Attorney General Dave Yost’s Human Trafficking Summit will mark its sixth year on July 30, returning to the Hyatt Regency Columbus, site of last year’s event.
This summit brings together community stakeholders from throughout Ohio who are committed to ending sex and labor trafficking. AG Yost and his Human Trafficking Initiative (HTI) team encourage advocates and social workers, survivors, law enforcement officers, lawyers, prosecutors, judges and others to join us. Whether you’re a newcomer to the fight or a longtime advocate, the summit provides an ideal setting for learning, sharing insights and experiences, and developing new friendships. You’re sure to leave feeling enlightened and energized.
The daylong event will feature opening remarks from AG Yost, a keynote presentation on compassion fatigue and burnout prevention from Dr. Alexis Kennedy of the University of Nevada, and your choice of four hourlong workshops.
The cost for the 2025 summit, including lunch, is $60 per person before June 16, $80 thereafter. No requests for registration refunds will be honored after July 16, 2025. The deadline to register is July 7.
Limited scholarships are available for survivors and students. You can find out how to submit a scholarship application here.
If you have questions, please email Yost’s HTI team at [email protected].
Regency Ballroom Foyer
Regency Ballroom
• Dr. Alexis Kennedy, Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Nevada, Las VegasDrawing from her own cutting-edge neuroscience research and her 35 years in the anti-trafficking field, Alexis Kennedy explores the biological effects of trauma exposure and identifies critical warning signs of burnout that threaten advocates’ effectiveness. Dr. Kennedy recalls her own burnout journey in unpacking how the mind and body process the heavy emotional toll of anti-trafficking work but also bringing clarity and fresh hope to anyone feeling stretched too thin. Her parting gift to summit attendees: three practical, science-based strategies for protecting your well-being without weakening your impact, ensuring that you can stay in the fight longer and help survivors more effectively.
WORKSHOPS 1-7Workshop 1 | Breaking the Cycle: Examining the Intersections of Human Trafficking, Substance Use Disorder, and Incarceration in Marginalized CommunitiesWorkshop 2 | Survivor Perspectives on Faith Practices in Shelter: Findings from a National StudyWorkshop 3 | Forging New Connections: Building Capacity to Identify Underrecognized TypologiesWorkshop 4 | Improving Our Response to Human Trafficking Through the Lens of a Case StudyWorkshop 5 | Intelligence Support for Human Trafficking and Illicit Massage InvestigationsWorkshop 6 | Operation March On: A West Side StoryWorkshop 7 | The Loneliness Epidemic and Human Trafficking
WORKSHOPS 8-14Workshop 8 | A Triumphant and Turbulent Tale of a Juvenile Court’s Response to Human TraffickingWorkshop 9 | Case Study: The Steven Gilbert CaseWorkshop 10 | Recognizing and Working With Dissociation: Approaches for Support and Healing Workshop 11 | Educating to Combat Stigma and Uncover Substance Use and Human TraffickingWorkshop 12 | Softening the Approach to Disclosure: The Medical Forensic ExamWorkshop 13 | Synchronizing Investigations and Victim Services Workshop 14 | The Disclosure Moment: Tools for Schools and Community Partners
WORKSHOPS 15-21Workshop 15 | A Day in "The Life:" Addressing the Health-Care Response and Medical Treatment of Those in The Life of Human TraffickingWorkshop 16 | Are We Making a Difference?Workshop 17 | Case Study: The Deondre Inkton Case (Part 1)Workshop 18 | Integrating Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Services: Bridging Gaps for SurvivorsWorkshop 19 | See the Truth, Stop the CycleWorkshop 20 | Thriving Long-Term: Creating Health and Wellness for Survivors Beyond a ProgramWorkshop 21 | Youth Trafficking and Schools: Building a Coordinated Response
WORKSHOPS 22-28Workshop 22 | Case Study: The Deondre Inkton Case (Part 2)Workshop 23 | Care After Trauma: Implementing Trauma-Informed Care into Your Clinical PracticeWorkshop 24 | "I Do Not Have a Self": Deeping our Understanding of “Bottom Girls” as Complex Trauma Survivors Within Human TraffickingWorkshop 25 | In Concrete, Flowers Grow: Planting Seeds of Empowerment in JailsWorkshop 26 | Labor Trafficking: Do You Stay or Do You Go?Workshop 27 | Rooted in Respect: Lifting Up Black and Brown Youth Through Cultural Humility and Trauma-Informed AdvocacyWorkshop 28 | The Intersection of Missing Persons and Human Trafficking Victimization
Dr. Kennedy is an award-winning trauma researcher at the University of Nevada who spent decades working with victims of human trafficking and child abuse. More recently, she switched her research focus to burnout, compassion fatigue, and the enduring effects of helping victims in crisis.
