Laboratory To Combat Human Trafficking

TO INFORM SOCIAL CHANGE THAT ELIMINATES HUMAN EXPLOITATION.

COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH + ACTION PROGRAM: LCHT'S GOAL IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH IS TO CONTRIBUTE DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS TO THE BROADER ANTI- TRAFFICKING MOVEMENT AND ADVANCE A COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE. THE MAIN PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN 2023 INCLUDED LAUNCHING COLORADO PROJECT 2023 REPORT AND ACTION PLAN, WITH DATA COLLECTED ACROSS THE STATE VIA 127 SURVEYS, 59 INTERVIEWS AND 27 FOCUS GROUPS. THE REPORT FINDINGS AND ACTION PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS WERE ROLLED OUT AT AN EVENT WITH MORE THAN 100 IN ATTENDANCE AND FEATURED IN SEVERAL MEDIA OUTLETS.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: TO PREPARE HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERS AND SURVIVORS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES NECESSARY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ANTI-TRAFFICKING MOVEMENT, LCHT LEADS THREE 10-WEEK SESSIONS EACH YEAR. IN 2023, NINE INTERNS WERE SELECTED, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LCHT INTERNS TO 210 SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2005. LCHT OFFERED SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEVEN PARTICIPANTS, WITH THE GOAL TO CREATE GREATER ACCESSIBILITY TO THE PROGRAM.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAM: LCHT'S PUBLIC AWARENESS GOALS ARE TO DELIVER ANTI-TRAFFICKING TRAINING TO TARGETED PROFESSIONAL GROUPS AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY AUDIENCES ACROSS COLORADO. LCHT HIRED AN ASSOCIATE MANAGER OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO SUPPORT THE GROWING GOALS OF THIS PROGRAM. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAINED IN 2023 WAS 7,947, REACHING 39 COLORADO COUNTIES (12 URBAN, 27 RURAL). OUR PRIMARY AUDIENCES INCLUDED HEALTH CARE AND CHILD WELFARE WORKERS, AS WELL AS LAW ENFORCEMENT. LCHT EXPANDED ITS REGIONAL SPECIALIST REACH, ADDING A RURAL REGION IN THE FOUR CORNERS; REGIONAL SPECIALISTS HELP TO BUILD OUT REGIONAL RESOURCE DIRECTORIES, HOST COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND FACILITATE TRAININGS TO INCREASE REACH OF LCHT'S PROGRAM.

HOTLINE AND RESOUCE DIRECTORY: THIS PROGRAM GOAL IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING TRAFFICKING AND DEVELOP COMMUNITY- BASED AGENCIES ACROSS COLORADO AS THEY ADDRESS HUMAN EXPLOITATION. WE MANAGE THE 24/7 STATEWIDE COLORADO HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE AND TEXT LINE, AND ONLINE RESOURCE DIRECTORY. WE CONTINUED TO SEE AN INCREASE IN CALLS GENERATED BY THE STATEWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN (THISISHUMANTRAFFICKING.COM). IN 2023, WE RESPONDED TO 1,259 CALLS AND TEXTS (TOP CALL TYPES: REFERRALS = 331; TIPS = 324; INFORMATIONAL = 116). WE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE CALL/TEXT FROM 40 COUNTIES IN 2023.