Responding to Human Trafficking

Children and youth survivors of human trafficking will likely require a complex array of services, including mental health services, legal services, a safe place to live, and help with education and employment. Below are some resources to help professionals connect with and provide appropriate and timely services and supports for young victims and survivors.

Client Services
Polaris (2018)
Provides clinical case management and counseling to ease the effects of trauma, support groups, educational and enrichment programs, access to housing, and job readiness assistance.

Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking: State & Territory Profiles
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families, Office on Trafficking in Persons (2018)
Provides a snapshot of anti-trafficking activities and resources in each State and territory. State and territory profiles are also available in Spanish.

Human Trafficking and Child Welfare: A Guide for Caseworkers

Series Title	Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 278KB) Order (Free)
Year Published	2017

Due to their potentially unstable living situations, physical distance from friends and family, traumatic experiences, and emotional vulnerability, children involved with child welfare are at risk for being targeted by traffickers who are actively seeking victims to exploit. This bulletin explores how caseworkers can identify and support children who have been victimized as well as children that are at greater risk for future victimization. It provides background information about the issue, strategies caseworkers can use to identify and support victims and potential victims, and tools and resources that can assist caseworkers.

Human Trafficking and Child Welfare: A Guide for Child Welfare Agencies

Series Title	Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 357KB) Order (Free)
Year Published	2017

Due to their potentially unstable living situations, physical distance from friends and family, traumatic experiences, and emotional vulnerability, children involved with child welfare are at risk for being targeted by traffickers who are actively seeking children to exploit. This bulletin is intended for child welfare agency leadership and explores how child welfare agencies can support children who are victims of human trafficking, as well as children who are at greater risk for future victimization. It provides background information about the issue, including its scope and relevant Federal legislation and initiatives, and strategies that agencies can implement to address the trafficking of children. State and local policy and program examples also are provided.

Human Trafficking: Coordinating Resources

Series Title	Grantee Lessons Learned
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 94KB)
Year Published	2019

Shares what Children’s Bureau’s grantees have learned about coordinating specialized resources and services for child and youth victims of trafficking at the State and local levels.

Human Trafficking: Developing Housing Options

Series Title	Grantee Lessons Learned
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 91KB)
Year Published	2019

Shares what Children’s Bureau’s grantees have learned about effective housing and treatment approaches for child and youth victims of trafficking and the strategies they are using to address common challenges.

Human Trafficking: Working With Faith-Based Groups

Series Title	Grantee Lessons Learned
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 92KB)
Year Published	2019

Shares what Children’s Bureau’s grantees have learned about developing and working with faith-based organizations to support the response to human trafficking in any community.

National Human Trafficking Hotline
Provides information, statistics, and resources on a wide range of topics related to human trafficking, in addition to a national hotline.

Reaching Out for Help: A Guide for LGBTQ Youth on How to Receive Support and Services From the National Human Trafficking Hotline
Polaris (2016)
Designed to help lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth feel more comfortable utilizing hotline services. This presentation explains the resources available through the National Human Trafficking Hotline, including trained service-providers and LGBTQ-sensitive supports.

Resources: 4 Supporting Victims
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center
In Human Trafficking Task Force e-Guide
Lists supplemental information and resources about promising practices, addresses gaps when human trafficking victims enter the juvenile system as criminals, and gives providers and community partners tools they can use to address victims’ needs.

Find more resources about responding to human trafficking through Child Welfare Information Gateway's Library by choosing a topic below. Search results are updated continually and include documents from 2012 to the present.