Victims of trafficking typically involve many kinds of emergency and long-term

services. Intensive case management, victim advocacy, shelter / housing, food,

medical and dental care, mental health treatment, substance abuse therapy, support

groups, interpretation / translation services, immigration and other legal aid, literacy

education, and employment and training facilities are but not restricted to the services

required.

Victims and survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors

may come to the attention of child welfare professionals. In addition, child welfare

agencies may already be working with victims and survivors of these crimes but not

recognize them as such (Adams, 2012; Walts et al., 2011).

The Department of Labor offers employment and training services to victims of

severe forms of trafficking, as required by the TVPA. In addition, the TVPA stipulates

that victims of convicted traffickers are entitled to full restitution for the labor they

performed (U.S. Department of State, 2012). The extent to which these services and

benefits are available to domestic victims/survivors of commercial sexual exploitation

and sex trafficking of minors is unknown, as is the extent to which victim and support

service providers are aware of job training and/or restitution available to domestic

victims/survivors of human trafficking. In addition to curricula designed to reach

individuals at risk for or victims/survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and sex

trafficking, a number of NGOs have developed and implemented training for victim

and support service professionals, among others.

The Department of Justice provides funding to victim services organizations through

grants made by the Office for Victims of Crimes. According to its report to the

President’s Inter-agency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons,

the Department of Justice, through its Office for Victims of Crime, provided funding
to “eleven victim service organizations with a demonstrated history of providing

trauma-informed, culturally competent services to male and female victims of sex

trafficking and labor trafficking” (U.S. Department of State, 2012). This funding

supports the provision of services at the local, regional, and national levels. The 2013

re authorization of the TVPA has supplemented these programs by authorizing the

Department of Health and Human Services--specifically the Assistant Secretary for

Children and Families to issue up to four grants to entities that “have developed a

workable, multidisciplinary plan to combat sex trafficking of minors,” with the

requirement that two-thirds of the funding be used for residential care and services for

minor victims and survivors of sex trafficking, to be provided by nongovernmental

organizations.6 In addition, funds are used to develop inter-agency partnerships and

public outreach and awareness campaigns (U.S. Department of State, 2012). This

small number of grantees and programs may not be surprising given that work on

commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States is in

the early stages, but it does suggest how much additional work and funding would be

required to bring these services to scale.

Overcome resource constraints and limitations in access to services. NGO’s report

that additional resources from both governmental and non-governmental sources are

needed to provide comprehensive long-term victim care and key legal services.

Further, there are concerns about the lack of stable housing available for varying types

of victims that meet their specific needs. For example, a victim of human trafficking

may have limited shelter options. There are also particularly under-served

populations, including youth, male, and transgender victims. Victims also would

benefit from access to varying services depending on their specialized needs, and it is
challenging for service providers to meet these needs for the length of time it may

take to stabilize a victim.

Victims of trafficking in human beings involve a multidisciplinary reaction to obtain

the necessary range of services. Coordination of federal reaction initiatives is critical

to leveraging funds, maximizing efficiency and reducing burdens on direct service

suppliers. Stakeholders often convey confusion about working with distinct

organizations that have authorities that are distinct or overlapping. It is critical to

coordinate and complement all of these attempts, not contradictory and confusing.

Federal agencies can work together to develop a more effective and coordinated

service delivery system with state, tribal, and local authorities. NGO’s report that

additional resources, from both governmental and non-governmental sources, are

needed to provide comprehensive long-term victim care, including health care and

key legal services.Victims would also profit from access to different facilities based

on their specific requirements, and service providers may be challenged to satisfy

those requirements for as long as it takes to stabilize a victim. Service providers also

voiced concern about the long and confusing process of linking victims to the services

accessible and the absence of universal norms of victim care. Response schemes that

serve at-risk populations such as child welfare, runaway and homeless youth services,

facilities for sexual assault and domestic violence, immigration services, and networks

of assistance for migrant workers need training and support to expand their screening

protocols to recognize victims of trafficking and provide suitable services and

referrals. In creating these federal training and collaborative efforts, additional

suggestions and initiatives from stakeholders will provide advice. Public remarks on

federal coordination, how to participate service providers outside the field of anti-

human trafficking, ways to enhance partnerships with organisations serving men and
children, leverage housing resources, and better recognize workers trafficking victims

are welcome.

Housing is an ongoing challenge for low income Americans, and a significant issue in

achieving long-term recovery and self-sufficiency for human trafficking survivors.

Federal agencies are committed to identifying effective approaches.

Increase access to comprehensive legal services, Crime victims face an array of legal

needs resulting from their victimization, and human trafficking is no exception. The

integration of the legal services network into the victim services network is a new

effort that will require extensive collaboration and coordination. Federal agencies

identified key initial efforts to expand access to legal services from immigration to

employment and victim rights enforcement.

Housing is an continuing task for low-income Americans and an important problem

for survivors of human trafficking to achieve long-term rehabilitation and self-

sufficiency. It is the commitment of federal agencies to identify efficient methods.

Increase access to extensive legal facilities, victims of crime face a range of legal

requirements arising from their victimization, and there is no exception to human

trafficking. Integrating the network of legal services into the network of victim

services is a fresh endeavor that will require comprehensive cooperation and

coordination. Key original attempts were recognized by federal agencies to increase

access to legal services from immigration to jobs and enforcement of victim rights.

REFERENCES
Adams, S. 2012. Workshop presentation to the Committee on the Commercial Sexual

Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States, on the Larkin Street

Youth Services, May 9, 2012, San Francisco, CA.

Dailey, W., (2011) Powering Economic Opportunity: Create a World that Works.

Employment for Survivors of Human Trafficking Retrieved from:

https://www.changemakers.com/economicopportunity/entries/employment-survivors-

human-trafficking

President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

(2013). Federal strategic action plan on services for victims of human trafficking in

the United States 2013-2017. Retrieved from:

http://ideascale.com//userimages/accounts/91/912839/Victim-Services-SAP-2013-04-

09-Public-Comment-B.pdf

The National Academic Press (2013) Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation

and the Sex Trafficking in the United States (p. 235-270).

Retrieved from: https://www.nap.edu/read/18358/chapter/10

Walts, K. K., S. French, H. Moore, and S. Ashai. 2011. Building child welfare

response to child trafficking. Chicago, IL: Loyola University Chicago, Center for the

Human Rights of Children.

U.S. Department of State. (2012). Annual meeting of the President’s Interagency Task

Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Retrieved from:

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/03/185905.htm