The Roots of Crisis: Sex Trafficking Indicators in Mental Health Response

This presentation was part of the 6th Annual Mobile Mental Health Crisis Response Summit.

Mental health crisis can often be a result of ongoing victimization. This session will share ways that sex trafficking survivors may present with mental health crises. The presenters will draw on professional experiences as well as data from the field on the intersections of sex trafficking and mental health crisis work.

Learning Objectives: Attendees will become familiar with dynamics of sex trafficking Attendees will apply knowledge of sex trafficking dynamics to mental health crisis scenarios to better identify situations that may involve both Attendees will learn how to connect potential sex trafficking survivors with services and a 24/7 response  

Content Level: General level: Covers crisis response basics and terminology.

Presenter: Anne LaFrinier-Ritchie, BA, Regional Navigator – Someplace Safe, Andrea White, Regional Navigator – Olmsted County Victim Services, and Carly Hiti, Criminal Justice Services Coordinator – Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault (PAVSA)

Bio: Anne has been working in anti-trafficking as a regional navigator in Minnesota and North Dakota since 2016. She is a graduate of NHTTAC’s HTLA, partners with tribal communities in various roles, and is a member of local and national tribal boards.

Andrea White is the Regional Navigator for Southeastern MN and is housed within Victim Services in Dodge, and Olmsted Counties. Previously, Andrea has worked in Social Services both in Children’s Mental Health Case Management and Child Welfare. Additionally, Andrea has worked as an advocate in various sexual assault agencies across Minnesota since 2012.

Carly Hiti is the Criminal Justice Services Coordinator at the Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault (PAVSA) in Duluth, MN. In her role at PAVSA, Carly provides supportive services to victim-survivors of sexual violence, as well as providing support for advocates and professionals working with victim-survivors within the criminal justice realm.