The SPI Four Corners Anti Trafficking Crisis Intervention Network Project

Abstract 

The project titled, “SPI Four Corners Anti Trafficking Crisis Intervention Network supports and encourages a collaborative effort among local and federal law enforcement, prosecutors, housing and behavioral health service providers in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado, otherwise known as congressional district areas NM-03, AZ-02, CO-02, CO-03, UT-02). The aforementioned is one of two network(s) we are proposing to develop. 

The Four Corners States are rural communities with a lack of services for Victims of sex and labor trafficking. SPI seeks to fill this gap through education, and collaborations which assist housing providers in providing direct housing services with a focus on collaborating with tribal communities and law enforcement. Our future goals are to develop and build more safe homes for indigenous, men, women and youth victims of sex and labor trafficking within Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. 

The CEO of SPI, La Tonya Delilah Westrick, affectionately called Lilah has over 23 years experience managing and working with victims of various forms of abuse, and/or working in collaboration with agencies on housing needs. SPI is proposing a network involving crisis intervention directed at assisting law enforcement and other agencies in utilizing existing safe houses as check points. This will be in collaboration with multiple agencies in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. 

The population of focus are sex and labor trafficked victims with a focus on the youth. We are proposing to set up network contacts and safety points in areas where indigenous people are frequently reported missing. The mentors and Trainers on this project are experts in housing and serving victims of human trafficking. 

Narrative . 

SPI proposes a regional partnership including its own two network projects. Because the lack of adequate safe homes exist within our rural communities, as well as statewide within the Four Corners states, these projects were created in response to this RFP. The Networks consist of an array of Four Corners agencies. (SPI Four Corners Anti-Trafficking Crisis Intervention Network) will provide network, crisis intervention, referral and transport services to secure the safety of victims of sex and labor trafficking, while partnering with our network SPI Sabbath Moments Housing Network.. 

SPI Four Corners Anti Trafficking Crisis Intervention Network, exists to provide law enforcement, housing navigators, and safe homes with coordination the safe transport and delivery of victims of trafficking to participating emergency and transitional safe homes close to their location who can provide Recovery Services (substance abuse services). It is our hope that we can fund safe homes with the ability to provide direct services including rapid rehousing funds to aid victims with therapeutic engagement from our participating therapist, and/or local therapists to transition into a permanent home of their own, coupled with a safety plan. 

Together, these two network entities will conduct cross-system planning over the next three years, which will culminate in the proposed states, rural and metropolitan areas of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah to reduce abduction rates of American Indians in these regions. 

The SPI Four Corners Anti-Trafficking Housing Network and our SPI Sabbath Moments Housing Network will utilize a network of collaborative housing systems between the four corners states centered around the Kaseware database currently utilized by law enforcement. This database will aid our Field Housing Navigators in safely transporting victims between states and housing sites. 

          By partnering with law enforcement, housing agencies, behavioral health and search and rescue providers  in each state, we can enhance existing crisis intervention and perhaps rescue operation services for victims of human trafficking. By creating  housing models that provide specialized services such as Medicated Assisted Treatment for Substance Use Disorders within  New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah, we endeavor to develop through the SPI Four Corners Anti-Human Trafficking Crisis Intervention Network and our SPI Sabbath Moments Housing Network to provide safer victim retrieval protocols utilizing the Kaseware database between states and in-network providers of the Four Corners Anti Trafficking Crisis Intervention Network. . We are also proposing with this project to provide training and technical assistance (TTA) to organizations providing housing assistance to survivors of trafficking. 

Within the last two years, the issue of traffickers relocating victims from our providers (especially in the state of Arizona) is becoming a liability that we must confront. The Kaseware database which among many of its purposes, is used for human trafficking will be vital to the success of this project. This system, which has been used by law enforcement and colleges, will center our law enforcement, Field Housing Navigators, Search and Rescue teams, behavioral health providers, Prevention and CCSS providers, referrals and communications through the Kaseware database system. 

Our network(s), which are designed to help network providers remain connected to partnering in-network providers within the regions we serve, will create a faster, more efficient way of communicating during a crisis, while allowing us to store and collect the data we so desperately need for this issue. 

By identifying and partnering with safe homes on and off tribal lands, we hope to achieve implementation of this project and offer direct services support for victims of human trafficking as their transition into a permanent housing setting begins their healing journey. 

SPI’s Mission is: 

To protect our Four Corners communities, reduce the lack of safe housing, and increase effective direct services for at-risk youth, and adult victims of human trafficking by creating, educating, developing and implementing a network of providers across the Four Corners States that are vigilant, trauma-informed, and victim focused. 

Testimonials As Data 

According to the MMIIWR report (Dec, 2020), “ A testimonial from a parent who attended a public meeting of the Navajo Nation Human Trafficking task force commented on the lack of available services for survivor families who are un prepared for the personality changes of the victims returning home to them: “I’m hearing a lot of stories about the missing, but my daughter was missing, and one of the stories I haven’t heard is what happens when they come home. I’m sorry. My daughter came home – my daughter came home, and we didn’t bury her. That’s all you pray for. You’re not ready for how they are when they come home. The one thing I found since she’s been home, is there's no support. It was a struggle to find her, and after everything we went through to bring her home, what never came up is what happens after.” (2020, NM_MMIWR) 

In addition to supporting victims and caregivers, the SPI Four Corners Anti-Trafficking Crisis Intervention Network whose partners are located throughout the four corners states recognizes the need to target traffickers and the vital role of law enforcement and prosecution in a comprehensive approach to reduce demand of indigenous peoples, and the citizens of Arizona, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico