An Engage Together® Project is a transformational community assessment designed to accelerate efforts to end and prevent human trafficking and to care for those impacted by it.
Every lasting solution starts with knowing the reality on the ground. So, before a community can come together to fight human trafficking and protect the vulnerable, it must first understand what is happening locally and what resources are already in place to respond.
That’s why every Engage Together® Project begins with Phase 1: Research & Reports.
At the beginning of Phase 1, Engage Together® partners with states or regions to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current strengths, gaps, needs, vulnerabilities, and opportunities for community-wide engagement to end and prevent human trafficking.
Using extensive research and award-winning technology, the state receives a Vulnerable Population Index (VPI) – a detailed mapping of the presence and prevalence of known risk factors and populations vulnerable to human trafficking, broken down by county for the entire state.
An interactive Resource Directory is developed to strengthen the capacity of professionals and organizations working daily with vulnerable populations and victims of human trafficking. Additionally, an extensive legislative review of the past 25 years of state human trafficking-related laws is conducted, including recommendations to advance policy and strengthen the state’s response to protect this most vulnerable population.
Phase 1 concludes with community mobilization events, designed to engage stakeholders and begin addressing the findings – work that will be expanded and supported in Phase 2.
Why is Phase 1 a critical first step?
Because every community is unique. The faces of trafficking, the available services, and the opportunities to strengthen responses differ widely. Phase 1 helps uncover the facts so local advocates and leaders can act with purpose and not guesswork.
Here are four reasons why Phase 1 is so essential to every Engage Together® Project:
- To seek funding opportunities – Communities can use data to make a strong case for resources and ensure funding reaches the areas where it’s needed most.
- To further the work of identifying trafficking – Phase 1 shines a light on specific trafficking trends and vulnerabilities in the community, helping tailor strategies accordingly.
- To evaluate the availability of services – Whether services are abundant or scarce, Phase 1 helps communities identify gaps and focus on future efforts.
- To support system, policy, and legislative efforts – Findings guide advocacy that strengthens local policies and practices to prevent and respond to trafficking.
What is included in a Phase 1 Community Assessment?
Phase 1 involves a thorough look at a region’s anti-trafficking landscape, including:
- Local, regional, and statewide data
- County-level assessments
- Comprehensive interactive directories of existing services
- Legislative Review
- Insight into strengths, gaps, and opportunities
- Recommendations to guide next steps
These reports empower everyone – from volunteers to task force members, funders to faith leaders – to grasp the full picture and take meaningful action.
How can the Community Assessment be used?
- To launch new initiatives or expand what’s already working
- To bring together diverse stakeholders with a shared understanding and common goals
- To shape policies and direct funding grounded in real, local data
- To prepare communities for Phase 2: Community Mobilization with clear focus and momentum
Phase 1 reports aren’t just research—they’re a call to action.
What does Phase 1 look like in action?
Take a look at what Phase 1 has uncovered in:
Local leaders and advocates are already using these insights to strengthen their efforts – and you can, too.
Ready to bring Phase 1 to your community?
No matter who you are or where you’re starting from, you have a valuable and unique role to play in the fight to end human trafficking and protect the vulnerable. Beginning with Phase 1 means your community’s response will be built on real understanding and make every effort more powerful and effective.
Reach out to Engage Together® today at [email protected] to learn how to start Phase 1 in your state or region. Together, we can lay the foundation for change that lasts.