Ending Human Trafficking Podcast Dr. Sandra Morgan

Dr. Sandie Morgan is joined by Corinne St. Thomas Stowers as the two discuss the role that fusion centers play in protecting a community and its children from sexual exploitation and online human trafficking.

Corinne St. Thomas Stowers

Corinne St. Thomas Stowers is the Supervising Tactical Intelligence Analyst assigned to the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center. She is supporting the tactical analysis unit, primarily focused on the transnational organized crime and violent crime threats. Corinne has nearly 20 years of experience in law enforcement. She began with Westminster Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney's Office in the Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit, and at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, working child sexual exploitation cases as a tactical cyber analyst. Corrine currently holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, and a master's in social work. She was recognized in 2022 by the National Fusion Center Association as Intelligence Analyst of the Year, as well as the Medal of Valor recipient from the Orange County Sheriff's Department for her role in Operation Red Zone, the largest Orange County Law Enforcement proactive human trafficking operation.

Key Points



Fusion Centers were established post 9/11 and function as sharing hubs between law enforcement and public and private sector partners. The information shared aids in disrupting threats of online exploitation and human trafficking across the nation.

As parents and guardians, it is important to stay educated on the devices and applications that children are using and talk about technology every day.

The parameters and boundaries of technology use in a home may change as a child ages and their maturity levels rise, however it is important to continually set parameters and boundaries to keep our children safe online.

Parents or guardians may not learn about the dangers their child has faced online until they have already occurred. Because of this, it is necessary to be proactive and take note of changed behaviors their child is exhibiting and relay the information to law enforcement.

To access resources and support, visit NCMEC, linked below.



Resources



Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC)

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

National Fusion Center Association (NFCA)

NCMEC Cyber Tip Line

Susan Kennedy Ensure Justice Plenary



Transcript

Sandra Morgan 0:14

Welcome to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast here at Vanguard University's Global Center for Women in Justice in Orange County, California. This is episode #323, with Corinne St. Thomas Stowers. She is currently the Supervising Tactical Intelligence Analyst assigned to the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center. The initials for that are OCIAC, OCIAC. So when we say OCIAC in the rest of the podcast, we're talking about Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center, and she's supporting the tactical analysis unit, primarily focused on the transnational organized crime and violent crime threats. Corinne has nearly 20 years of experience in law enforcement. She began with Westminster Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney's Office in the Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit, and at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, working child sexual exploitation cases as a tactical cyber analyst. Corrine currently holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, and a master's in social work. She was recognized in 2022 by the National Fusion Center Association as Intelligence Analyst of the Year, as well as the Medal of Valor recipient from the Orange County Sheriff's Department for her role in Operation Red Zone, the largest Orange County Law Enforcement proactive human trafficking operation. Corrine,

Dr. Sandie Morgan is joined by Ioana Bauer as the two discuss the important role that cyber-security plays in preventing sexual exploitation.

Ioana Bauer

Ioana Bauer completed her anti-human trafficking certificate through Vanguard University. She has been a leader in Romania since 2010 in eradicating human trafficking. She has helped pilot survivor engagement projects nationally, internationally through the UN, and through the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Ioana Bauer has impacted policy and legislation, leading an initiative in Romania to remove the statute of limitations for the crime of creating online Child Sexual Abuse materials. She’s spearheaded a new award winning protection model compass geared at preventing and identifying trafficking for Ukrainian refugees. Ioana Bauer has been active in the area of protecting human rights and dignity since 2005, and, since 2010, she has dedicated her efforts to addressing human trafficking by leading and shaping prevention activities, developing materials on the issue and conducting capacity building activities. Ioana is an Ashoka Fellow, a 2020 Resilience Fellow with GITOC, and is recognized as one of the women leaders advancing the UN SDGs globally.

Key Points



The Ad Hoc Committee's International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes has faced challenges in reaching a consensus among countries because of the tension between privacy and human rights.

It is because online and off-line identities and lives have become increasingly interconnected, that a convention like the Ad Hoc Committee's is necessary; to look into how this interconnectedness impacts children and vulnerable groups.

Survivor voices should be heard and present in spaces like the convention, as they are directly impacted by the issues being discussed, negotiated, and decided on.

