While all branches of the Federal Government are involved in combating human trafficking, the significant public and legislative focus on the connection between child welfare involvement and trafficking is more recent. A comprehensive and interactive guide to U.S. offices and agencies involved in the effort to combat trafficking is accessible in the U.S. Department of Justice's Human Trafficking Task Force e-Guide.
- U.S. Department of Education
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Department of Justice
- U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of Education
Given their almost daily interactions with youth, educators and school personnel are uniquely positioned to identify and report suspected abuse and exploitation and connect students to necessary services. The U.S. Department of Education has partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and President Lincoln's Cottage to sponsor a youth campaign focused on raising awareness of and preventing human trafficking, #WhatIWouldMiss. See below for key resources highlighted from the Department of Education:
Human Trafficking 101 for School Administrators and Staff (PDF - 731 KB)
U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Blue Campaign (2014)
Offers a toolkit for school administrators and staff on human trafficking and includes information on victims of human trafficking, who is at risk, how to identify human trafficking, and what to do if you suspect a case of human trafficking.
Human Trafficking in America's Schools
U.S. Department of Education, National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (2015)
Offers a guide for educators on ways to identify and help prevent child trafficking in schools.
Human Trafficking of Children in the United States: A Factsheet for Schools
U.S Department of Education (2013)
Defines human trafficking, how it affects schools and children in the United States, and how to identify and report human trafficking.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is a key player in Federal efforts to raise awareness about human trafficking and develop new policies and practices for identifying and serving victims. Below, find additional anti-trafficking efforts outside of the Administration for Children and Families.
All NCTSN (National Child Traumatic Stress Network) Resources: Trafficking
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Provides resources for understanding and responding to human trafficking.
National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2016)
Provides information and resources on grantee work serving the needs of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation.
The Role of Healthcare Providers in Combating Human Trafficking During Disasters
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (2020)
Provides health-care professionals with information and resources on combating human trafficking during disasters.
Sex Trafficking
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, & National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Discusses sex trafficking, risks for becoming a victim, its impact, and how people can help prevent sex trafficking in their communities.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for investigating human trafficking, arresting traffickers, and protecting victims. As part of DHS, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contributes to both the national and international effort to combat the illegal movement of people. In 2010, DHS launched the Blue Campaign to combat human trafficking more effectively through enhanced public awareness, training, and law enforcement support. See below for additional resources from DHS.
Blue Campaign
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Blue Campaign
Presents the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's public awareness campaign designed to educate members of the public, law enforcement, and others to recognize human trafficking. The campaign works to raise awareness on how to identify and properly respond to human trafficking.
Document Library
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Blue Campaign
Provides posters, indicator cards, pamphlets, law enforcement resources, shoe cards, tear cards, and information sheets regarding sex trafficking. The resources provide various information on the definition of sex trafficking, how to identify it, how to help the victims, and resources professionals can provide to victims.
Sex Trafficking Awareness Videos
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Blue Campaign
Presents a series of videos showing indicators of sex trafficking and discusses how to recognize the signs. The videos portray scenarios at a truck stop, at a school, entrapment, and involving a child in foster care.
U.S. Department of Justice
The U.S. Department of Justice is significantly involved in the effort to identify and combat human trafficking, with multiple offices, programs, and task forces created to accomplish this mission. The following are the most prominent efforts, with key resources from each highlighted below.
- The Office of Violent Crimes Against Children/Online Predators
- The Office for Victims of Crime
- The Office of Justice Programs funds research through its National Institute of Justice.
- The Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section
Human Trafficking Task Force e-Guide
U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, & Bureau of Justice Assistance (2014)
Provides an online resource with practical information on the creation and day-to-day operations of human trafficking task forces with updated case examples. It includes strategies to strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration and thereby increase victim identification, enhance delivery of services to all victims, and support victim-centered investigation and prosecution strategies.
Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center
Provides training and technical assistance for victim service providers and professionals who serve crime victims.
Faces of Human Trafficking Video Series
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime (2015)
Provides a nine-part video series designed to help service providers, law enforcement, prosecutors, and communities raise awareness of human trafficking. Resources include a discussion guide, factsheets, and posters.
U.S. Department of State
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) houses the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and partners with foreign governments and civil organizations in the development and implementation of effective strategies for confronting modern-day slavery. See below for resources from the DOS.
20 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking in 2020
U.S. Department of State (2020)
Offers a list of 20 ways to become involved in preventing human trafficking.
2020 Trafficking in Persons Report
U.S. Department of State (2020)
Documents human trafficking and the anti-trafficking movement around the world and provides a roadmap for governments to address the crime. The annual report presents policy priorities and strategies for improvement and encourages government responses to the issue of human trafficking.