Dr. Kennedy is passionate about sharing her psychological expertise regarding the latest information on burnout prevention. She has led more than 100 workshops on best practices for resilience, speaking to firefighters, emergency dispatchers, therapists, nurses, attorneys, judges, and students. She also weaves the latest science on stress into her university classes for aspiring professionals in health care, criminal justice, emergency management, and other disciplines.
Registration for the 2025 Human Trafficking Summit cannot be completed until you select the workshops that you would like to attend during the summit. You should choose one workshop per Breakout Session – for a total of four workshops.
Workshop 1 | Breaking the Cycle: Examining the Intersections of Human Trafficking, Substance Use Disorder, and Incarceration in Marginalized Communities
• Akia Lampkin, Jordan Community Resource CenterThe overlapping crises of human trafficking, substance use disorder, and incarceration disproportionately affect marginalized populations. Traffickers often exploit individuals with substance use disorder, either initiating or supporting dependency to exert control. And trafficking victims frequently face incarceration for crimes they were coerced into, perpetuating a cycle of trauma and vulnerability. Additionally, systemic inequities — such as limited access to health care, education, and justice — further entrench these individuals in a cycle of exploitation and criminalization. This presentation explores these intersections, providing recent statistical insights and spotlighting the specific effects on marginalized communities.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, law enforcement, victim-services providers• Tags: incarceration, marginalized populations, substance use
Workshop 2 | Survivor Perspectives on Faith Practices in Shelter: Findings from a National Study
• Jeanne Allert, Institute for Survivor Care In 2024, the Institute for Survivor Care conducted a national study of trafficking survivors who had been in faith-based shelter care. The study was designed to shed light on where there might be compulsion or coercion of survivors to engage in faith practices and how survivors responded to those practices. The study results are presented in this session.• Intended audiences: victim-services providers• Tags: faith-based programs, national study, research
Workshop 3 | Forging New Connections: Building Capacity to Identify Underrecognized Typologies
• Emily Shugert-Miller, The Salvation Army• Michelle Hannan, The Salvation ArmyThis collaborative conversation targets evidence-informed outreach, engagement, and services for survivors trafficked in five under-recognized typologies of human trafficking: forced marriage, restaurants/food service, domestic service, hair and nail salons, and forced criminality. Highlighted is The Salvation Army’s Underidentified Typologies Project, including a discussion of lessons learned about the typologies and action steps devised through the combined insights of partner organizations and The Salvation Army’s Survivor Advisory Council.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, victim-services providers• Tags: outreach, marginalized populations, underrecognized victims
Workshop 4 | Improving Our Response to Human Trafficking Through the Lens of a Case Study
• Haleigh Young, Ohio Department of Children & YouthUsing the unique perspective of a survivor’s lived experience, this presentation explores how child-serving systems and professionals can improve their identification of and response to victims of human trafficking. Included in the conversation are the need to expand perceptions of how human trafficking occurs among children and youth and the impact of human trafficking on minor victims and survivors; the difference between a trauma-informed and trauma-responsive approach and how a trauma-responsive approach can help professionals overcome barriers to identification; the importance of looking past presenting problems, symptoms, and behaviors to build a comprehensive picture of a survivor's experiences; and the value of a multidisciplinary response that facilitates cross-systems collaboration.• Intended audiences: victim-services providers, youth-serving agencies• Tags: case study, children and youth, lived experience, multidisciplinary teams
Workshop 5 | Intelligence Support for Human Trafficking and Illicit Massage Investigations
• Alyssa Newell, Ohio State Highway Patrol• Taylor Bright, Ohio State Highway PatrolThis session begins with a brief introduction to the human trafficking team within the State Highway Patrol’s Intelligence Unit, followed by an overview of the role and capabilities of intelligence analysis regarding tips and investigations. Likewise, the presenters explain how to optimize intelligence analysis to advance investigations and prosecutions and identify current trends in illicit massage activity, including parallels between illicit massage investigations and transnational criminal operations. Also discussed are the significance and potential impact of intelligence gleaned from illicit massage tips and investigations, which help in the identification and investigation of organized criminal networks. Best practices and case studies are shared.• Intended audiences: law enforcement• Tags: illicit massage businesses, investigation, prosecution