Takedown mechanisms often re-traumatize survivors, putting them through a lengthy process that does not ensure takedown. 



Resources



Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 

eLiberare

eLiberare Position Paper

We Protect: Global Threat Assessment 2023

Episode 304 – European Perspectives, with Ioana Bauer

Episode 282 – Crisis Prevention of Ukraine Refugee Trafficking, with Ioana Bauer



Transcript

Sandra Morgan 0:14

Welcome to the Ending Human Trafficking Podcast here at Vanguard University's Global Center for Women and Justice in Orange County, California. This is episode #322 with Ioana Bauer, The Intersection of Cyber Security and Sexual Exploitation. My name is Dr. Sandie Morgan. This is the show where we empower you to study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference in ending human trafficking. Today, we are going to have a conversation about keeping our communities, our families, our children, safe online. Ioana, it's great to be here, and I've been following your work on the Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies, I have to take a breath, for Criminal Purposes in hopes to reach consensus for a global framework to address cyber dependent criminality. Now this is happening in the space created by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, and it's especially significant in our spaces where we work with those who have been sexually exploited, particularly in online spaces, sextortion, pornography, all of those aspects. We talk about that right here in Orange County at Vanguard University, and we discuss the issues around sextortion. Even here, we have cases where our local youth have been exploited by traffick...

Crystal Bennett returns to join Dr. Sandie Morgan for part 2 of their conversation about how the Toolkit for Building Survivor Informed Organizations integrates effective strategies and builds assessment measures.

Crystal Bennett

Crystal Bennett is a seasoned professional serving as the Deputy Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, and Special Initiatives at the Office of Trafficking in Persons' National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center. With a rich background in social justice, advocacy, and community engagement, Crystal is dedicated to fostering inclusive environments and advancing initiatives that combat human trafficking.

Main Points



An organization's job postings should be intentional, explicitly stating its  commitment to SAMHSA's 6 Guiding Principles to a Trauma-Informed Approach.

The toolkit encourages the implementation of reflective supervision practices within an organization. This means that there should be opportunity for collaboration and building relations between supervisor and supervisee.

Reflection supervision enhances collaboration and the choices that an employee has, creating trust and extending greater control for the person who is being supervised.

It's essential that a person with lived experience has control over their own story and how it is shared. The sharing of one's story should have a purpose and shouldn't be simply providing shock value or sensationalizing an issue.



Resources



Toolkit: Building Survivor Informed Organizations

SAMHSA’s 6 Guiding Principles to a Trauma-Informed Approach

Survivor Alliance 

National Survivor Network

American Psychological Association 

National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center 



Transcript

Sandra Morgan 0:14

Welcome to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast here at Vanguard University's Global Center for Women and Justice in Orange County, California. My name is Dr. Sandie Morgan and this is the show where we empower you to study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference in ending human trafficking. We are back with part two of our episode exploring The Toolkit For Building Survivor Informed Organizations. We're having a wonderful conversation with Crystal Bennett, a seasoned professional, serving as the Deputy Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, and Special Initiatives at NHTTAC. I'm not going to do her whole bio again because if you missed the last episode, you have to go back and listen to it. Crystal, thank you so much for coming back, 'm really excited to dig in again today.



Crystal Bennet 1:23

I'm excited to be back, Sandie.



Sandra Morgan 1:26

All right. Well, we looked at the first six chapters, we looked at the framework, and we understand that this is a critical toolkit that provides opportunity for assessment along the way. So your organization should be thinking, as you look at this, to do the assessments that populate every chapter, and then in six months go back and do it again. And in a year, do it again, because we can do better when we know better, but we're more likely to do better if we measure our progress. We're going to jump in to chapter seven, and talk about human resource development and training. I think this was one of the most insightful chapters for me, Crystal, because I've been around a long time, I've heard a lot of the content. But this particular approach with going beyond the walls of my center, and going to our human resources, and making sure this is part of onboarding. So talk to us about how that helps with our culture shift.



Crystal Bennet 2:59

Absolutely, Sandie. I would say chapter seven is probably the longest chapter in the toolkit, which I think really emphasizes the importance when we're thi...

