Grant Details

The overarching goal of this program is to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to assist all victims of human trafficking in achieving their goals, which may include increased independence and self-sufficiency, and increased feelings of safety and well-being. Grantees funded through this solicitation will be expected to engage in all of the following activities in order to meet program goals and objectives:

• Provide comprehensive services for victims of all forms of human trafficking, either in-house or through community partnerships;
• Work in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement, local service providers, and community- and faith-based organizations to develop comprehensive response protocols to ensure that trafficking victims are identified and referred for appropriate services;
• Conduct training and public awareness activities for professionals and community members in order to improve their knowledge of human trafficking and their ability to identify and respond to victims; and
• Conduct data collection and action research activities and evaluation to determine if the program is meeting stated goals and objectives. (Note: 2 to 7 percent of the total project budget, including match funds, must be dedicated to action research activities.)

In FY2019, OVC will support projects in two purpose areas:

• Comprehensive Services for Victims of All Forms of Human Trafficking. The objectives of the Comprehensive Services purpose area are to enhance interagency collaboration and the coordinated community response to victims of human trafficking, and to provide high-quality services that address the individualized needs of trafficking victims. Purpose Area 1 includes three focus areas (the applicant must indicate the focus area number and title which is being addressed in the Program Abstract):
  • Focus Area 1. Building Capacity to Provide Comprehensive Services will provide funding to organizations to strengthen their capacity to provide comprehensive services for victims of all forms of human trafficking. Under this focus area, the first year of the grant project period will be used to plan and strategically develop organizational capacity to provide comprehensive services in-house and through community partnerships to victims of human trafficking. In years two and three of the grant project period, grantees will provide comprehensive services to victims of human trafficking and will be required to submit MOUs from partnering organizations.
  • Focus Area 2. Sustaining Capacity to Provide Services to Victims of Human Trafficking will provide funding to experienced service providers to offer comprehensive services outlined within the Comprehensive Services Model (see Appendix B).
  • Focus Area 3. Comprehensive Services and Partnership With Enhanced Collaborative Model Human Trafficking Task Forces provides funding to service providers who demonstrate a history of offering direct services to victims of sex trafficking and labor trafficking and working within multidisciplinary human trafficking task forces.
• Specialized Services. This purpose area will provide funding to victim service organizations with a demonstrated history of providing services for victims of human trafficking. The goal is to focus on a number of identified gaps in services to assist victims of all forms of human trafficking. Funding will also support efforts to increase the capacity of communities to respond to human trafficking victims through the development of interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness activities.

Funds awarded through this OVC cooperative agreement are intended primarily to support the cost of direct services that promote victim safety and stability in the aftermath of victimization, leading to the goal of independence and economic self-sufficiency. OVC does not set time limits on services and supports the provision of ongoing case management when there are no other specialized programs to provide case management services; however, funds awarded through this program are not intended to provide long-term financial support to trafficking victims.