Front-line Professional Training Program

Training is an essential aspect of how HRRC addresses the human trafficking problem. In order for victims to be rescued, more community professionals need to have a greater understanding of the issue and how to identify a potential victim. HRRC identifies key front-line professionals, such as law enforcement, health care providers, social workers, educators, and others who are in the best position to come into contact with a victim of human trafficking. HRRC, along with its coalition partners, have developed several training programs specifically designed for these professionals. Some examples of these programs are:

• Health Care Training Program – The Look Beneath the Surface and H.E.A.R Your Patient program is a three part series designed to educate health care professionals about human trafficking, how to identify a victim in a clinical setting, and what policies and procedures should be followed to connect that victim with appropriate services.
• Law Enforcement Training Program – This program aims to inform law enforcement agents about the issue of human trafficking, the federal and state laws on trafficking, red flags, investigative techniques, resources available, and how to connect victims to appropriate services.
• School Counselor/Educator Training Program – This program is intended to bring awareness to professionals within the school system about domestic minor trafficking. HRRC defines the issue of domestic minor trafficking, red flags to look for, and how to identify a potential victim. In addition, this program endeavors to focus on prevention and curbing the possible supply of vulnerable children to traffickers through early intervention.
• Child Protective Services (CPS) Training – It is likely that domestic minor trafficking victims are already present in the caseload of a typical CPS worker; however, they are often not identified as such. Therefore, this program educates CPS employees about the issue of domestic minor trafficking, how to identify a potential victim by providing common indicators and in-take tools for better assessment and resources of appropriate services that are needed for this victim population.

To request a training from HRRC, click here.

Community Awareness Presentation

One of HRRC’s main objectives is to educate the public about the issue of human trafficking. We achieve this goal through our community awareness presentations to groups such as churches and rotary clubs. Through this program we provide the public with the fundamentals of human trafficking – the who, what, where, and red flags. Our community presentations are generally 30 – 60 minutes in length and are available to any community group who would like to learn more about the issue and what it looks like in our community. HRRC also offers our community awareness presentations in Spanish. To request a community awareness presentation click here.

• Human Trafficking Awareness Week
  This annual event is officially proclaimed by the Mayor of Houston (as Human Trafficking Awareness Week) and takes place during the third week of September each year. The week is a series of awareness events and trainings that are hosted by HRRC and its coalition partners for the purpose of raising awareness about human trafficking across the city. For a list of this year’s events, click here.
• Human Trafficking Technical Assistance and Resource Center
  HRRC provides resource materials and technical assistance to students, human trafficking organizations and other NGOs who are seeking advice and expertise on a variety of topics. Our expertise ranges from coalition building, outreach efforts, training programs and other specific human trafficking topics. Many of our outreach materials/resources are available in several languages. Our resource materials include fact sheets, brochures, films, ID cards, posters, etc.

Multilingual Media Campaign

In an effort to raise general awareness about the issue of human trafficking, HRRC has developed a multilingual media campaign that has included over the years, the use of Highway Billboards, Community Billboards, Malls Signs, Airport Shuttle Signage, Taxi Cab Signage – all with the message of either “Stop Modern-day Slavery In Houston” or “No Human Life Should be For Sale.” All signage includes the number of the national human trafficking hotline or the local Crime-stoppers number in order to report a potential trafficking situation. In addition, HRRC has also developed Spanish-language radio PSAs that are aired on several Univision radio stations and an English-language TV PSA that is airing on local Houston channel 55.

• Neighborhood Outreach Campaign
  This campaign engages volunteers to participate in groups to conduct outreach to local businesses through the Greater Houston Community by educating business owners about the issue and requesting their participation in our awareness efforts by posting the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline number.
• Coaster Crawl Campaign
  The coaster crawl campaign is an initiative to raise general awareness amongst Houstonians about human trafficking by targeting local restaurants, bars and cafes. HRRC engages volunteers to participate in distributing coasters to these establishments. Each coaster illustrates a common situation of human trafficking discovered in the Houston area and how individuals can make a difference by reporting a situation to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline. The aim of this campaign is to educate the public that modern-day slavery exists, that it is happening in our very own community and to empower people to take action by reporting situation to the national hotline.
• The Look Beneath the Surface Traveling Art Exhibit
  The art exhibit was developed to promote awareness about human trafficking through the eyes of local professional and young artists who have artistically interpreted the stories and experiences of human trafficking survivors. The show has been on display across the state at such locations as the State Capital, Houston City Hall, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Bering and James Art Gallery and many more. If you would like to host the art exhibit please click here.
• Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA)
  HTRA is the local Houston-area law enforcement task force focused on human trafficking. HTRA takes a multi-disciplinary approach by bringing many different law enforcement agencies and NGO’s together to combat this horrible crime. HRRC is an active member on this task force.
• Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force
  During the 81^st Texas Legislative session, HB 4009 was passed and required the development of a state-wide task force on human trafficking. HRRC was appointed by the Attorney General of Texas to be one of 47 members to serve on this task force. HRRC has taken an active role on the task force, especially in the areas of training and curriculum development.

HRRC’s Sub-Contracted Projects

• Outreach to the Asian Populations, Subcontracted to: Chinese Community Center
  The Chinese Community Center raises awareness about Human Trafficking though different Asian language media outlets and training of professionals in the Asian community in Houston.
• Legal Assistance to Victims Program, Subcontracted to: YMCA International
  The YMCA International recruits pro bono attorneys to process T visas for victims of human trafficking and this project also provides a case manager to help victims access services.
• Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Awareness Project, Subcontracted to: Children At Risk
  Children at Risk advocates on the behalf Houston’s domestic sex trafficking victims through PSA’s, awareness events, trainings of judges and lawyers, and researching resources for a safe house.
• End the Demand Program, Subcontracted to: Concerned Women for America
  Concerned Women for America addresses the demand side of sex trafficking through educating men’s groups, mobilizing churches, and forming Human Trafficking groups on college campuses across the state of Texas.
• Outreach to Domestic Workers Project: Subcontracted to: Houston Interfaith Worker’s Justice
  Houston Interfaith Worker’s Justice builds relationships with domestic workers through direct outreach and seeks to educate the workers on how to avoid and report trafficking situations.