Dr. Sandie Morgan is joined by Crystal Bennett as the two discuss the importance of building survivor informed organizations and how the Toolkit for Building Survivor Informed Organizations serves organizations who seek to do so.

Crystal Bennett

Crystal Bennett is a seasoned professional serving as the Deputy Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, and Special Initiatives at the Office of Trafficking in Persons' National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center. With a rich background in social justice, advocacy, and community engagement, Crystal is dedicated to fostering inclusive environments and advancing initiatives that combat human trafficking.

Key Points



The Toolkit for Building Survivor Informed Organizations is for organizations who serve individuals who have experienced trafficking, are working to prevent situations where an individual may experience trafficking, or are wanting to include individuals with lived experience in anti-trafficking efforts. 

SAMHSA’s 6 Guiding Principles to a Trauma-Informed Approach are vital in the Toolkit for Building Survivor Informed Organizations. The principles guide organizations in cultivating a physically and psychologically safe environment. 

It’s important to listen to and uplift the voices of those with lived experience in order to guide the work of the anti-human trafficking movement. 

An organization should ensure that all staff members have access to self care and should have a foundation set in which leadership shows a commitment to the organization’s ability to achieve its mission. 

It is essential to ensure the culture of an organization values all staff and members, giving individuals with lived experience control over their stories and whether or not they are shared. 

Equity represents access and opportunity. 



Resources



Toolkit: Building Survivor Informed Organizations

National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA’s 6 Guiding Principles to a Trauma-Informed Approach

Human Trafficking Leadership Academy

On the “VIBE” Framework



Transcript

Sandra Morgan 0:14

Welcome to the Ending Human Trafficking Podcast, here at Vanguard University's Global Center for Women and Justice in Orange County, California. My name is Dr. Sandie Morgan. This is the show where we empower you to study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference in ending human trafficking. Today, we're going to explore the Toolkit For Building Survivor Informed Organizations. I talk to people all the time, who say, "Well, we have had a conversation with so and so who is a survivor and they tick the box." Well, I'm here to tell you today that our guest is going to show you there are a lot more boxes to tick on this. Our guest today is from the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center. Crystal Benett is a seasoned professional serving as the Deputy Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, and Special Initiatives at the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center. With a rich background in social justice, advocacy, and community engagement, Crystal is dedicated to fostering inclusive environments and advancing initiatives that combat human trafficking. As I've followed her leadership, I have admired how she's driving strategic planning and implementation of programs, and it is a delight to have you on our show today. Crystal, thank you.



Crystal Bennet 2:09

Thank you, Sandie. It's an absolute honor to be here.



Sandra Morgan 2:12

So Crystal, I want to start with who is this toolkit for?



Crystal Bennet 2:18

Yeah, Sandie. I think that there are a lot of organizations that a...

Dr. Sandie Morgan looks back on episode #208: The Intersection of Children's Rights and Combating Human Trafficking, with Rabbi Diana Gerson.

Rabbi Diana Gerson

Rabbi Diana Gerson is the associate executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis. She has been a leading advocate with the New York Board of Rabbis role in confronting family violence, sexual abuse, and the exploitation of children by reaching across faith communities. Rabbi Gerson has developed programs for the New York City’s mayor’s office to combat domestic violence and has provided prevention education to thousands of community leaders and clergy, whose roles she considers critical to ending sexual exploitation and all forms of violence against children. In addition, she also serves on the international steering committee for the interfaith forum on child dignity in the digital world. She received her master’s degree and rabbinic ordination in 2001 from the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. Diana, we’re so glad to welcome you to the show.

Key Points



One of the largest initiatives globally is the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was written and ratified by the United Nations in 1989. This is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the history of our global society, yet the only country who has not ratified this document to date is the United States.

We need to be mindful of the images we share of our children, because they are susceptible to becoming child abuse material.

The whole community, not just parents, has to be aware of the risks and the behaviors of people that might take advantage of their position. For every one adult that has training, at least ten children are safer in their communities.



