Human Trafficking Leadership Academy

Current as of:
Sixteen smiling faces in conference room
HTLA fellows pictured with NHTTAC and Coro staff.

The Human Trafficking Leadership Academy (HTLA) is committed to developing and expanding survivor-informed services while also providing leadership development opportunities to survivor leaders and allied professionals. Fellows work collaboratively to provide substantive recommendations that will inform research, policies, and programs that improve awareness, understanding, and assistance to survivors of human trafficking or those at risk of human trafficking.

The leadership training provided at monthly seminars over the course of 4—6 months is applicable to the fellows’ current work and helps them grow in their chosen career. As they collaborate through a combination of in-person and virtual work, they also establish a trusted network among all the fellows that could last a lifetime. The final seminar includes a graduation ceremony and a presentation to federal stakeholders on findings and recommendations related to the project question.

Class 5 Information

Class 5 | Culture as Protective Factor to Prevent Trafficking Among Native Youth

HTLA Class 5 fellows will use trauma-informed principles, survivor-informed practices, knowledge and understanding of culture/tradition in Native communities, and knowledge of health and wellness in Native communities.

Fellows will also use new leadership skills in real time to work with their class to develop recommendations that will inform new research, policies, and programs that improve awareness, understanding, and assistance to survivors of human trafficking and those who are at risk of human trafficking. Selected candidates for Class 5 will work together to address the project question:

“How can culture be a protective factor in preventing trafficking among Native youth?”

Program Dates

San FranciscoHTLA Class IV, Seminar 1: San Francisco, CA October 28–29

HTLA Class IV, Seminar 2: San Francisco, CA November 13–14

HTLA Class IV, Seminar 3: San Francisco, CA December 2–3

HTLA Class IV, Seminar 4: San Francisco, CA January 6–7

HTLA Class IV, Seminar 5: San Francisco, CA February 19–20

HTLA Class IV, Seminar 6: Washington, DC March 26–27

Funding and Selection

All fellows will receive necessary travel expenses, including airfare, lodging, ground transportation, and meals. These individuals are eligible for a monthly stipend of $1,000. All twelve positions were prioritized in the selection process for those who identify as Native (“Native” is used to describe specific Native communities, such as American Indian, Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander, or Native Hawaiian, and other indigenous groups). Six positions are specifically prioritized for survivors of human trafficking who do not receive federal or state funding for their work. The remaining positions were dedicated to leaders in combating human trafficking and ally professionals who serve at-risk youth in Indigenous populations.

Diversity

NHTTAC strives to create diverse HTLA classes across experience, identity, and perspective. We sought to include survivors of both labor and sex trafficking, as well as individuals who identified across genders, sexual orientation, and nationality (including tribal affiliations/Pacific Indigenous groups).

Application Submission & Review Timeline

Nominations | June 25 – August 16, 2019

NHTTAC accepts nominations for potential participants. NHTTAC will contact nominees within three business days to request an application.

Applications l June 25 – August 16, 2019

NHTTAC accepts applications for potential participants.

Tier 1 Review l August 19 – 20, 2019

NHTTAC reviews all applications to ensure that applications are complete and eligibility criteria are met.

Tier 2 Review l August 20 – 23, 2019

Applications are reviewed by a panel of peers who are HTLA alumni.

Tier 3 Review l August 30 – September 10, 2019

A final group of applicants are interviewed virtually by NHTTAC and OTIP. Applicants who reach Tier 3 will be contacted to schedule an interview by August 28. Interviews will be scheduled August 30 – September 10.

Applicants who are accepted will be notified by September 13. Applicants who are not selected for this class will be notified by September 16.

HTLA Begins l October 28 – 29, 2019

Seminar 1 begins in San Francisco, CA. Fellows are required to participate in each seminar.

HTLA Alumni

Class 4 | 2Gen/Whole Family Approaches to Employment Opportunities and Economic Assets

From April 2019 to August 2019, fellows of the Academy worked together to provide recommendations that address the question: “How can state and local governments help survivors of trafficking reach financial stability (as defined through the 2-generation/whole family approach for postsecondary and employment opportunities and economic assets )?"

The fellows presented their recommendations in Washington, DC, to members of the Office on Trafficking in Persons, the Office on Women’s Health, and other federal stakeholders. Recommendations  (PDF)focused on service inclusivity, inclusivity in financial education and resources, creating a “one-stop shop” model for access of services, and incorporating resilience training throughout trafficking programs and services.

Class 3 | 2Gen/Whole Family Approaches to Preventing Child Trafficking

From October 2018 to January 2019, fellows from Florida and Georgia worked together to provide recommendations that address the question: “Using trauma-informed principles and survivor-informed practices, what strategies could reduce risk factors and increase protective factors within families that prevent the trafficking of minors? How can anti-trafficking efforts incorporate 2-generation and whole family approaches to programs and policies?”

The fellows presented their recommendations in Washington, DC, to members of the Office on Trafficking in Persons, the Office on Women’s Health, and other federal stakeholders. Recommendations  (PDF)focused on 2-generation resource centers, education as prevention, and access to mental health and substance use treatment.

Class 2 | Serving Trafficking Survivors with Substance Use & Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders

From May to August 2018, fellows from Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and Ohio worked together to provide recommendations that address the question: “Using trauma-informed principles and survivor-informed practices, how can service providers improve their support of human trafficking survivors who are struggling with co-occurring disorders?”

The fellows presented their recommendations in Washington, DC, to members of the Office on Trafficking in Persons, the Office on Women’s Health, and other federal stakeholders. Recommendations  (PDF)focused on risk reduction, cultural competency, housing, and peer support.

Class 1 | Defining Survivor-Informed Practices to Enhance Service Provision

HHS piloted the HTLA from June to September of 2017. A cohort of twelve fellows from California worked collaboratively to address the question: “How can OTIP grantees enhance their programming and services to support survivors of trafficking and/or those at risk using trauma-informed and survivor-informed practices?” 

At the final seminar in Washington, D.C., the fellows presented seven recommendations, including tools they developed, to OTIP, OWH, and other key federal stakeholders. Recommendations  (PDF)included a definition of survivor-informed practices and a checklist for organizations to assess their current implementation of survivor-informed practices.

In response to these recommendations, NHTTAC created the Toolkit for Building Survivor-Informed Organizations. This toolkit is a collection of new and existing resources that build organizational capacity to collaborate with and support staff, volunteers, and consultants who identify as survivor leaders.

Partners

To develop and deliver this program, NHTTAC partners with Coro, a nationally recognized leadership development organization. The HTLA fellowship is funded by the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP), the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), and the Office on Women’s Health (OWH) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center (NHTTAC).

About NHTTAC

NHTTAC is a program of OTIP that delivers training and technical assistance to inform and enhance the public health response to human trafficking. NHTTAC is committed to building the health and human services capacity of professionals to:

  • Reduce the vulnerabilities of those most at risk of human trafficking
  • Increase victim identification and access to trauma-informed services for all survivors
  • Strengthen the short-, medium-, and long-term health and well-being of survivors of human trafficking

About Coro

Coro: Northern California Logo

Coro delivers customized, cohort-based leadership development experiences focused on addressing specific issues and/or populations. Coro has supported countless fellows through partnerships with universities, local government, and nonprofits. Graduates from other Coro fellowship programs report—

  • 93 percent are more confident in leading/managing in challenging times
  • 81 percent are more confident in handling leadership responsibilities
  • 78 percent are more effective in leadership roles
  • 90 percent report having stronger interpersonal skills
  • 92 percent gained a better understanding of their institution or issue area

Contact info@nhttac.org for more information.