Email:
cyeager@uccs.edu
Website: www.restoreinnocence.org
Website: www.uccs.edu/thhc
Mentoring Framework
Abstract
Human sex trafficking is a form of modern day slavery and is a
growing problem both around the world and in the United States.
This crime occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion to
control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial
sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will. Three
years ago we started a mentoring program in collaboration with
the FBI to provide support and services to rescued human
trafficking victims. Through a mentoring relationship, we work to
help survivors to rebuild their lives and respond to the complex
psychological, emotional and physical needs that are often the
result of abuse. Our mentoring program attempts to address both
the immediate and long- term needs of each victim of trauma.
These needs may include residential, medical and mental health
care, education, employment, social and spiritual support. A
framework for replicating this program across the country is
discussed including the various components of the mentoring
program, lessons learned, and future directions.
Rescue
Fact Sheet, U.S. Department of
State, June 9, 2003
Mentor Program Overview
Overview
• Mentor program started in 2010.
• To date this program has 15 mentors that have mentored 15 girls.
• Ages range from 15-39. All girls are U.S. citizens.
Survivors
• Survivors are contacted shortly after rescue for intake and assessment.
• Most survivors have few resources and are either assigned to a
treatment facility or attempt to live on their own .
Program
• Mentors are selected after 35 hours of training, personal interviews
and passing a background check.
• Mentors are matched with survivors based on survivor needs, common
interests, age, location, and experience.
• Mentor and mentee commit to a minimum of 1 year.
• Mentor models healthy relationship. Connect minimum of 1/week.
• Mentor helps survivor establish needed resources and reach her goals.
• Pro-social activities are planned as a group and encouraged.
• Monthly mentor meetings provide ongoing training and support
Non-Government
Organizations
(Restore Innocence)
Community
Partners
Assessment
Human Trafficking
Task Force
Mentoring
(Restore Innocence)
Innocence
Lost Task
Force
Southern Peaks
Cinderella House
Locked juvenile facility in Cañon City
18+ facility, 2 ppl max
Wildflower Ranch
FBI
SAFE HOUSE
In 2013, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
estimated that 1 in 7 endangered runaways reported to them were
likely sex trafficking victims. Globally, the International Labor
Organization estimates that there are 4.5 million people trapped in
forced sexual exploitation. Once rescued many U.S. victims have no
resources to support them (Department of State, 2013).
After drug dealing,
human trafficking is
tied with the illegal
arms industry as
the second largest
criminal industry in
the
world
today.
Sex Trafficking
Reintegrate
University
(UCCS Trauma Health and
Hazards Center - THHC)
Law
Enforcement
(FBI, CSPD)
CSPD
The Problem
Restore
Partnerships
Short-term Crisis Stabilization
Sara’s Home
Opened 5/1/15, Long Term Care
(13-18) near COS, 8 ppl
13-17, Foster care placement
Excelsior
Job Resources
Locked facility in Denver
(akin to “Boots to Suits”)
Trauma Treatment
(University of Colorado Trauma Health and Hazards Center)
Trauma-Informed Training
Evaluation of Services
Theory Based
• The goal of the mentor program is to motivate healthy emotional,
physical, social , psychological and spiritual development.
• Based on social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1997) and selfdetermination theory (Ryan and Deci, 2000) in an attempt to facilitate
the natural processes of self-motivation and healthy development.
• Social Cognitive Theory concepts of modeling, mastery, verbal
persuasion, and self-management help to move the survivor forward.
• Choices, relationships and mastery goals are based upon an
individual’s pro-social and spiritual values.
• Mentors model consistent, non-judgmental love and support .
Values
Competence
Autonomy
Girls are given choices in
all aspects of the
mentoring relationship.
Exercise of autonomy
requires support, selfcontrol and decision
making skills.
Relatedness
Mentoring program
provides a model of
healthy relationships as
well as much needed
pro-social support. Goal
is to instill belonging,
trust, and value through
the relationship.
Girls are provided
opportunities to develop
developmental (e.g.,
positive sense of self, selfcontrol, decision making
skills), educational, and
occupational
competencies.
Lessons Learned
Research has shown benefits of mentoring programs (DuBois,
Portillo, Rhodes, Silverthorn, & Valentine, 2011). To date the
program has mentored 15 girls and several have graduated from the
program and are living on their own, finishing school, holding a job or
raising a family.
Results of a mentor survey conducted by the UCCS THHC in February,
2015 revealed the following:
• Unconditional acceptance, love and support is the cornerstone of
an effective mentoring relationship.
• Collaboration is essential between researchers, law enforcement,
direct service providers and the community.
• Survivor assessment helps to improve survivor services by
determining what stage a survivor is in in the recovery process.
• Availability of community resources (e.g., housing, education,
medical) increases the effectiveness of mentors.
• Trauma informed training is required for mentors to be effective.
• Mental health treatment is an essential component of recovery.
Future Directions
More research is needed to better understand, prevent and
respond to trafficking in persons in the United States. Specifically,
research is needed in the following areas:
• Trauma informed assessment of survivors.
• Overall program evaluation of services provided to survivors.
• Effective interventions for human trafficking survivors.
• Standardized trauma informed training for mentors, first
responders and after care providers.
• Development and sharing of effective resources for survivors.
• Best practices for mentoring human trafficking survivors.
• Attitudes towards survivors.
References
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York, NY: Freeman.
Darling, N., Bogat, G., Cavell, T., Murphy, S., & Sanchez, B. (2006). Gender, ethnicity, development, and risk: Mentoring and the
consideration of individual differences. Journal of Community Psychology, 34, 765-779.
Department of State. (2013). Trafficking in Persons Report. Washington, D.C.
DuBois, D. L., Portillo, N., Rhodes, J., Silverthorn, N., & Valentine, J. (2011). How effective are mentoring programs for youth? A
systematic assessment of the evidence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 57-91.
Fact Sheet, U.S. Department of State, June 9, 2003.
Consistent, non-judgmental love and support
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development and
well-being. American Psychologist, 68-78.