On April 26, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) hosted a roundtable discussion with organizations working with the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) and the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) new Office of Family Violence and Prevention Services (OFVPS). Held in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Week , the roundtable provided space for OTIP to engage human trafficking and domestic violence service providers to discuss the linkages between and the importance of prevention efforts for these two public health issues. The forum also provided grant recipients the opportunity to share how OTIP can continue fostering partnerships and expand supports for local communities.
Domestic violence and human trafficking exist along a spectrum of interrelated forms of violence and share similar underlying risk factors, including disrupted support systems, harmful social norms, financial insecurity, housing instability, and unmet behavioral health needs. While domestic violence and human trafficking do not always occur together, people who experience domestic violence are at higher risk for experiencing human trafficking. Advancing equitable access to protective factors and critical resources is essential for preventing human trafficking and domestic violence before they occur. HHS is committed to implementing programs that proactively address the underlying causes that put people at risk for violence and investing in essential services that strengthen safety, stability, and self-sufficiency.
The roundtable reflects HHS’ ongoing commitment to addressing the intersection between human trafficking and domestic violence. Through the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking (PDF), HHS will provide training and technical assistance for health and human service professionals working with populations at high risk for human trafficking intersecting with domestic violence. HHS will also develop screening forms and protocols that identify youth in households experiencing domestic violence as particularly vulnerable to human trafficking, among other priority actions.
The creation of OFVPS signals increased opportunity to coordinate prevention strategies across ACF, HHS, and the wider federal government. OTIP looks forward to strengthening existing and establishing new partnerships with federal, state, tribal, and community-based organizations as it continues to build its integrative approach to domestic violence prevention.
Key Facts:
- According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline , over 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the United States have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking during their lifetime.
- In March 2023, HHS established the Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) to reflect the importance of addressing domestic violence and its intersection with communities other HHS programs serve. OFVPS builds on 38 years of HHS’ implementation of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Program, the primary federal funding stream dedicated to supporting emergency shelters and related assistance for people and their children who have experienced domestic violence.
- In 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration allocated approximately $1 billion in American Rescue Plan funding to strengthen supports for people who have experienced domestic violence, including investing in domestic violence shelters, culturally specific programs, and sexual assault programs.
- In October 2022, ACF awarded $8.5 million to 10 community-based organizations that provide case management services to individuals who have experienced human trafficking directly or through referrals to community providers, connecting clients to health and behavioral health care, housing assistance, educational opportunities, job training, and other needed services.
Related Resources:
- Readout of HHS Secretary Becerra’s Roundtable Meeting with Organizations Supporting Survivors of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking
- HHS Strengthens Response to Domestic Violence through the New Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services
- White House Fact Sheet: National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Priority Actions in the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking