Guidance

Include male outreach workers: The majority of day laborers are male, and are typically more willing to engage with male outreach workers

Include bi-lingual speakers: The majority of the day laborers in large portions of the U.S. speak Spanish. Consider the demographic makeup of your community when considering if outreach workers should be able to speak Spanish or another language.

Train all team members: Ensure that all staff and volunteers conducting direct outreach have been trained on human trafficking and the type of work migrants laborers perform.

Dress appropriately: Do not wear open-toe shoes, shorts or hats/shirts with advertising or inappropriate content. Outreach workers should look professional while staying comfortable. Since day laborer outreach is an outdoor activity, consider the weather when dressing.

Visit registered day labor sites: This ensures a safe meeting area for both laborers, potential victims and outreach staff. These registered sites often provide shade, restrooms and water for laborers, and often require laborers and potential employers to register and sign in with facility staff. Informal day labor sites do not have these protections, so additional safety precautions should be taken.

Respect the space: Once at the camp, be cautious, drive carefully, and respect the workers and camp employees.

Check-in periodically: Outreach team members should check in with the outreach team leader at regular, set times.

Include bi-lingual speakers: Outreach workers should be fluent in both Spanish and English and should understand the cultural norms of the group being served. Without language and cultural understanding, outreach and the delivery of services are significantly hindered. Bi-lingual outreach workers may:

• Start the conversation as a group discussion in English and Spanish
• Introduce the outreach staff
• Talk generally about labor trafficking and labor exploitation
• Discuss labor rights and talks briefly about labor laws that protect laborers, regardless of status
• Bring laborers into the conversation by asking them general questions about their rights; this helps him gauge how much they know
• Tell them about the materials in the packet
• Distribute water and snacks
• Have more in-depth discussions in small groups after the initial conversation

Information packets in English and Spanish - The packets could contain the following:

• Rescue and Restore social service brochures
• An hourly log/calendar log for laborers to keep track of their work hours
• A card with phone numbers from the local anti-human trafficking coalition>
• Outreach cards with self-assessment questions and the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline
• Discrete outreach materials
• E.g. Chapstick with self-assessment questions and a hotline number (Chapstick is subtle and can be hidden quickly if the potential victim feels unsafe.)
• Water and food
• Assisting in meeting basic needs can contribute to building good-will with the population and creates an incentive to talk with outreach staff for laborers who may be reluctant.

Include bi-lingual speakers: Many migrant farm workers in large portions of the U.S. speak Spanish. Consider the demographic makeup of your community when considering if outreach workers should be able to speak Spanish or another language.

Train all team members: Ensure that all staff and volunteers conducting direct outreach have been trained on human trafficking and the type of work migrants laborers perform.

Ensure all team members are physically and mentally prepared: Outreach can be physically and mentally taxing. Confirm all staff and volunteers are mentally and physically healthy and well-rested.

Dress appropriately: Do not wear open-toe shoes, shorts or hats/shirts with advertising or inappropriate content. Outreach workers should look professional while staying comfortable. Since farm worker outreach is an outdoor activity, consider the weather when dressing.

Team up: It is preferable to conduct outreach with agencies that provide services and resources to migrant farm workers to learn from their expertise and leverage the existing trust they built with the target population.

Ask permission: The outreach team leader or supervisor should contact the migrant camp prior to arriving to ask permission to be on their property and interact with migrant farm workers.

Connect with migrant camp leaders: The outreach team leader should notify the migrant camp employees/crew leaders when they arrive and when they leave the property.

Have an exit plan: The outreach team should park their cars in the direction they need to leave in case of an emergency.

Respect the space: Once at the camp, be cautious, drive carefully, and respect the workers and camp employees.

Check-in periodically: Outreach team members should check in with the outreach team leader at regular, set times.

Include bi-lingual speakers: Outreach workers should be fluent in both Spanish and English and should understand the cultural norms of the group being served. Without language and cultural understanding, outreach and the delivery of services are significantly hindered. Bi-lingual outreach workers may:

• Start the conversation as a group discussion in English and Spanish
• Introduce the outreach staff
• Talk generally about labor trafficking and labor exploitation
• Discuss labor rights and talks briefly about labor laws that protect laborers, regardless of status
• Bring laborers into the conversation by asking them general questions about their rights; this helps him gauge how much they know
• Tell them about the materials in the packet
• Distribute water and snacks
• Have more in-depth discussions in small groups after the initial conversation

Be transparent: Hand out identifying information immediately upon meeting workers (e.g. business cards, outreach cards).

Provide resources: Explain how workers can connect with services (via phone, internet, drop-in centers, etc.)

Have one-on-one conversations: Attempt to talk with the workers in a one-on-one setting, gauge their level of interest in receiving services and discern the most appropriate next step for each individual.

Understand their situation: Do not assume a potential victim feels safe enough to engage in conversation or take information. Rather, ask permission to speak and allow for the answer to be “No.”

Maps

Business cards

Outreach cards with self-assessment questions and the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline

Discrete outreach materials

• E.g. Chapstick with self-assessment questions and a hotline number (Chapstick is subtle and can be hidden quickly if the potential victim feels unsafe.)
• Calendars that include human trafficking information. Be able to point to the trafficking section without using words in case you cannot have a meaningful conversation at that time.
• Cell phones to contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center for technical assistance, or 911 if a team member suspects immediate danger to migrant workers or themselves.