Workshop 6 | Operation March On: A West Side Story
• Emily Czerniejewski, United States Attorney’s Office• Brandon Harmon, Columbus Division of PoliceOperation March On, initiated in 2021, targeted a Columbus drug-trafficking organization led by Patrick Saultz and Cordell Washington. The investigation revealed how the traffickers were bringing kilogram quantities of drugs into the city’s west side and selling them to coerce individuals to engage in sexual activity for profit. The nonstop twists and turns ultimately prompted the federal indictments of 23 people on charges of sex and labor trafficking and various other crimes. The case ended in a three-week trial, during which prosecutors and agents worked to help the jury understand the complexities of street-level human trafficking centered on Sullivant Avenue and the manipulative tactics used by the traffickers to maximize their profits from the sale of both drugs and sex.• Intended audiences: law enforcement, legal professionals• Tags: case study, investigation, prosecution, substance abuse
Workshop 7 | The Loneliness Epidemic and Human Trafficking
• Jenny Footle, Beautiful Feet WellnessAccording to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, loneliness and a lack of connection affect health as negatively as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The former also puts people at risk of being trafficked or becoming buyers of sex. This workshop examines data and case studies on loneliness and human trafficking and focuses on the power of community and connection to help trafficking survivors to recover and sex buyers to rehabilitate.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, law enforcement, legal professionals, victim-services providers• Tags: demand reduction, mental health, prevention
I am not attending a workshop during this breakout session.
Workshop 8 | A Triumphant and Turbulent Tale of a Juvenile Court’s Response to Human Trafficking
• Amy Henning, Franklin County Domestic Relations & Juvenile Court• Larry Sanchez, Franklin County Domestic Relations & Juvenile Court• Lasheyl Stroud, Franklin County Domestic Relations & Juvenile CourtJudge Stroud, Magistrate Sanchez and Specialty Docket Program Director Henning outline the steps taken by the Franklin County Domestic Relations & Juvenile Court to combat juvenile trafficking from all angles. Inspired by "trafficking courts" nationwide, the county has adopted a multilevel approach that best fits its court and population. The team shares its experiences — from the court's first contact with program participants to its last — candidly describing the triumphs and turbulence involving participants as well as internal staff and external agencies. Young trafficking survivors who took part in the program add important perspective.• Intended audiences: law enforcement, legal professionals, victim-services providers, youth-serving agencies• Tags: juvenile court, multidisciplinary teams
Workshop 9 | Case Study: The Steven Gilbert Case
• Brittany Oldfield, RiskSlate Inc.• Catherine Brown, RiskSlate • John Morgan, RiskSlate, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office/Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force (retired)For years, Steven Gilbert operated a criminal enterprise that went undetected by both law enforcement and many financial institutions. Ultimately, though, the case resulted in the longest human trafficking sentence in state history. Using the Gilbert case as an example, the workshop presenters explore how traffickers modify their approach over time to evade detection. Technological advances and the digitization of banking provide opportunities for traffickers to build and operate vast criminal enterprises that thrive on the exploitation of victims and exploit deficiencies in the current system. The team from Risk Slate shares Brittany’s harrowing story of survival, escape, and restoration as she continues to implore the system to evolve to protect victims.• Intended audiences: Law enforcement, legal professionals• Tags: case study, investigation, lived experience, prosecution, technology
Workshop 10 | Recognizing and Working with Dissociation: Approaches for Support and Healing
• Andrea Lisowski, Peace River Consulting and Wellness• Dianne Curtis, Summit County Juvenile CourtDissociation is a common response to severe trauma that can manifest itself as emotional numbing, memory gaps, or detachment. Attendees learn about dissociation and its effects on human trafficking survivors through this exploration of the trauma-dissociation relationship; dissociative symptoms; and strategies for creating a safe, supportive environment. Participants are provided tools to manage dissociation and foster healing, empowerment, and resilience in survivors.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, legal professionals, victim-services providers• Tags: clinical practice, mental health, trauma-responsive care
