Support for Victims and Survivors of Human Trafficking via Interdisciplinary, Interagency Collaboration: An Exploratory Study of the Complexities in New Jersey
Abstract
Human trafficking is a complex social problem that generates more than $150 billion annually in illegal revenue and has left millions of people penniless, enslaved, and facing a host of potential presenting problems. Challenged by many methodological issues, research has remained limited; however, best practices suggest such a complex problem deserves an equally complex response using interdisciplinary, interagency collaboration. This study builds upon previous research that assessed responses in Southern California and anti-human trafficking interagency collaboration in Michigan. Using a cross-sectional online survey design and a non-probability, purposive sample (N = 59), this study describes and explores responses to victims and survivors of human trafficking in New Jersey, by assessing organizations, services, and anti-human trafficking interdisciplinary, interagency collaboration within the State. Hierarchical linear regression was used to assess the research hypothesis that beliefs about interagency collaboration in general are associated with perceptions about anti-human trafficking (AHT) interdisciplinary, interagency collaboration (IIC) when controlling for the number of collaborative activities, representative characteristics, and organization type. The model was significant (F (9, 31) = 3.377, p = 0.005, R2 = 0.495) indicating that beliefs about interagency collaboration accounts for 49.50% of the variance in perceptions of AHT IIC in NJ when controlling for activities, representative characteristics, and organization type. Results are discussed through the theoretical lens of complexity theory with policy and future research implications.
Subject Area
Social work|Mental health
Recommended Citation
McLaughlin, Robert P, "Support for Victims and Survivors of Human Trafficking via Interdisciplinary, Interagency Collaboration: An Exploratory Study of the Complexities in New Jersey" (2022). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI29206385.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI29206385
