Case Study
Operation Cross Country – Why Houston Outperformed Las Vegas
Uncovering the Hidden Forces Behind System Outcomes
The Challenge
Operation Cross Country (a national trafficking intervention effort) deployed similar federal protocols in both Houston and Las Vegas. Yet outcomes were drastically different: Houston achieved significant survivor stability while Las Vegas lagged far behind. Policymakers and funders were puzzled — how could the same strategy succeed in one city but fail in another?
DUH Analysis
DUH mapped both cities’ anti-trafficking ecosystems:
- Houston: Balanced resources across Disruption (law enforcement coordination), Unification (cross-agency collaboration), and Healing (survivor care & reintegration).
- Las Vegas: Overloaded crisis response while neglecting prevention and healing, leading to survivor drop-offs and service burnout.
The Results
- Houston: 78% survivor stability
- Las Vegas: 43% survivor stability
- DUH accurately predicted outcomes where protocol-based evaluation could not.
Key Insights
- Balanced ecosystems sustain outcomes.
- Over-reliance on crisis creates recycling and burnout.
- DUH identifies systemic blind spots invisible to protocol checklists.
Looking Forward
Using DUH, national efforts like Operation Cross Country can move beyond one-size-fits-all interventions and invest based on balance, not assumption.