should connect with refugee service providers, which provide programs such as job skills training and placement, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, general life-skill courses, counseling, housing, and transportation assistance. If a victim of trafficking prefers to return to their country of origin, advocates should explore safety concerns and refer to an immigration attorney that can advise the victim about potential immigration remedies and other legal services. Advocates may assist the attorney in collecting important documentation, advocating for the victim’s rights, and supporting the victim throughout the process. 24 VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING UNDER THE AGE OF 18 Youth are at particular risk of trafficking victimization because they may be easily manipulated and exploited and usually have fewer sources for self-advocacy. Youth in greater risk of being trafficked may: Be victims of abuse prior to being trafficked Be homeless, a runaway, or neglected Be a member of a minority sexual orientation or gender identity community Be in foster care or otherwise involved in the child welfare system Lack a high school diploma/GED Have limited or no personal agency Lack identity documents or be undocumented Non-US citizen victims under the age of 18 who do not have a parent or guardian or who entered the United States with a parent or guardian, but could not remain with them, are eligible for services through the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program through the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The program designates a legal authority to act in the place of the parent and ensures that the child receives services including foster care, English language training, career planning, health and mental health needs, socialization skills, adjustment training, family reunification, residential care, education or training, and Ethnic/religious preservation. Minors may also qualify for Asylum or Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Non-US citizen victims under the age of 18 are not required to cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the trafficker to obtain visas or benefits. The Florida Abuse Hotline (1-800-962-2873) accepts calls regarding minors who are victims of trafficking. Advocates must report cases of trafficking of minors to the Florida Abuse Hotline. 24 25 VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING FROM ISOLATED AND INSULATED COMMUNITIES “Everybody just kind of minded their own business in a small town. In that silence of everybody minding their own business—I spent 13 years of my childhood being sex trafficked.” —Human Trafficking Survivor Trafficking flourishes when it goes unnoticed. Many members of rural communities may assume that trafficking exists only in urban areas, which perpetuates the invisibility of human trafficking and encourages an environment where people do not question the signs of trafficking that may exist in the community. Moreover, in rural areas, jobs and financial resources are often scarce, social services are unavailable or inadequate, and victims must travel further distances to access services. Victims of trafficking in rural areas may be geographically isolated from law enforcement and other governmental agencies that can investigate human trafficking. Certified domestic violence centers in rural communities may have to travel outside their communities to identify and develop relationships with potential referral sources. The Refugee Task Force, legal aid and legal services offices, migrant worker advocacy networks, and rural health networks are examples of entities that can help centers with this process. Military bases can also be prime locations for trafficking because of the structure of command and the insulated community instilled on a base. A large number of women have been trafficked to US military bases to work in the sex industries in communities surrounding bases.20 Centers serving the communities surrounding military bases should build on established working relationships with representatives from the military bases to develop coordinated responses. Victims of trafficking often experience multiple victimizations that include sexual assault and intimate partner violence. For example, a woman may escape a situation of trafficking with the help of a man who later becomes an abusive partner. She may seek a certified domestic violence center for services related to the immediate abuse, though she may have additional needs related to the trafficking she experienced. 20“Florida Responds to Human Trafficking” 26 SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITIES Members of minority sexual orientation and gender identity or lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities may experience increased vulnerability to trafficking, particularly sex trafficking, because of the discrimination they experience in their homes and communities.21 Non-accepting families may reject their children who identify as or are perceived to identify as LGBT and refuse to provide basic care, including housing. Without stable social support networks, these youth may experience homelessness and lack access to vital resources. LGBT victims of