Houston social worker helps trafficking survivors access care and recovery

Lucresia Montez, a Houston social worker at San José Clinic, is being highlighted for her work supporting human trafficking survivors with healthcare and recovery services. Her experience shows how trauma-informed care can help stabilize people with serious health needs and connect them to a path forward.

Why it matters: - Trafficking survivors often need immediate medical, dental, and trauma-informed support before longer-term recovery can begin. - Montez’s work connects vulnerable women to services that can help stabilize health, restore dignity, and support rebuilding their lives. - Her role also reflects the pressure on social workers serving survivors amid scarce resources, funding cuts, and bureaucratic barriers.

What happened: - Influential Women highlighted Lucresia Montez, a Houston social worker with more than 18 years of experience in social services, child welfare, crisis intervention, and community-based care. - Montez has spent the past five years focused on human trafficking survivors at San José Clinic, a Houston nonprofit. - Her work combines administrative leadership with direct client services. - Montez conducts intakes for women recovered through law enforcement agencies, the FBI, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and nonprofit partners.

The details: - San José Clinic provides specialty healthcare services for trafficking survivors whose needs can be overlooked in traditional care settings. - Montez coordinates access to medical care, specialty treatment, and dental services. - Survivors she serves may arrive with serious dental deterioration and malnourishment linked to substance exposure and prolonged exploitation. - Montez also helps clients navigate immediate barriers so they can move toward longer-term recovery and well-being. - Her background includes being a first-generation college student who grew up in a small predominantly Hispanic community where higher education was uncommon. - Montez said she overcame family and socioeconomic challenges to earn her degrees.

Between the lines: - Montez’s approach centers on trauma-informed care, patience, discretion, and professionalism. - She says her clients shape her perspective as much as she helps them, and that their resilience keeps her grounded. - Montez said compassion matters because survivors may be reacting to both personal trauma and frustration with service systems. - She advises young women entering social work to have an outlet, care for themselves, stay positive, and not give up. - Montez views integrity, honesty, and authenticity as core to her work and personal life.

What's next: - Montez plans to keep showing up for survivors despite limited resources, reduced funding, and political red tape. - She remains hopeful that more resources and opportunities will become available for international victims and other vulnerable clients. - Through her Influential Women profile, Montez is being presented as part of a broader effort to amplify women’s voices and community impact.

The bottom line: - Montez’s work shows how direct, compassionate social services can be a critical bridge between trafficking recovery and a safer future.