For many years, seeking help meant that survivors or their Advocates (those assisting survivors to find services) had to make dozens of calls and emails to programs — often to find out that a program is no longer active, they don’t have any openings, don’t serve a certain age group, or can’t meet the specific needs of the survivor. That’s why NTSA launched the Alliance Referral System!
Survivors and Survivor Advocates can make a referral by submitting one form, and our ARS Team will match the survivor’s individual needs to appropriate residential programs in our network. After processing, residential programs will then contact the Survivor and Survivor Advocate about their program.
TIRA
COMING SOON...
TIRA™ (Trafficking Interruption Resource Agent) is NTSA’s in-progress mobile app that will function as a bridge to safety for survivors of trafficking. Once fully developed, this app will take the place of our current Alliance Referral System, providing a safe, trauma-sensitive, and confidential way for survivors to find services with current openings that match their self-identified needs and preferences… all in real-time!
Our team is currently working with an incredible group of volunteers from Microsoft to make this groundbreaking technology a reality but we need YOUR help to make that possible!
Interested in making TIRA a reality?
How ARS Works
1. Submit a Referral
- Fill out the referral form.
- Answer all questions to the best of your ability.
- Submit the form!
2. ARS Team Confirmation
Within 24 hours, we’ll match the form’s info with relevant residential programs in our system.
- All eligible programs will receive a referral form.
- We’ll send you a confirmation email to let you know your referral has been submitted.
3. Agencies Receive Referral
- After a program receives a referral they will asses whether they have availability.
- They will review the form to confirm they can meet the survivor’s needs.
- If both are a ‘yes’ they will reach out to you!
4. Placement
- Survivors & advocates now assess the available options for placement.
- You may be asked by service providers to share a few more details.
- Once placement is decided, the receiving agency will arrange all further intake procedures.
You do not need to be a member of NTSA to submit a referral through ARS. Anyone across the US can use ARS to help survivors connect with a residential program.
We are not an emergency housing service, so if this is an emergency, please contact 911 or the human trafficking hotline at 1(888) 373-7888.
Things to Know When Submitting a Referral
Survivors & Survivor Advocates
- Because the Alliance Referral System relies on several communication streams, it can still take time to find placement — often up to two weeks. ARS is designed to connect survivors with long-term and/or comprehensive residential care, and may not be suitable if you are in need of immediate help. If this is an emergency, please seek out emergency housing to ensure you’re in a safe place before making a referral.
- Survivor Advocates: If you’re working with a survivor to fill out the referral form, you can print this downloadable worksheet to aid your discussion with a survivor. This worksheet can help facilitate the conversation that will help with completing the referral form afterwards. We also have a screening tool you can use to see if the Alliance Referral System is the right network for your client.
- Information on the Referral Form is non-identifying, and it’s important to NOT include a survivor’s name. Please only disclose names once a service provider makes introductions to discuss potential placement.
- Please confirm that the contact information on the referral form is correct and accurate. The contact information listed on the form is the only way the ARS Team and service providers can reach you.
- If a survivor has specific program needs that fewer residential programs are able to serve, the ARS Team will make sure to inform you that it could take longer to find placement.
- If you’re a Survivor Advocate submitting the form on behalf of a survivor, only submit the referral once you have the consent of the survivor.
- We commit to matching your referral to the appropriate residential programs in our system within 24 hours during business days.
We are not an emergency service, so if this is an emergency please contact 911 or the human trafficking hotline at 1(888) 373-7888.
For more helpful tips, watch our webinar on “Need to Knows” About Sending a Referral Through ARS
Things to Know When Receiving a Referral
ARS Service Providers
- Residential Programs should contact the referrer/survivor directly after assessing the referral form if the program is able to offer services. Please only respond after confirming the survivor matches your program’s parameters and that you have available beds.
- Timely communication is much appreciated! Survivors often do not have stable housing when they are looking for placement with ARS.
- We have found that if a survivor doesn’t receive a timely response, this can cause them to lose hope in seeking care and ultimately return to the life.
- Please wear your “trauma-informed hat” when reaching out to a survivor about potentially joining your program
- Survivors may struggle with feelings of vulnerability and rejection when asking for help
- Survivors often are re-traumatized every time they tell their story
- Survivors are also trying to see if your program is a good fit — be ready for them to ask questions to see if your program is right for them
- ARS strives to match each referral with a Residential Program’s capabilities and services, and ideally will only send you referrals that match your program parameters. However, our goal is to serve every survivor, so…
- You may occasionally receive referrals for individuals that fall outside your criteria in case you are in a position to make an exception. We do this because every survivor that uses ARS deserves the opportunity to find recovery and healing. Your program might be their only available option.
- If you are consistently receiving referrals that are not a match for your program (or have a new point of contact to receive referrals), please inform the ARS Team by emailing referral@shelteredalliance.org.
- As a Residential Program, the rate at which you receive referrals may vary depending on your program parameters and the population you serve. If you are an active ARS receiving agency and haven’t received referrals for some time, please contact us at referral@shelteredalliance.org to inquire.
For more helpful tips, watch our webinar on “Need to Knows” About Being an ARS Receiving Agency.
Have questions about the Alliance Referral System?
Feel free to email us at referral@shelteredalliance.org
