lived experience experts and law enforcement work side by side to combat human trafficking
Advocates
Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County Sheriff’s Office has been inviting non-governmental agencies, like MNMV, to participate with the PCSO human trafficking undercover operations for close to a decade. MNMV is honored to be invited each year.
During these undercover operations, MNMV is able to meet with victims as they are recovered and identified. Our experts help to provide answers, calm fears, and organize resources so that the individual is able to immediately leave their situation and get help to exit the life.
Law enforcement is just one of the agencies that has realized that having a lived experience expert working as an advocate alongside you drastically changes the outcome for both the agency and the victim who was encountered.
Victims are naturally more comfortable with “one of their own”. Having someone with lived experience in the advocate role allows that victim to begin to feel safe. The lived experience expert advocate bridges the gap for service provision by being that initial safe person.
MNMV has a network of advocates who can work PRN alongside you to fill in the gaps so that every victim has a lived experience advocate by their side.
