Date of Award

6-2018

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Chang, Janet

Abstract

Human Trafficking is the modern-day equivalent of slavery. Those who perpetuate it do so because it is lucrative to invest in a product that can be resold multiple times (Ellis, 2017). The recent advancement of technology has tremendously helped traffickers thrive in the illicit business of Human Trafficking. Social media websites, online classifieds, and mobile applications are quickly becoming some of the major mediums perpetrators utilize to traffick their victims (Latonero, 2012). The purpose of this study was to examine social service workers’ knowledge on the use of technology for Human Trafficking. Face-to-face interviews were conducted and the participants were asked a series of open-ended questions. Participants in this study were recruited from a social service agency in San Bernardino County that frequently serves survivors of Human Trafficking. The study found that all of the participants felt confident in their ability to serve survivors of Human Trafficking. The study also found that most participants had little to no training in regards to the topic, and did not have any knowledge of the kind of language used by perpetrators for Human Trafficking.

In order to address the different components of the issue, social service workers should advocate for trainings in order to stay competent in regards to the issue. Social service agencies who serve the community must offer appropriate interventions and services for Human Trafficking survivors. Finally, social service workers should continue to advocate for legislature and policy that will help survivors recover versus legislation and policy that is punitive.

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