Familial Trafficking: Advancing Training and Technical Assistance Through Research

Familial trafficking, also known as family-facilitated trafficking or intrafamilial trafficking, is an under-identified and under-explored form of human trafficking in which a family member is the perpetrator (White et al, 2023). Like human trafficking at large, the prevalence of familial trafficking in the United States is unknown. To date, there are limited studies and data available on familial trafficking, however, in 2021, of the 7,500 cases referred to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, nearly one quarter (26%) of the cases had a familial member exploiter (Polaris, 2021). 

Familial trafficking has unique and complex ties between the victims and perpetrators who may start grooming the victim at an early age, taking advantage of a child’s inherent loyalty and reliance on the family structure (Aramburo, 2023). Victims may also feel a strong attachment to the perpetrator, protecting them from a justice response (Allert, 2022). Professionals of familial trafficking have shared that we may be under-identifying victims due to misidentifying them as victims of co-occurring crimes instead, such as child abuse or child neglect, without recognizing the familial trafficking aspect of their situation (Sprang & Cole, 2018).

These unique complexities highlight the importance of advancing research and practitioner knowledge on this topic through responsive training and technical assistance (TTA).

Utilizing RTI research and development funding, we sought to address these gaps in research, evidence, and TTA-related support by conducting an exploratory mixed-methods research study on juvenile familial trafficking in Louisiana. The research questions for this study included: 

1. How do service providers and public health responders identify and respond to cases of juvenile familial trafficking in Louisiana?
2. What do those cases look like? Are there perceived differences between victims of familial trafficking versus victims of third-party trafficking? If so, what are the differences?
3. What future research and/or resources are necessary to provide evidence-based TTA to practitioners serving juvenile familial trafficking victims and survivors?

To address these questions, the research team:

1. Completed a scoping review of familial trafficking to understand the state of the literature on the topic.
2. Interviewed 10 anti-trafficking providers with experience with this population and who were based in Louisiana to understand the scope and nature of identified familial trafficking cases.
3. Interviewed 5 survivors of child familial trafficking to understand the experience of trafficking and effective treatments and interventions. Interviews were with people over the age of 18 who experienced juvenile familial trafficking.
4. Designed 2 provider-centered resources to support field-based responses to familial trafficking to assist with anti-human trafficking TTA provision.
5. Created a strategic agenda to outline future TTA and research efforts related to familial trafficking.

Providers that were interviewed in this study shared that a large portion of the trafficking victims they served had a familial component to their exploitation.  Of the familial trafficking cases they had seen, providers noted that the majority were sex trafficking. Mothers and grandmothers were most often described as the perpetrators in the familial trafficking cases the providers interviewed had worked, followed by a male figure like a significant other, uncle, or brother. Providers recognized that many cases involved multiple vulnerabilities in the household that led to the exploitation, such as poverty, substance use disorders, single parent or incarcerated parent, or a caregiver with a disability that kept them from being able to work. In familial trafficking cases, it is paramount to understand that victims have high levels of trauma-bonding and attachment with their perpetrators due to their familial relationship. 

We identified several key differences between familial trafficking and third-party trafficking in this study. Providers recognized that grooming and exploitation generally started at a younger age for victims of familial trafficking. Additionally, there was a reoccurring cross-generational component to familial trafficking. One provider shared, “…I think we've seen a ton of generational familial trafficking, but my grandmother did this and my mom did this, and so this is what my mom taught me...”  Unlike third-party trafficking that relies heavily on web-based or other public forms of advertisement, perpetrators of familial trafficking utilize their personal networks to exploit victims.

Familial trafficking is extremely difficult to identify for a variety of reasons, making this the largest barrier to providing services for victims. First, most of the exploitation happens in the home or is more hidden in nature than third-party trafficking according to the providers interviewed which makes it less likely for an outsider to identify and alert authorities.

Secondly, victims of familial trafficking are often identified as victims of a co-occurring crime like child abuse or neglect leaving their trafficking exploitation unaddressed. Third, victims of familial trafficking often don’t recognize their own exploitation and if they do, they are unlikely to disclose their exploitation because of the attachment they have to their perpetrator.

Providers shared that because of the complicated nature of the victim’s attachment to their perpetrator there are high levels of recantation and a lack of cooperation with a traditional justice response which can make service provision for this population challenging.

Providers also shared that once they do have a survivor of familial trafficking enrolled in services, it can be challenging to find them mental health or substance use disorder treatment that is trauma-informed and responsive to their unique needs. Finding a supportive social network that can serve as a protective factor for familial trafficking was also identified as a challenge. Several providers expressed how it was often difficult to engage non-offending caregivers because their culpability and knowledge of the situation is never clear. 

Providers shared several promising practices that they utilize when providing services to survivors of familial trafficking. Relational interventions, such as trauma-based relational intervention (TBRI), were repeatedly mentioned as being effective in building trust and meeting the complex needs of this population. Providers also emphasized the importance of applying a strengths-based approach when working with survivors and empowering them to take the lead in their healing. Survivors shared that the most important thing for professionals to do when working with people who have experienced familial trafficking is to start with believing them when they disclose their exploitation experiences. 

Other promising practices for improving the system-based response to familial trafficking included increased multidisciplinary coordination of services and support, including advocacy and care coordination to comprehensively address victim’s needs. 

In this study, we found that victims of familial trafficking often interacted with many different systems including child welfare and the criminal justice system.

Despite these frequent interactions no one ever identified their exploitation highlighting the need for future research and TTA efforts on improving the system-based response to familial trafficking. When asked what would improve the field’s response to familial trafficking, survivors shared that they would like to see more safe shelter or housing options that were trauma-informed and supportive of their needs; more public awareness of the issues; child welfare training; and more professionals who had a deep understanding of the complexity of familial trafficking.

Providers shared that they would like more training on relationship building and the impact of the neurobiology of trauma victims of familial trafficking experience. They also expressed that they would like to see familial trafficking overview training for child welfare and law enforcement professionals, as well as foster parents. 

Advancing knowledge and practice in familial trafficking has significant implications for survivors, practitioners, and the broader community. By improving identification and response strategies, survivors can access safer environments, trauma-informed care, and pathways to long-term healing. For the field, research of this kind strengthens the evidence base needed to develop effective training, technical assistance, and policy interventions. More broadly, raising awareness of familial trafficking enhances community capacity to recognize hidden exploitation and challenges systemic blind spots that allow such abuse to persist.

Ultimately, this work contributes to a stronger, more coordinated anti-trafficking response that not only supports survivors but also helps prevent future generations from experiencing similar forms of exploitation.