Anti-human Trafficking Interagency Collaboration in a Mid-Western State: An Exploratory Study

Purpose: This paper seeks to fill the current knowledge gap concerning anti-human trafficking interagency collaboration by examining individuals and agencies engaged in anti-human trafficking efforts, the characteristics of such interagency collaborative activities, and the perceptions concerning the benefits and barriers of engaging in such collaborative exchanges. Methods: Utilizing an exploratory case-study research design, with a mid-western state as the case-site, descriptive statistical techniques, such as frequencies and percentages, were calculated to generate a general description of participant demographics, interagency collaborative characteristics, and participants perceptions of interagency collaborative exchanges. Chi-square and fishers exact tests were employed to analyze the data with respect to the relationship between formal group membership in an anti-human trafficking working group and interagency collaborative outcomes. Results: The findings observed indicate that while a positive collaborative environment was present, a collaborative infrastructure and strategic framework to support systematic and sustained collaborative exchanges was lacking. However, formal group membership in an anti-human trafficking working group enhanced collaborative activities. Conclusions: Policy implications and future research directions are discussed. NOTE: I applied for a CSCE Dissemination Grant last year to present this manuscript. I was awarded the grant, however, I did not utilize the grant because I did not attend the conference (I have email documentation that indicates that I informed CSCE of my non-utilization of the grant funds). I am applying for the grant this year to present the results of this manuscript which have not been presented before