Workshop 11 | Educating to Combat Stigma and Uncover Substance Use and Human Trafficking
• Anna Becks, MetroHealth Medical Center (SANE Program)• Annette Mango, MetroHealth Medical Center (SANE Program)• Kristin Hess, MetroHealth Medical Center (Office of Opioid Safety)In 2022, MetroHealth — a Cleveland public hospital located in the epicenter of Cuyahoga County’s opioid crisis — treated three previously identified cases of human trafficking. By happenstance early the next year, the Office of Opioid Safety and the Forensic Unit initiated a grass-roots collaboration to educate staff on the intersection of substance use disorder and human trafficking. The education is tailored to respective departments — from prehospital to corrections and beyond — as each department uniquely encounters these vulnerable patients. As a direct result of this education, positive identification soared, with 71 women identified as experiencing both human trafficking and substance use disorder. This work has inspired new hospital programs and the addition of a victim advocate, helping to reduce bias and increase treatment opportunities.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, law enforcement, victim-services providers• Tags: public health, substance use
Workshop 12 | Softening the Approach to Disclosure: The Medical Forensic Exam
• Bonnie Price, Bon Secours Mercy Health, St. Mary’s Hospital• Mindy Lause, Bon Secours Mercy Health, St. Vincent Medical CenterThis discussion of forensic nursing includes an examination of the specialty, populations served, program structures, and collaboration with community leaders in law enforcement, prosecution, advocacy, and other areas. Also addressed is the medical forensic exam, including medical history, forensic photography, evidence collection, and courtroom testimony. The presentation concludes with an explanation of the importance of requesting a forensic nurse and providing resources.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, law enforcement, legal professionals, victim-services providers• Tags: forensic nursing, multidisciplinary teams
Workshop 13 | Synchronizing Investigations and Victim Services
• Chris Lim, Institute for Survivor CareUltimately, law enforcement and victim services have similar goals, just different responsibilities and pathways for achieving them. When the two work collaboratively, those responsibilities sometimes collide. Resolving these challenges is essential to a successful investigation and prosecution as well as survivor healing. This training reviews these competing priorities and reveals ways to reach the mutually shared goals without jeopardizing the investigation or inflicting additional trauma. Session participants help to show how competing priorities can be deconflicted, investigations supported, and survivors empowered.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, law enforcement, victim-services providers• Tags: conflict resolution, investigation, multidisciplinary teams, prosecution, victim services
Workshop 14 | The Disclosure Moment: Tools for Schools and Community Partners
• Amanda Taggart, 3Strands Global Foundation In this digital age, how can youth be better protected from human trafficking? This hands-on session explores that question through scenario-based learning, protocol design, and interactive decision mapping. Participants examine digital risk factors, simulate a cross-sector response, and build a trauma-informed action plan using tools from 3Strands Global Foundation. Designed for educators, advocates and youth-serving professionals, the workshop offers strategies for improving collaboration, closing system gaps, and strengthening prevention efforts in real-world settings.• Intended audiences: victim-services providers, youth-serving agencies• Tags: children and youth, interactive, online safety, prevention
Workshop 15 | A Day in "The Life:" Addressing the Health-Care Response and Medical Treatment of Those in The Life of Human Trafficking
• Annette Mango, MetroHealth System• Heather Wilde, Forensic Nursing Network• Lara Wilken, Bowling Green State UniversityVictims of sex trafficking are susceptible to physical, mental, and emotional abuse that requires medical treatment. Sex trafficking is often called commercial sex, and many survivors refer to it as “the life.” This presentation encompasses discussion, simulation, and survivor experience, walking attendees through a day in "the life” with a focus on the health-care response and medical treatment of trafficking victims.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, victim-services providers• Tags: coordinated response, interactive, lived experience, simulation
Workshop 16 | Are We Making a Difference?