Resources



Episode #208

Darkness to Light

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

NetSmartz

Cyber Tipline



Transcript

Sandra Morgan 0:14 Welcome to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast here at Vanguard University's Global Center for Women and Justice in Orange County, California. My name is Dr. Sandie Morgan. This is the show where we empower you to study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference in ending human trafficking. This year's Ensure Justice Conference focused on keeping our children safe online. What an important topic. We continued the theme right after the conference when we aired episode #315, with Susan Kennedy, also focused on cyber safety. All this really got me thinking about an older episode we aired, #208: The Intersection of Children's Rights and Combating Human Trafficking, with Rabbi Diana Garrison. I thought this would be a good opportunity to reshare that episode since I think it ties in with what I've been thinking, and I hope you find it as thought provoking as I did. Here's Dave introducing our guest.



Dave [00:01:34] Rabbi Diana Gerson is the associate executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis. She has been a leading advocate with the New York Board of Rabbis role in confronting family violence, sexual abuse, and the exploitation of children by reaching across faith communities. Rabbi Gerson has developed programs for the New York City’s mayor’s office to combat domestic violence and has provided prevention education to thousands of community leaders and clergy, whose roles she considers critical to ending sexual exploitation and all forms of violence against children. In addition, she also serves on the international steering committee for the interfaith forum on child dignity in the digital world. She received her master’s degree and rabbinic ordination in 2001 from the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. Diana, we’re so glad to welcome you to the show.



Diana [00:02:27] Thank you so much for having me.

Dr. Sandie Morgan is joined by the Ending Human Trafficking Podcast intern, Nadia Sosa, as the two discuss Dr. Sandie Morgan's new award.

Dr. Sandie Morgan

Dr. Sandie Morgan is recognized globally for her expertise on combating human trafficking and working to end violence against women. She is the director of the Global Center for Women and Justice at Vanguard University in Southern California.



She is passionate about the role of education in fighting human trafficking. She launched a 12-unit Anti-Human Trafficking Certificate that is totally online.



She believes everyone can do something. But first, they need to study the issue.  Then they can be a voice and make a difference.

Key Points



As an educator, it's important to ask questions and incorporate student voices in important conversation to better equip them to study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference.

A global context, the intersection of different dimensions across society, is essential when addressing issues in education.

When a community is safer for women and girls, the rest of that community is safer and bettered.

It is Dr. Morgan's goal as an educator, that students learn principles of human dignity, to grow communities where exploitation and human trafficking cannot exist.

The theme of women supporting women is important for the next generation of girls, as the nominees, finalists, and awardees of this year's Orange County Inspirational Women awards aim to build a future that will support and inspire the next generation of women.



Resources



2024 Orange County Inspirational Women: Forum & Leadership Awards

Sweat and Toil 

Vanguard University’s Global Center for Women and Justice



Transcript

Nadia Sosa 0:14

Welcome to the Ending Human Trafficking Podcast. This is Episode #318. I'm Nadia Sosa. I'm the podcast intern and I major in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing, and a minor in Journalism.



Sandra Morgan 0:28

My name is Dr. Sandie Morgan and I'm the director of Vanguard University's Global Center for Women and Justice. And it's so exciting to have my intern being the interviewer today so thank you, Nadia.



Nadia Sosa 0:46

Thank you, Dr. Morgan. Today, we're going to be talking about Dr. Morgan's new award, the 2024 Orange County Inspirational Women Forum and Leadership Awards for Education and Government. So to start off, Dr. Morgan, I just wanted to ask you, what has been your reaction to winning this award and how do you think that it's recently affected the way that you interact in the sphere of education?



Sandra Morgan 1:12

First of all, I was delighted that there was a category for Women of Inspiration in Education and Government. I sometimes feel like I'm so behind the scenes and my job, my passion, I feel compelled, is to equip the next generation in combating human trafficking and reducing violence against women. So I was delighted to hear that this was a focus. The day of the lunch I showed up, because I always show up to be a voice and to represent what we do at the Global Center, and to represent the issues that women and girls face. So when they actually called my name, I was stunned. I stopped and then I went into, "Oh, I need to go up there and say something to represent the women and the girls that I work on behalf of."



Nadia Sosa 2:25

That's wonderful to hear that they're always on the forefront of your mind and that's who you're always keeping in mind and taking into consideration even when you've won such a big award. That's wonderful to hear, especially as a student knowing that someone who has educated me really cares about what you're doing. And then just piggybacking off of that, how do you think that being an educator helped you with your work in other sph...