Human Trafficking
Traumatic Stress Among Refugee Children: Responding to Abuse, Exploitation and Trafficking: This information guide defines and summarizes risk factors and indicators of child abuse, exploitation, and trafficking, both for general populations and specifically for newcomer children and youth. It also describes newcomer service providers’ role in supporting clients who are children or youth potentially facing these issues.
Am I in a Dangerous Working Situation? Anti-Trafficking Resource: These resources include a one-page child and youth-facing information sheet, as well as a customizable PowerPoint and accompanying facilitator’s guide for staff wanting to raise awareness about labor trafficking and child labor trafficking within their community.
T Visas for Trafficking Victims: T visas offer temporary status to certain victims of trafficking. Find information about the application process and who can apply.
National Human Trafficking Hotline Data for Missouri: This site provides an overview of human trafficking data for Missouri, including the number of cases seen each year, types of trafficking, and case demographics.
Combating Child Labor Trafficking: A Resource Collection for Providers Serving URMs and Other Youth: Child labor trafficking is an important area of concern for service providers who support Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URMs). Due to their unique circumstances, children and youth enrolled in the URM program may be at increased risk for labor trafficking. This blog post from Switchboard is intended to equip URM service providers and other youth-serving professionals with key information and resources.
The Trafficking Victim Assistance Program (TVAP) is a grant program that funds comprehensive case management services for foreign national victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons, potential victims of trafficking seeking HHS Certification, and their qualified family members through a national network of service providers. Access information and data about TVAP, including infographics, data fact sheets, and program instructions here. You can also reach a Trafficking Specialist at trafficking@acf.hhs.gov or 202-205-2321.
The HHS Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) can connect adult who experience human trafficking and their families to comprehensive case management services through our Trafficking Victim Assistance Program (TVAP). Individuals can be connected to a local service provider who can help with case management, referrals, and emergency assistance.
24-hour reporting requirements: The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) requires federal, state, and local officials to notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) not later than 24 hours after discovering that a foreign national minor may be a victim of trafficking (22 U.S.C. § 7105 (b)).
Requesting Assistance: If you are working with a foreign national minor in the United States (non-US citizen or non-legal permanent resident under 18 years) and have concerns that they may have experienced forced labor or commercial sex at any point in their life and in any location, take the following steps:
Submit an RFA through the Shepherd Case Management System. Access the RFA instructions (PDF) to learn more about how to submit a request on behalf of a minor. To learn more about how to navigate Shepherd, access the Shepherd User Guide (PDF). If you want to discuss the case with OTIP Child Protection Specialists before submitting the RFA, you can call 202-205-4582 or email during normal business hours (9am to 5pm ET).
Submit any clarifying or new information by selecting New Information on your Requests list page in Shepherd.
While the case is pending, check the status on your Requests list page in Shepherd.
Addressing Human Trafficking in America’s Schools, a webinar series from the U.S. Department of Education, draws attention to the important efforts underway in our nation’s education community to address both sex and labor trafficking.
Human Trafficking in America’s Schools, a recently updated guide from the U.S. Department of Education, aims to provide awareness of the current prevalence of child trafficking and the forms it takes
Toolkit for Building Survivor-Informed Organizations, a toolkit from the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center, aims to support anti-trafficking organizations, coalitions, task forces, volunteer programs, and other organizations who support those impacted by human trafficking.