• Chris Lim, Institute for Survivor CareDecisions about human trafficking operations and victim services tend to be based on what seems most urgent. Legislators and policy-makers draft bills and guidance depending on who has their ear. Urgency and advocacy are both important factors, but they’re not the most important. What if these decisions were based on known objective facts? What if those looking to help victims could truly understand the types of trafficking happening in their area so they could make impactful decisions regarding what victim services and law enforcement activities are needed?• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, law enforcement, legal professionals, victim-services providers• Tags: advocacy, evidence-based practice
Workshop 17 | Case Study: The Deondre Inkton Case (Part 1)
• Alicia Paolucci, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office• Chad Tibbitts, Lorain County Sheriff's Office• John Morgan, JLMorganSolutionsIn law enforcement investigations, the process of gathering, verifying, and analyzing evidence is both art and science. The first part of the Deondre Inkton case study covers the systematic steps involved in this complex investigation, highlighting the techniques and strategies used to track and identify those ultimately charged with illicit activities. Beginning with a simple tip from a social worker, investigators methodically built the case using search warrants, subpoenas, cross-referenced digital data, and more. Their ability to adapt and tap a variety of resources — Cash App records and iCloud data included — allowed them to explore every potential lead and meticulously verify each detail. The case illustrates the importance of following the evidence wherever it leads, and how each action in an investigation plays a pivotal role in a successful outcome.• Intended audiences: law enforcement, legal professionals, victim-services providers• Tags: case study, investigation, multidisciplinary teams, prosecution
Workshop 18 | Integrating Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Services: Bridging Gaps for Survivors
• Cheryl Stahl, Ohio Domestic Violence Network• Julie Sundquist, HomeSafe Domestic Violence Shelter• Shelley Marsh, Ohio Domestic Violence NetworkThis presentation examines the overlap in services for victims of domestic violence and victims of human trafficking, reinforcing how DV programs are equipped to serve trafficking survivors. It covers common issues — mental health, substance use, and trauma recovery — and introduces tools such as safer use plans and recovery safety plans. Also discussed is the Ohio Domestic Violence Network's Anti-Human Trafficking Program, which helps domestic violence shelters address the needs of trafficking survivors. Case studies and interactive activities help to guide attendees on developing practical strategies for supporting survivors. By the end, attendees are equipped to better integrate and serve trafficking survivors within existing services.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, victim-services providers• Tags: domestic violence, shelter, trauma-informed care
Workshop 19 | See the Truth, Stop the Cycle
• Daniel Haueter, Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task ForceThe public’s perception of human trafficking as vile prompts too many people to adopt a “don’t look, don’t ask” mind-set, allowing human trafficking not only to occur but also to flourish. The net effect is “unwitting enabling” at the hands of the public and, at times, even law enforcement. The presenter shares examples to highlight the general misconception that all commercial sex is nothing more than an encounter between TWO consenting adults. Workshop attendees learn about strategies to address this problem and educate the public. • Intended audiences: health-care professionals, law enforcement, legal professionals, victim-services providers• Tags: demand reduction
Workshop 20 | Thriving Long-Term: Creating Health and Wellness for Survivors Beyond a Program
• Jenny Footle, Beautiful Feet WellnessSafehouses, rehab, medical treatment — they’re all costly, and none is intended as a long-term solution for human trafficking survivors. So how do we keep survivors from ending up back in the cycle of needing intensive support? This exploration of health and wellness from a public-health perspective is based on research informed by survivors – notably, what has and has not worked to keep them moving forward on the healing journey. Attendees learn simple ways to equip the survivors they encounter.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, law enforcement, legal professionals, victim-services providers, youth-serving agencies• Tags: long-term care, public health
