About Maine STEN
The Maine Sex Trafficking and Exploitation Network provides training, technical assistance, and resources to direct service providers engaged in anti-trafficking efforts in Maine, as well as community awareness and public policy support. The effort is supported by a statewide Provider Council, and it is a program of the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
Our efforts include:
Our efforts include:
- Training and technical assistance for local anti-trafficking efforts, direct services providers, and multidisciplinary teams across the state regarding nationally-recognized best practices.
- Tools to support more effective provision of services to anti-trafficking providers, such as a trafficking Survivor Support Fund, a quarterly emailed newsletter, and resources such as shared screening tools.
- A web-based collection of resources with links to Maine anti-trafficking efforts, Maine and national statutes related to trafficking, outreach materials, and model policies and protocols.
- Public policy advocacy to support a Maine-based anti-trafficking response that is informed by effective nationally-recognized practices and which meets the needs of the Maine community.
Our Philosophy
Maine’s anti-trafficking efforts have grown tremendously in recent years, and more efforts than ever are beginning to take shape in the state. Because the issue is so complex, it is critical that new efforts follow common principles to ensure the highest level of quality. For that reason, the Maine Sex Trafficking and Exploitation Network supports the following philosophy regarding victim services and training/awareness efforts.
Guiding Principles[1]
Victim services should be:
Training and awareness efforts should be:
[1] Adapted from the Wisconsin Human Trafficking Protocol and Resource Manual, 2012.
Guiding Principles[1]
- Human trafficking violates a person’s human rights.
- There are many conditions that foster human trafficking, including: poverty, forced migration, racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and classism.
- The intersections of oppression (gender, immigration status, disability, history of abuse, economic status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, etc.) are risk factors for trafficking and present barriers to accessing services.
- Individuals and organizations alone cannot end the conditions that promote human trafficking, and a broad community response is necessary to make social and institutional change.
Victim services should be:
- Trauma-informed, evidenced-informed, and based on the empowerment model of service provision and recovery. An empowerment model of service provision is strengths-based, comprehensive and respects an individual’s autonomy and self-determination.
- Connected formally and informally with a survivor-centered, multi-disciplinary/ response, and informed by organizational policies and protocols. In a survivor-centered approach, the survivor's wishes, safety, and well-being take priority.
Training and awareness efforts should be:
- Built on existing statewide and/or regional training efforts and curricula.
- Reliant on local expertise and information and connected with local experts as well as statewide infrastructure.
- Strategically aimed at audiences where there is the highest risk for exploitation or the greatest opportunity for identification and referral.
- Inclusive of survivors in the development and implementation of programming.
[1] Adapted from the Wisconsin Human Trafficking Protocol and Resource Manual, 2012.
Maine STEN Provider Council
Purpose:
Efforts:
The Maine STEN Provider Council supports MECASA staff in prioritizing anti-trafficking efforts, and developing a coherent statewide response from direct service providers on these issues. Some of the projects worked on by the Provider Council include:
Participants:
All direct service providers represented on the AG’s Trafficking Work Group and service provider chairs of local anti-trafficking multidisciplinary teams are invited to participate. Participating agencies include:
- To inform local service provision and training as it pertains to statewide systems and resources.
- To provide updates to local anti-trafficking multidisciplinary teams.
- To inform protocols and distribution of the Survivor Support Fund coordinated by MECASA.
Efforts:
The Maine STEN Provider Council supports MECASA staff in prioritizing anti-trafficking efforts, and developing a coherent statewide response from direct service providers on these issues. Some of the projects worked on by the Provider Council include:
- Supporting and advising the statewide needs assessment;
- Consultation on statewide training and outreach materials;
- Feedback on statewide service needs and gaps;
- Approval of protocols for Survivor Support Fund distribution; and
- Evaluation of National Human Trafficking Hotline referral protocol.
Participants:
All direct service providers represented on the AG’s Trafficking Work Group and service provider chairs of local anti-trafficking multidisciplinary teams are invited to participate. Participating agencies include:
- Aroostook Mental Health Center (AMHC) Sexual Assault Services
- Through These Doors
- Immigrant Resource Center of Maine
- Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (staff)
- Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence
- New Hope Midcoast
- Partners for Peace
- Pine Tree Legal Services
- Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services
- Rape Response Services
- Safe Voices
- St Andre Homes/Hope Rising
- Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Center
- Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Program
- Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services
- Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine
- Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine
- Survivor Speak USA
- US Attorney's Office Victim Witness Coordinators
Maine STEN is not a direct service provider. For access to immediate
services in Maine call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888.
Maine STEN is not a direct service provider. For access to immediate
services in Maine call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888.