Freedom Registry provides data about nationwide anti-trafficking stakeholders, highlighting efforts committed to best practice

Human trafficking (HT) is a growing global phenomenon. Efforts to end HT have increased in recent years, but several challenges remain if HT is to be brought to an end. One such challenge is collaboration and best-practice sharing among anti-HT stakeholders is insufficient. Concrete and sustainable referral systems between agencies are not in place, knowledge sharing is neglected, and stakeholders often "reinvent the wheel" due to lack of understanding of what's already being done. Internet accessibility and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have undoubtedly assisted in the increase of public participation and concern regarding various social issues, including HT. While this increases volunteerism and raises the community's social conscience, it has also led to an overwhelming increase in new (often inexperienced) efforts; not to mention competition; regurgitation of inaccurate sensationalized information; and wasted resources. This leaves stakeholders and community advocates unsure and confused about who is doing what, and who is doing good work. To truly capture how stakeholders can end HT, we must coordinate our efforts and understand one another.

The Freedom Registry is an online database of anti-HT stakeholders across the U.S. The project's aim is to increase collaboration, reflect best practice standards, and recognize gap areas within the anti-HT movement. Freedom Registry is unique and innovative in several ways: First, Freedom Registry is a collaborative effort. The project was designed and is monitored by a steering committee of 7 well-respected national stakeholders including representatives from law enforcement, academia, policy-level advocates and direct practitioners. Second, Freedom Registry is specifically aimed at being comprehensive. Currently, there is no place to find comprehensive information on the national (or int'l) response to HT. Freedom Registry seeks to include all anti-HT efforts in various sectors, whether it's social service providers, law enforcement, research firms, academic institutions, grassroots organizations, labor activists, businesses, or student-led initiatives. Third, the Freedom Registry not only depicts what stakeholders do (objectives, activities, etc.); gathered data also reflects best practice standards adhered to by each participating organization - allowing concerned citizens, donors, government agencies, students, and other users to get a glimpse into the exact training, knowledge and standards that are informing each stakeholder's work. Finally, Freedom Registry is not a static effort. Project design includes strategic phases of using collected data to understand gap areas within research and across the movement, and make recommendations for change.

CASE STUDY #1: Janice, Project Manager for a domestic violence (DV) shelter, realizes she has several new cases of young women involved in prostitution and wants to incorporate a HT recovery element into their program. She does not have a lot of experience in HT and has difficulty finding someone to help her. Using Freedom Registry, she searches for likeminded efforts, even DV shelters who have expanded into HT. She can see which stakeholders have set specific standards, such as an implemented training policy. She gathers relevant contact information, is better informed on what needs to be done before she expands their program, and has an understanding of where to refer clients to if need be. CASE STUDY #2: Erik, a (student, businessman, teacher, etc.) sees a HT special on TV. He is horrified and wants to get involved. He does numerous Google searches, Facebook inquiries, etc. finding information on many organizations, but it's difficult to understand what their activities are, and many of them only talk about fundraising or "trafficking overseas". Many also claim to be the "only" program of their kind. He's not sure how to navigate this information, or where he fits in. He wonders whether he should just start his own organization. He even wonders if he needs to move overseas to help. When he discovers Freedom Registry he is able to search for stakeholders in his own surrounding community and gain a clear picture of existing efforts. With the information provided he can see which organizations adhere to various best practices and is better informed on how to take action.

Freedom Registry seeks to be a collaborative effort. As mentioned above, our project team has worked hard to incorporate the voices of various stakeholders into our project design, especially through the creation and involvement of our steering committee, representing 7 well-respected anti-HT stakeholders. During the first phase of this project we met with over 20 major stakeholders across the United States (outside of the steering committee) to gather insight from them about our vision. Many of these organizations kept in touch with us throughout the process to provide advice and input. We have also presented the model at various conferences and events to explore the needs and wants of the anti-HT community. While there are certainly some websites and networks of anti-HT organizations already in existence (i.e. End Slavery Now, Freedom Network, Nt'l Human Trafficking Resource Center, HHS Rescue & Restore Coalitions, DOJ Task Forces, etc.) these efforts do not aim to be comprehensive, nor do they have the intention of reflecting best practice standards. In fact, many of these groups support the aims of Freedom Registry and have expressed an interest in getting involved.