Workshop 21 | Youth Trafficking and Schools: Building a Coordinated Response
• Hannah Swift, GracehavenA school environment offers a perspective of students that many others won’t ever see, reinforcing how school officials can serve as the first line of defense and response to youth human trafficking in their communities. This presentation explains how to create a comprehensive response to human trafficking in schools through universal education, a dedicated response team, and a written-response protocol. These strategies allow schools to play a crucial role in prevention, early intervention, and support for youth.• Intended audiences: victim-services providers, youth-serving agencies• Tags: children and youth, coordinated response, prevention
Workshop 22 | Case Study: The Deondre Inkton Case (Part 2)
• Alicia Paolucci, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office• Chad Tibbitts, Lorain County Sheriff's Office• John Morgan, JLMorganSolutionsIn the fight against human trafficking, successful investigations not only uncover the truth — they make that truth accessible, understandable, and compelling in a courtroom. The second part of the Deondre Inkton case study examines the final stages of a human trafficking case, from preparing evidence and victims for trial to negotiating plea deals and achieving a significant conviction. The path to justice in human trafficking cases is long and demanding, but the rewards are undeniable. Prosecutors and law enforcement officers must work in tandem to prepare the evidence, protect the victims, and ensure that the story of the crime is told in a way that resonates with the jury. Plea negotiations must be handled carefully, and sentencing should reflect the gravity of the crime, providing a sense of justice and closure for the victims.• Intended audiences: law enforcement, legal professionals, victim-services providers• Tags: case study, investigation, multidisciplinary teams, prosecution
Workshop 23 | Care After Trauma: Implementing Trauma-Informed Care into Your Clinical Practice
• Michele Reali-Sorrell, Cleveland Clinic• Jackie Lynch, Cleveland ClinicA patient's experience of trauma, whether recent or in the past, can significantly affect his/her health and engagement in health-care services. Trauma-informed care, which involves organizational and clinical modifications, can greatly benefit such patients by enhancing engagement, health outcomes, and the wellness of providers and staff while simultaneously reducing unnecessary utilization. The Cleveland Clinic’s Forensic Nursing Program has established follow-up clinics — Care After Trauma (CAT) and Emotional Care After Trauma (E-CAT) — by incorporating into clinical practice the six guiding principles of trauma-informed care. In addressing the unique needs of trauma survivors, the clinics provide a safe and supportive environment for survivors’ recovery. By prioritizing trauma-informed care, health-care providers can create a more effective and compassionate system that truly supports victims.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, victim-services providers• Tags: clinical practice, forensic nursing, trauma-informed care
Workshop 24 | "I Do Not Have a Self": Deeping our Understanding of “Bottom Girls” as Complex Trauma Survivors Within Human Trafficking
• Ashley Kline, Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center• Megan Vermillion, Hope and Healing Survivor Resource CenterUnderstanding the nuanced experiences of “bottom girls” in human trafficking is imperative for professionals seeking to recognize the diverse spectrum of traumatic experiences that victims face. This training offers valuable insights into the tactics employed by traffickers to coerce victims into the dehumanizing “bottom” role, leading to a profound moral conflict and lost sense of self when victims are compelled to inflict harm on others for their own survival. Using a trauma-informed approach, attendees can develop the understanding and skills necessary to navigate the intricate web of survivor experiences, fostering heightened empathy and delivering impactful support when engaging with trafficking victims.• Intended audiences: law enforcement, legal professionals, victim-services providers• Tags: clinical practice, multidisciplinary teams, trauma-informed care
