Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking

THIS CONTAINS INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN LIHEAP INFORMATION MEMORANDUM TRANSMITTAL
NO. LIHEAP-IM-2007-6, DATED 7/26/07                                            


TO:            LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) 
               GRANTEES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES

SUBJECT:       "Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking"

RELATED
REFERENCES:    The Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution,
               2007 (Public Law 110-5); the Low-Income Home
               Energy Assistance Act, Title XXVI of the Omnibus
               Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-
               35), as amended.

PURPOSE:       To inform LIHEAP grantees about Administration for 
               Children and Families (ACF) initiatives to deal 
               with the serious problem of human trafficking.

CONTENT:       The United Nations (UN) calls human trafficking a 
               "transnational problem," and insists "no country 
               is immune." Europol estimates that human 
               trafficking is now a several billion dollar 
               industry per year. U.S. Government figures
               approximate 600,000 to 800,000 fall victim
               annually to human trafficking worldwide, while in
               the U.S., 14,500 to 17,500 are enslaved, forced,
               or coerced into unthinkable situations. These
               victims — young children, teenagers, men, and
               women — are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion
               for the purpose of either sexual exploitation or
               forced labor. Stated simply, human trafficking is
               modern-day slavery.

               Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection
               Act in 2000, and strengthened the Act in 2003 and
               2005. President George W. Bush has led worldwide
               commitment to fighting human trafficking; in a
               speech to the UN General Assembly, the President
               declared, "The trade in human beings for any
               purpose must not be allowed to thrive in our
               time." The campaign to Rescue and Restore Victims
               of Human Trafficking (Rescue & Restore), under
               ACF, was created specifically to address the needs
               of victims of human trafficking in America.

               Rescue & Restore seeks to educate the public about
               the seriousness of human trafficking and to
               identify and assist victims. The major component
               of Rescue & Restore is public awareness and
               education. Human trafficking is often called a
               "hidden crime" because victims are difficult to
               identify and do not usually come forward on their
               own. Rescue & Restore teaches social service
               providers, law enforcement officials, ethnic and
               faith-based groups, and public health officials to
               "Look Beneath the Surface" — to reach out,
               identify, and connect victims with the services
               critical to turn victims of trafficking into
               survivors.
               
               Rescue & Restore has also established national and
               local coalitions — groups of organizations who
               have pledged to implement Rescue & Restore
               awareness and assist campaigns across the county.
               Coalition organizations include local governments,
               labor, immigrant, and women's organizations,
               nonprofits, and civic groups, and they are always
               looking to expand their collaborative efforts. If
               your organization is interested in becoming a
               member of Rescue & Restore to help educate and
               provide information about human trafficking,
               please e-mail trafficking@acf.hhs.gov.

               For more information, and to see how you can help,
               go to the Rescue & Restore Web site at
               http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/index.html, or
               call the National Human Trafficking Resource
               Center at 1-888-373-7888.





                                 ______________/s_____________
                                 Josephine B. Robinson
                                 Director
                                 Office of Community Services