Following the release of the Committee’s interim report, Best Practices and Recommendations to States (PDF), the Committee requests (PDF) that each state assess the extent to which they have worked to address the sex trafficking of children and youth by completing the NAC Recommendations and State Self-Assessment Survey. After states provide their survey responses, the Committee will publish a final report describing the efforts of each state to implement their recommendations.
The Committee encourages states to coordinate with their respective human trafficking task forces, coalitions, child welfare, law enforcement, service providers, tribal leaders, and other relevant groups to inform their assessment.
For assistance completing the survey, the Committee encourages states to review the Committee’s consultation calls (transcripts are available), and request technical assistance, resources, and support as needed.
For questions about the survey and technical assistance requests, email NAC@nhttac.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the State Self-Assessment Survey?
Following the release of the Committee’s interim report, Best Practices and Recommendations to States (PDF), in accordance with the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-183), the Committee requests that each state assess the extent to which they have worked to address the sex trafficking of children and youth by completing the NAC Recommendations and State Self-Assessment Survey. States will choose the tier within each recommendation that best describes their work (Tier I or Tier II, as appropriate). The Committee encourages states to take this opportunity to showcase innovative and successful work and to identify areas where additional resources are needed to address the sex trafficking of children and youth.
How will the Committee use the survey responses?
The Committee will use the survey to assess each state’s progress in responding to the recommendations in their interim report, Best Practices and Recommendations to States (PDF). After states provide their survey responses to the Committee, the Committee will publish a final report describing the efforts of each state to implement their recommendations. This final report will be submitted to Congress and will be available on the Committee’s website.
How do I complete the State Self-Assessment Survey for my state?
Each state has designated a point of contact who will coordinate with their state’s human trafficking task forces, coalitions, child welfare, law enforcement, service providers, tribal leaders, and other relevant groups to inform their completion of the survey. If you have questions about the designated point of contact for your state, email NAC@nhttac.org or Lauren.Devine@acf.hhs.gov.
What is the timeline for completing the State Self-Assessment Survey?
State Self-Assessment Survey responses are due to the Committee on 6/23/2021, three months from the date of the publication of the survey. Should a state need additional time to complete the survey, reach out to the Committee at NAC@nhttac.org.
Are there resources available to support states as they complete the State Self-Assessment Survey?
The Committee members, HHS, and DOJ are available to support states in their completion of the survey. Throughout 2021, the Committee hosted consultation calls to provide an opportunity for states to review and discuss the Committee’s recommendations and receive guidance to help them complete of the State Self-Assessment Survey. Technical assistance and resources are available to help states complete the survey. For technical assistance requests, contact the Committee at NAC@nhttac.org or Lauren.Devine@acf.hhs.gov.
Do I need to complete the State Self-Assessment Survey all at once before it can be submitted?
Users can start, stop, save, and resume the survey as they develop their responses. Users can also submit partial responses, meaning they can fill out and submit only the questions that are relevant to them. The designated point of contact for each state will coordinate with their state’s human trafficking task forces, coalitions, child welfare, law enforcement, service providers, tribal leaders, and other relevant groups to compile responses. If you have questions about the designated point of contact for your state, email NAC@nhttac.org or Lauren.Devine@acf.hhs.gov.
Are there consequences if a state does not complete the State Self-Assessment Survey?
While completion of the survey is voluntary, the Committee encourages states to take this opportunity to showcase their innovative and successful work and to identify areas where additional resources are needed to address the sex trafficking of children and youth. Each state’s participation in the survey will help the Committee assess efforts across the Nation to address the sex trafficking of children and youth.
Will my state’s responses to the State Self-Assessment Survey be available to the public?
The NAC will include states’ responses to the survey on the HHS OTIP website as well as within their final report in 2022. Contact the Committee at NAC@nhttac.org if you have concerns about your responses being made available to the public.
What does a state do if it is unable to assign a tier ranking due to missing or unavailable data?
Should a state not be able to provide a ranking of Tier I or Tier II, the state has the option of choosing “N/A”. If N/A is chosen, the state will be asked to describe the reasoning for the selection.
Below is a sample N/A response:
Sample Survey Question, Response: Require placement facilities used or funded by the child welfare system (including group homes) to have policies and procedures that address running away, peer recruiting, external safety threats, and other safety risks to residents.
Tier I: Review licensing requirements to ensure that placement facilities are required to have the relevant policies and procedures, and document that at least 25 percent of all licensed placement facilities have relevant policies and procedures.
Tier II: Document that at least 75 percent of all licensed placement facilities have relevant policies and procedures.
- Select the tier that best describes the efforts of your state. [Tier 1, Tier 2, N/A]
N/A
- Describe the process used to assess your state tier and any data sources used to inform your assessment, if applicable. [open text]
The state’s child welfare coordinator reviewed state licensing requirements to confirm that all placement facilities are required to have policies and procedures related to trafficking, runaway homeless youth, peer recruitment, external safety threats, and other safety concerns.
After confirming state licensing requirements were in alignment with the NAC’s recommendation, state child welfare coordinator reached out to all known licensed placement facilities in state, including independent living facilities, residential treatment centers, and group homes, to request copies of their policies and procedures. At the time of response, the state child welfare coordinator received the requested documentation from 60% of facilities in state. Of those 60% of facilities, 85% maintained compliance with state regulations and included policies and procedures related to trafficking, runaway homeless youth, peer recruitment, external safety threats, and other safety concerns. Those facilities that were found to be out of compliance were notably missing policies and procedures related to peer recruitment