National State of the Field Study Survey

Purpose of the Study
You are invited to participate in the National State of the Field Study, a research project examining the structure, relationships, and coordination of the anti-human trafficking ecosystem in the United States. The purpose of this study is to better understand how organizations and actors work across systems to prevent trafficking, protect victims and survivors, and promote accountability. Findings will be used to develop a comprehensive understanding of the anti-trafficking ecosystem and identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration, coordination, and collective impact.

What Will I Be Asked to Do?
If you agree to participate, you will complete an online survey about your organization's work within the anti-trafficking ecosystem. Questions address topics such as:

your organization's role and activities;
collaboration with other organizations;
ecosystem connectivity and coordination;
priorities for the anti-trafficking field; and
perspectives regarding collective impact and shared infrastructure.

You may skip any question you do not wish to answer.

Time Required
The survey will take approximately 20–30 minutes to complete.

Risks
This study presents minimal risk. Some questions ask for your opinions regarding coordination, collaboration, funding, priorities, and relationships across the anti-trafficking field.

Benefits
You should not expect any direct personal benefit from participating. Your responses will contribute to a better understanding of the anti-trafficking ecosystem and may help inform future policy, funding strategies, coordination efforts, and field-wide infrastructure.

Compensation
There is no compensation for participating in this survey.

Confidentiality
The survey does not ask for your name. However, it does ask about your organization, organizational role, and organizational characteristics. As a result, complete anonymity cannot be guaranteed. Survey responses are being collected using a secure online platform and stored on password-protected systems accessible only to authorized members of the research team.

Results will be analyzed primarily in aggregate form. Individual participants and organizations will not be identified in reports whenever possible. Because some stakeholder groups are relatively small, there is a slight possibility that organizations could be indirectly identifiable. The research team will minimize this risk by aggregating findings and removing or masking identifying details before publication.

Voluntary Participation
Your participation is voluntary. You may stop completing the survey at any time before submitting it. You may also skip any question. Your decision whether or not to participate will have no effect on your employment, organizational relationships, funding opportunities, or relationship with Polaris.

Future Use of Data
Survey responses will be combined with responses from other participants for research and reporting purposes. Study findings may be published in reports, academic publications, conference presentations, webinars, and other educational materials. Only members of the research team will have access to the research data. Any identifying information will be stored separately from survey responses whenever possible and will not be included in publications or presentations. De-identified research data may be retained after the study is completed for future analysis and related research on the human trafficking ecosystem.

Questions
If you have questions about the study, please contact data@polarisproject.org. This research has been reviewed by Gallaudet University Institutional Review Board. You may email irb@gallaudet.edu with questions about your rights as a research participant.

Consent
By selecting "I Agree" and submitting this survey, you confirm that:
● you are at least 18 years of age;
● you have read this information;
● you voluntarily agree to participate in this research study.

1.I have read the above information and agree to participate.(Required.)

I agree