Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking

The purpose of this program is to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to assist minor victims of human trafficking. It will provide funding for services to victims of severe forms of human trafficking, as defined in 22 U.S.C. § 7102(11):

• Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age.
• The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

Sex trafficking and labor trafficking occur in many different settings within communities, and minor victims of these crimes have specific needs that must be addressed to ensure that they receive services tailored to their safety, security, and healing. Minor victims of human trafficking are often involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and may be subject to polyvictimization, including various victimizations prior to, and during, the time they were trafficked. Similarly, adverse childhood experiences, including child maltreatment, can contribute to minors’ vulnerability to traffickers. A trauma-informed, culturally relevant, gender responsive approach to services will help ensure that minor victims of human trafficking have the opportunity to make informed decisions about the support they need and enable them to work toward identifying and achieving their personal goals.

Organizations funded under this program will also be expected to implement developmentally appropriate and evidence-based practices widely accepted in other child- and youth-serving systems.

Eligibility for services under this grant are limited to victims who were trafficked and began receiving services while under age 18; however, receipt of services can extend beyond the age of 18, as needed.

Reintegration with and support for healthy family members or caregivers is a critical component of the minor’s long-term success. Services may also extend to the victim’s children, supportive nonoffending parents, caregivers, sponsors, and guardians, if these services are identified as impacting the minor’s safety, security, and healing. Efforts to refer family members to other free and low-cost services prior to the use of OVC funds must be documented.

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables: https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/o-ovc-2023-171716.pdf#page=9

• City or township governments
• County governments
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
• State governments

Estimated Total Program Funding: