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The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 established the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking (“the Council”) as a formal platform for individuals with lived experience to provide advice and recommendations to the Senior Policy Operating Group and the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking (PITF). As a member of these coordinating bodies, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) implements the Council’s agency-specific recommendations and those for PITF agencies at large. This Information Memorandum summarizes the Council’s past recommendations and overviews implementation efforts by the HHS Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The status of each recommendation relating to ACF is available in the Appendix.

In December 2021, the White House released the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking (“National Action Plan”), which calls on agencies to “strengthen efforts to identify, prevent, and address human trafficking in product supply chains and ventures.” The National Action Plan’s emphasis on supply chains reflects lessons learned from COVID-19, echoing the National Strategy for a Resilient Public Health Supply Chain  (PDF) (“National Strategy”), published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in July 2021. Among other objectives, the National Strategy aims to “ensure equitable labor conditions by promoting best practices and U.S. adherence to child labor and forced labor laws and regulations” in health supply chains. 

The goal of this information memorandum is for all stakeholders in the healthcare and anti-trafficking fields to better understand how the federal government has enforced forced labor laws through criminal prosecution, how health professionals who have experienced trafficking have used civil litigation to seek justice, and how federal courts have handled cases involving forced labor in healthcare settings.

This information memorandum provides an overview of federally funded programs, training, and other resources to increase access to housing and employment for people who have experienced human trafficking. It was created in collaboration with the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration and members of the Federal Interagency Human Trafficking Housing Workgroup for federal agencies, regional offices, anti-trafficking service providers, and other advocates.

This Information Memorandum (IM) is directed toward healthcare administrators, procurement professionals, suppliers, and other decisionmakers in the healthcare and public health (HPH) sector who may be positioned to address forced labor concerns in supply chains through product procurement and labor contracting practices. The IM explains how forced labor occurs in HPH supply chains, overviews relevant laws and regulations, and compiles relevant policy guidance and additional resources.

This Information Memorandum explains how technology is misused by human traffickers, provides data on the increase in technology-facilitated child trafficking, and notes additional resources.

On December 3, 2021, the White House released the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking (Action Plan), advancing a comprehensive anti-trafficking agenda by strengthening prevention efforts, protecting individuals who have experienced trafficking through intervention and support, and holding traffickers accountable through prosecution. To effectively combat human trafficking, the Action Plan emphasizes the importance of collaboration as a core component of its framework and calls upon agencies across the U.S. Government to synergize anti-trafficking efforts at the national level. Multiple agencies and offices within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will work with federal, state, tribal, and local partners; non-government organizations; and private sector stakeholders to strengthen prevention, protection, and prosecution efforts on human trafficking.

The Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) is updating terms (PDF) used in official documents, correspondence, and other communications to align with terminology used in 2 CFR Part 200 and 45 CFR Part 75. These changes are part of a concerted effort encouraging consistency across all U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies, where applicable. While the overall process will be gradual, recipients can anticipate seeing new terms immediately.

Stable, affordable, and safe housing directly contributes the economic mobility of individuals and families. Access to secure housing can provide opportunities for gainful employment, education development, healthy food options, and health care. It can reduce exposure to community violence and the risk for exploitation, including human trafficking. Housing affordability and stability allows individuals and families to build savings and invest in themselves and their communities through relationships, civic engagement, education, and health. 

Survivors of human trafficking may qualify for housing and homelessness programs, such as Continuums of Care, emergency shelters, public housing, and housing choice vouchers.

This document includes information on:

  • Innovative strategies to expand housing access for survivors, including housing programs and federal grants and cooperative agreements.
  • The use of technology and collaboration to increase housing opportunities and access.
  • Training and resources to increase awareness of housing options.

COVID-19 has disrupted the traditional ways people work, socialize, and live, exploiting existing vulnerabilities and highlighting a need for innovative practices within service delivery responses. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, survivors and service providers identified a lack of safe and affordable housing options as a barrier that prevents people from leaving exploitative situations or attaining economic mobility. COVID-19 has further constrained access to safe housing and stability as shelters enact social distancing guidelines and survivors with reduced working hours or unemployment struggle to afford housing costs, putting them at risk of eviction.

This information memorandum discusses:

  • Adapting congregate care settings to public health guidelines.
  • Eviction prevention and the impact of COVID-19 on housing stability.
  • Expansion of housing resources through the CARES Act.
  • Related resources from HUD and FEMA.