Demonstration Grants for Domestic Victims of Severe Forms of Human Trafficking Fact Sheet

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Demonstration Grants for Domestic Victims of Severe Forms of Human Trafficking Fact Sheet

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Mission

The mission of the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) is to support the organizations and communities that work every day to reduce the risk of youth homelessness, adolescent pregnancy and domestic violence.

History

To address the problem of human trafficking in the United States, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 (22 U.S.C. § 7101 et. seq.), which was amended by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003, and again amended in 2005, 2008, and 2013. The TVPA seeks to combat “severe forms” of human trafficking by punishing traffickers, protecting victims, and mobilizing U.S. Government agencies to wage a global anti-trafficking campaign.

Building on the strong record of the TVPA, the Feder​al​ Strat​egic​ Actio​n​ Plan​ on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking in the United States was developed in 2013 by the President’s Interagency Task Force to amplify the federal response to human trafficking. The plan contains a strategy to assist victims of human trafficking in the United States in gaining access to the tools and services they need to escape exploitation and rebuild their lives. This funding opportunity through FYSB supports the goals of the Federal Strategic Action Plan.

Purpose

The purpose of this demonstration grant is to develop, expand, and strengthen coordinated case management and comprehensive direct victim assistance for domestic victims of severe forms of human trafficking in the U.S.   

ACF’s intent is to increase the availability of coordinated case management and comprehensive victim assistance to domestic trafficking survivors as well as to decrease vulnerability to sex and labor trafficking among at-risk populations, to include runaway and homeless youth, and victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. ACF will play a strategic role in enhancing the work of victim services providers through an emphasis on strengthened partnerships among programs within a community. Through this demonstration grant, ACF will support grantees to:

  • Assess and build capacity to better identify and serve victims of severe forms of human trafficking;
  • Foster collaborations and partnerships to enhance community response to human trafficking;
  • Promote effective, culturally appropriate, trauma-informed services that improve the short- and long-term health, safety, and well-being of victims of severe forms of trafficking;
  • Develop networks to expand access to services; and
  • Identify service needs for domestic victims of severe forms of human trafficking and improve access to services and benefits for which they are eligible.