Introduction
Research Questions
- What is important to know about the projects’ community contexts (e.g., geographical, historical, cultural, governance, legal)? How does this affect the planning and development of VHT-NC projects?
- What are the projects’ VHT-NC goals? How do projects define successful achievement of their goals?
- What are the characteristics of the VHT-NC grant recipients, primary partners, and project participants?
- How do VHT-NC projects develop and maintain partnerships and intergovernmental relationships?
- What are the outreach approaches VHT-NC projects use to identify Native American people who have experienced human trafficking?
- How do VHT-NC projects provide comprehensive case management services and other supportive services to participants?
- How do VHT-NC projects involve Native American people who have experienced human trafficking in project design and implementation?
- How is community training provided?
To address the critical need for support for Native American (i.e., American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) people who have experienced human trafficking, the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) established the Demonstration Grants to Strengthen the Response to Victims of Human Trafficking in Native Communities (VHT-NC) Program. The program aims to build, expand, and sustain organizational and community capacity to deliver services to Native American people who have experienced human trafficking. In September 2020, six VHT-NC projects received 3-year awards to enhance the response to human trafficking in their communities by providing culturally responsive and trauma-informed participant outreach and identification, comprehensive case management and service provision, and community training.
The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), in collaboration with OTIP, is overseeing a formative evaluation of these VHT-NC projects. RTI International and American Indian Development Associates are conducting the formative evaluation to understand their design and implementation, including challenges, strengths, and lessons learned.
Purpose
This interim report provides a summary of the first two years of implementation of the six VHT-NC projects, including their challenges and strengths. Report sections describe (1) human trafficking within the VHT-NC communities, (2) project design and structure, (3) project partnerships, (4) outreach and identification approaches, (5) case management and service delivery, and (6) community training.
Key Findings and Highlights
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The VHT-NC projects made significant progress in Years 1 and 2 developing their programs and are well-positioned to build on their strengths and successes.
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Key strengths and successes: Inclusion of Native staff, strengthened partnerships, development of culturally responsive and trauma-informed processes and project materials, service provision that largely meets participants’ needs, and improved understanding of human trafficking.
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Common barriers to project implementation: The COVID-19 pandemic, need for increased awareness and understanding of human trafficking in Native communities, and the need for time to build strong foundations.
Methods
The interim report primarily draws from two semi-structured virtual interviews conducted with the six VHT-NC project directors or a designated person (e.g., project coordinator) during two timeframes: March—June 2022 and September—December 2022. The report also includes information abstracted from VHT-NC projects’ grant applications and performance progress reports submitted quarterly to ACF (i.e., eight reports across Years 1 and 2).
Citation
Tibaduiza, E., Melander, C., Pfeffer, R., Melton, A., & Martinez, R. (2023). Demonstration Grants to Strengthen the Response to Victims of Human Trafficking in Native Communities (VHT-NC) Program: Interim Report, OPRE Report No. 2023-216, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Glossary
- 2SLGBTQIA+:
- Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual. The + is included to acknowledge that there are many ways that people identify their gender identity and sexual orientation and not all are represented in the acronym.
- Grant recipients:
- The primary entities that received an award through the VHT-NC Program.
- MMIP:
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples.
- MMIW:
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
- Participants:
- People who have been enrolled into and assisted by one of the VHT-NC projects.
- ROI:
- Release of information.
- VHT-NC Program:
- Demonstration Grants to Strengthen the Response to Victims of Human Trafficking in Native Communities.