Workshop 25 | In Concrete, Flowers Grow: Planting Seeds of Empowerment in Jails
• Lara Wilken, Bowling Green State University• Tracy McGinley, Bowling Green State UniversityThe success of the Life Recovery Program at the Erie County jail reinforces how, when the community gets involved, inmates can flourish. The presenters of this workshop represent one such community partnership at the jail, where they lead empowerment sessions with women in custody. Among other things, the group discusses the importance of setting boundaries, maintaining healthy relationships, and other factors that can empower them by helping them to better understand the dangers associated with human trafficking. On a broader level, the jail partners with a nearby career center to provide academic instruction, with churches to offer spiritual counseling, and with the local health department to provide peer support and nursing care. The benefits of these partnerships are real.• Intended audiences: law enforcement, victim-services providers• Tags: incarceration, multidisciplinary teams, support groups, trauma-informed care
Workshop 26 | Labor Trafficking: Do You Stay or Do You Go?
• Anna Travis, Delaware County Juvenile Court• Chelsea Gaffey, Ohio Department of Youth Services• Jodi Stanton, Hamilton County Juvenile CourtThe interactive “Do You Stay or Do You Go?” activity simulates the experience of a juvenile victim of human trafficking, helping attendees to learn to recognize signs of trafficking, understand the dynamics of exploitation, build empathy with those who experience trafficking, and highlight the intersection of human trafficking and youth involved in the justice system. Covered in the workshop are the basics of human trafficking, what to do if you suspect trafficking, and existing resources. Issues related to labor trafficking – including forced criminality and gang involvement – are likewise addressed. Although the activity focuses on the experience of a juvenile, the workshop content is relevant to those who work with adults.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, law enforcement, legal professionals, victim-services providers, youth-serving agencies• Tags: children and youth, interactive, labor trafficking
Workshop 27 | Rooted in Respect: Lifting Up Black and Brown Youth Through Cultural Humility and Trauma-Informed Advocacy
• Crystal Ann Hall, Black Child Development Institute – OhioThis dynamic workshop explores how culturally humble, trauma-informed approaches can enhance outcomes for Black and Brown youth impacted by systemic vulnerabilities, including human trafficking. Informed by community insights and evidence-based practices, the session empowers participants to recognize intersectional risk factors, confront implicit bias, and apply culturally respectful, resilience-based strategies. Through real-world case scenarios and reflective activities, attendees gain practical tools to inform advocacy and care with integrity, empathy and impact.• Intended audiences: health-care professionals, law enforcement, legal professionals, victim-services providers, youth-serving agencies• Tags: children and youth, cultural humility, evidence-based practice, trauma-informed care
Workshop 28 | The Intersection of Missing Persons and Human Trafficking Victimization
• Carolyn Kinkoph, Alliance Against Human TraffickingDesigned for law enforcement officers, other first responders, and anyone else who encounters at-risk individuals, this presentation examines the intersection of missing persons and exploitation. Attendees hear about the dynamics involved in searching for missing persons; identifying human trafficking; and interacting with victims, survivors and families. Likewise, they learn how to provide support and resources for families of missing loved ones and potential victims of human trafficking. Also depicted are personal experiences with missing-person reporting and encounters with law enforcement, medical, social-service providers and the criminal-justice system.• Intended audiences: law enforcement, victim service providers• Tags: lived experience, missing persons, multidisciplinary teams
Please note that the registration process for the 2025 Human Trafficking Summit consists of three parts: completing the registration form, choosing your conference workshops and completing the billing information. If you are interested in sponsoring the registration fee of a survivor(s), please contact the Attorney General's Human Trafficking team at [email protected].
