Grant Details

The purpose of this program is to develop, expand, or strengthen victim service programs for victims of human trafficking, to include enhancing the capacity of law enforcement and other stakeholders to identify victims and provide justice for those victims through the investigation and prosecution of their traffickers.

This program has two purpose areas:

Purpose Area 1: Development of Human Trafficking Task Forces  funding will help new task forces with critical first steps related to starting up a multidisciplinary task force and establishing a strong foundation of task force co-leadership structure, clear roles and responsibilities, and internal processes and protocols. Successful applicants will dedicate the first 12–18 months of funding to formalize task force structure, develop operational procedures, access professional development and training opportunities, deliver training to key stakeholders, and conduct a community assessment to identify potential areas of the community where sex and labor trafficking may be occurring.

Purpose Area 2:– Expansion of Established ECM Human Trafficking Task Forces: funding will help established ECM task forces that have been formally operational for a minimum of 3 years, can demonstrate clear task force co-leadership roles and structure, and have a history of successful identification of sex and labor trafficking victims and prosecution of traffickers. This funding will support expanded task force partnerships, refinement and implementation of existing and new protocols, meaningful survivor engagement, and efforts to implement a range of proactive approaches that are victim centered and trauma and survivor informed. For definitions see https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/model-standards/6/glossary.html

The primary goal of this program is to develop or sustain multidisciplinary task forces to combat human trafficking. Objectives are:

1. Develop, sustain, and strengthen co-leadership structure and coordination of ECM task force partnerships and activities using the Multidisciplinary Collaborative Model for Anti-Human Trafficking Task Forces: Development and Operations Roadmap as a guide. Developing a multidisciplinary anti-human trafficking task force is a process that requires significant time, attention, and intention. The Roadmap provides new and experienced ECM task forces with guidance across core elements of task force function and development.
2. Develop, implement, and revise a set of protocols to guide overall task force operations, which include both service delivery and investigative and prosecutorial activities. Please see the Deliverables section for core required ECM protocols for each Purpose Area. 2.
3. Identify and serve victims of all types of human trafficking. Implement victim-centered, trauma-informed, and collaborative approaches by developing and consistently implementing task force protocols and training.
4. Involve all task force partners in actively planning and executing a range of proactive approaches that include victim-centered and trauma-informed investigations and prosecutions.
5. Investigate, refer, and prosecute both sex and labor trafficking cases at the local, state, tribal, and federal levels. Applicants may view the Prosecution Case Review tool developed for multidisciplinary task forces.
6. Assist victims of sex trafficking and labor trafficking in achieving increased safety, independence, self-sufficiency, and well-being by providing appropriate services.
7. Collect data and conduct ongoing assessment activities to determine if the program is meeting its stated goals and objectives.