Date of Conferral

11-20-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A)

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Gary Kelsey

Abstract

The challenges individual agencies face in addressing the complex issue of human trafficking and how interagency collaboration can strengthen survivor-centered support are largely unknown. Organizations often lack formal alliances that combine expertise and resources to deliver more comprehensive care. The absence of such partnerships represents a missed opportunity to provide the essential services necessary for survivors’ recovery, empowerment, and social reintegration. The purpose of the study was to use interagency collaboration to address the question: How can education, law enforcement, public health, and community-based organizations assess the barriers and benefits of interagency collaboration to create a more seamless support network for survivors of human trafficking? Responses from 11 semi-structured interviews were analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Six major themes emerged: (a) victim identification challenges, (b) holistic well-being, (c) lack of interagency collaboration, (d) systemic constraints, (e) organizational culture and leadership buy-in, and (f) survivor empowerment and shared responsibility. These themes support strategic collaboration, which fosters networking, strengthens organizational commitment, and aligns collective efforts toward shared objectives, is needed using a cross-sector model of integrated resources to address survivors’ multidimensional needs. Within public administration, interagency collaboration offers a practical framework for advancing social change, improving coordination, and establishing sustainable systems of care. Collectively, agencies can streamline processes, expand service access, and build stronger, more resilient networks of support for survivors of human trafficking.

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