Joe Birli, CEO of Bethany Children’s Home, will offer a first-hand perspective of familial Human Trafficking as that is happening in our local communities and around the nation. Participants will learn how young people are targeted and groomed over generations along with therapeutic interventions and shared experiences of victims trafficked that have survived to live successful lives.
Clinical case studies, a review of the personal and professional journey of a familial human sex trafficking individual will be shared and discussed to help participants understand how human trafficking happens around us, and how grooming has changed through the decades (with use of technology).
Further exploration into the need for advocacy, funding, creating safe harbor laws and prevention programs, as well as training opportunities in assessment and treatment will be discussed. After attending this session, participants will have encountered the lived experience of one specific individual who has survived being trafficked through a familial trafficker. Participants will hear the journey of horror and healing, and how people can use impactful interventions for trafficking trauma, allowing for individuals to not remain captive to their trafficking experiences.

Faith communities are invited to an educational and thought provoking conversation on how to recognize and respond to Adverse Religious Experiences (ARE’s) and Religious Trauma (RT). Many of the people we serve come to us with these adverse experiences and traumas and have not received adequate psychospiritual care to help them heal and recover. Using defined terms, current data, and case studies participants will gain awareness of AREs and Religious Trauma and their intergenerational impacts. We will also explore how certain faith doctrines and belief systems can cause an ingrained trauma response loop in the nervous system. The presenter will introduce the Shepley Religious Trauma Screening Tool and provide guidance on how to best utilize the tool in congregational settings.

(Session Disclaimer: The stories and case study for this session include some graphic and disturbing material, therefore, participants should be aware prior to attending for potential trauma triggers and take precautions for self-care).

To register, click here.   Registration fee will include lunch.