NCJ Number
228001
Date Published
2007
Length
47 pages
Annotation
One of a series of guidebooks for countering human trafficking for forced commercial sex and slave labor, this guidebook describes techniques service providers can use to reduce the impact of bias, power, and culture in interactions with trafficked victims.
Abstract
Chapter 1 guides service providers in identifying their biases through self-reflection, in conducting a self-assessment of how personal biases impact case work, and in using specific techniques for being objective and therefore reducing the impact of bias in case work with trafficking victims. In addressing the power issues in interaction with clients, chapter 2 assists service providers in understanding and recognizing power and control dynamics in interactions with clients, as well as applying techniques that balance power between the caseworker and the client. Chapter 3 first teaches clients how to research four cultural considerations in order to better understand trafficking victims from different cultures. The four considerations are cultural values (moral standards of a person or group); cultural norms (a person's behavior in a given situation); cultural communication (the process that allows people to exchange information either through verbal or nonverbal means); and subculture (group of people with beliefs that distinguish them from the larger and more dominant culture). The chapter then instructs caseworkers in identifying their own cultural biases and interpretation of power, in improving their cross-cultural communication skills, in developing a cross-cultural partnership with the client, and in advocating for culturally appropriate services. The concluding chapter outlines recommendations for supervisors in assisting their caseworkers in removing the adverse impacts of bias, power, and cultural differences in interactions with trafficking victims. Recommendations include providing cross-cultural training to case managers, collecting information on cultures and making it available to case managers, developing an extensive list of multicultural resources, and providing feedback and assessment to case managers. Appended checklist for minimizing bias, sharing power, and building a cross-cultural partnership with clients