Training announcement for staff working with youth who experienced or at risk of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation
Training is essential for effective work by child welfare and residential program staff if interacting with youth who experienced or at risk of sex trafficking (ST) and commercial sexual exploitation (CST). This is especially important in Minnesota because professional response relies on understanding definitions of sex trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation and risk. When staff is fully trained and understands how and when to connect with Minnesota’s Safe Harbor response, they provide better services to youth impacted by sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. There are two new training requirements regarding trafficking and exploitation.
- Training for facility staff in certified settings for ST/CSE/At Risk youth
To maintain certification as a ST/CSE/At Risk facility, it must demonstrate meeting the following training requirements at annual relicensing/recertification:
Minn. Stat. § 245A.25, subd. 5 (f), states license holders must ensure each staff person with direct contact, as defined in section 245C.02, subd. 11, with youth served by a license holder's program completes a human trafficking training approved by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (department) before staff person has direct contact with youth served by a program and annually thereafter. For programs certified prior to Jan. 1, 2022, license holders must ensure that each staff person at license holder's program completes the initial training by Jan. 1, 2022.
On Dec. 1, 2021, the department’s Licensing Division notified approved programs there will be a three month extension for completion of the training from the date it becomes available. All ST/CSE/At Risk certified programs will be contacted with a link to access the on-demand online training as soon as it is available. It will also be posted on the department’s website.
The intermediate-level training is specifically for staff in residential programs, including interviews with survivor subject matter experts, experienced residential providers, and service providers sharing examples, best practices and resources within child welfare, law enforcement and Safe Harbor responses across Minnesota. To demonstrate completion, staff take a brief post-training assessment and receive certification of completion.
Other staff in residential programs and other caregivers for trafficked, exploited and at risk youth are highly encouraged to also complete this training.
Trafficking, exploitation and Safe Harbor 101 training options
The commissioner-approved training will not include in-depth introductory training on trafficking. Residential program staff not yet completing basic training on trafficking and Minnesota Safe Harbor response should complete it before taking the new training. Two options for completing this training are:
MN ADOPT online webinar: Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation: Basics for Foster and Adoptive Families, is free through MN ADOPT. This webinar gives caregivers − focused on foster, pre-adoptive, and adoptive families − an overview of how to identify trafficking and exploitation, including grooming and recruitment behavior. Participants also learn about mandated reporting and the Safe Harbor response in Minnesota. The training discusses assessing safety and risk, and engaging youth while working toward normalcy in the home. Register and view webinar at MN ADOPT.
NOTE: This is a two-hour webinar created two years ago, but the information remains applicable. The first 30 minutes include human trafficking 101 information; the remainder is practice guidance for those in caregiving roles.
Safe Harbor regional navigators: Regional points of contact for everything regarding sexually exploited and trafficked youth. Local regional navigators provide community-specific training for staff in residential programs. Check the Safe Harbor services map for regional navigator contact information.
Human trafficking prevention education opportunities
A certification requirement for specialized programs for ST/CSE/At Risk youth is to provide human trafficking prevention education curriculum and support for youth. The department has offered scholarships for residential programs staff who want to be certified facilitators of Not a Number, a human trafficking prevention education curriculum through Love 146. Thirty-seven facilities staff received scholarships, completing training in November. Another round of scholarships and trainings begin in December 2021. Contact DHS.SafeHarbor@state.mn.us, and check the department’s Safe Harbor website beginning in January to access the scholarship application process. To learn more about the Not a Number prevention curriculum watch the video at https://love146.org/notanumber/.
Additional ongoing training resources for residential programs are available. These may provide options for completing ongoing training requirements, in addition to trainings offered through the Safe Harbor network. Information is available for programs by contacting your Safe Harbor regional navigator or DHS.SafeHarbor@state.mn.us.
- Training for child protection and child welfare staff
Minn. Stat. § 260E.36, subd. 1a, was added to require all staff with child protection duties under Minn. Stat. chapters 260C or 260E, to complete training implemented by the commissioner on sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of youth, effective July 1, 2021. In compliance with the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, training includes identification, assessment, and comprehensive service delivery for youth who were or at risk of sex trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation, in coordination with the Minnesota Safe Harbor response network. [Laws of Minnesota 2021, chapter 30, article 10, section 58]
Staff completing New Worker Foundations or Sexually Exploited Youth/ Human Trafficking Child Welfare Response (A and B) since January 2020 satisfy this requirement. Staff not yet completing Sexually Exploited Youth/ Human Trafficking Child Welfare Response through the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MCWTA) access registration through Train link. Additional trainings will be available in 2022.
Opportunities for facilities staff, child welfare and multidisciplinary partners
Those interested in participating in a multi-disciplinary work group focused on strengthening collaborative responses, providing recommendations for systems change, enhancing outcomes for SEY/CST and At-risk youth, see the department’s Child Trafficking and Exploitation Workgroup for information DHS-7641B-ENG.
Questions
For information regarding residential services, contact: dhs.csp.fostercare@state.mn.us.
For information regarding prevention services, contact: dhs.csp.safety@state.mn.us.
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