Alliance Referral System
The Alliance Referral System (ARS) directly serves survivors of trafficking and exploitation by offering them a way to connect with appropriate and qualified long-term residential programs efficiently and with dignity.
Anyone across the U.S. can use ARS to help survivors connect with a residential program.
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survivors to find services) had to make dozens of calls and emails to programs --- often to find out that a program is no longer active, they don’t have any openings, don’t serve a certain age group, or can’t meet the specific needs of the survivor.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.
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.
Survivors & Survivor Advocates:
Things to Know When Submitting a Referral
- 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.
- 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.
ARS Service Providers:
Things to Know When Receiving a Referral
- 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.
