In our 10th podcast series, “Intersections in Health Care and Human Trafficking”, NAPNAP uses a multidisciplinary lens to explore the impact of human trafficking on children and adolescents. Human trafficking is a complex and pervasive issue which is best addressed by tapping into the skills and expertise across many disciplines and people. Forensics, police, legal, social work, research, and survivors of human trafficking all have a place in addressing human trafficking.

Our host for this series is Jason Spees, MSN, MaOM, APRN, L.Ac., FNP-C, Dipl. Ac. & C.H. Jason is a human trafficking educator and the chair of NAPNAP Partners Alliance for Children in Trafficking (ACT).

This week’s episode will discuss police work regarding human trafficking with our guests Katie Herbers, LCSW and Marcy Alonzo. Katie is a licensed clinical social worker currently working as a Victim Services Supervisor at the Austin Police Department. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with her undergraduate degree in psychology and history and graduated from University of Texas in Austin with a master’s in social work. Katie worked at Child Protective Services for three years, specializing in adolescents in care and aging out of care. Katie has been working in Victim Services for the past five years and was previously the counselor assisting with human trafficking and sexual assault cases. In her current position, she supervises counselors in the Human Trafficking, Child Abuse, Financial Crimes Division and still assists with survivors of human trafficking.

Marcy Alonzo is a bilingual community leader with 20 years of advocacy experience. Marcy is a passionate advocate for survivors of sexual assault, human trafficking and domestic violence. She brings 20 years of experience to the Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking Steering Committee. Currently, Marcy serves as the coordinator for both the Austin/Travis County Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team (SARRT) and the Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking. In these roles, she champions collaboration, equity and inclusion, ensuring survivor needs are centered in every aspect of the response. A native "Austinite", Marcy is deeply invested in the well-being of her community. She believes in the power of collective action to create a safer and more just world for all.