HHS Launches New National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center

Katherine Chon, Director of the ACF Office on Trafficking in Persons

For nearly a decade, HHS funded the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) to provide 24-hour response to victims in crisis, connect survivors to services, refer tips to specialized law enforcement, and provide training and technical assistance to communities and organizations. During that time, the NHTRC processed more than 138,000 calls and other requests for assistance.

Since annual call volumes have doubled over the last five years, our office decided that the best way to keep providing these important services was to split the functions of the NHTRC into two parts.

This past November, the NHTRC became the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The Hotline will continue to serve as the same confidential, multilingual call center that provides survivors of human trafficking with vital support and a variety of options to get help and stay safe. It will also continue to be a source of actionable tips for law enforcement and expertise for the anti-trafficking community.

And now the Office on Trafficking in Persons is pleased to announce the launch of the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center (NHTTAC). NHTTAC will serve as the anti-trafficking field’s primary source of training and technical assistance from a public health perspective.

The Center also seeks to:

• Continue to build the capacity of communities assisting survivors of human trafficking and working to prevent modern forms of slavery
• Increase victim identification and access to trauma-informed services for all survivors
• Strengthen health and well-being outcomes for survivors of human trafficking
• Reduce the vulnerabilities of those most at risk of human trafficking

In building NHTTAC, we considered feedback from survivors, anti-trafficking organizations, service providers, and other community organizations. As a result, services will include:

• Customized training and technical assistance using skilled trainers with specific subject matter expertise for your organization or conference
• Education for health care, behavioral health, and social service professionals using the SOAR to Health and Wellness Training to “Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Human Trafficking”
• Enhanced professional development of individuals and multidisciplinary teams through scholarships to attend regional or national conferences
• Increased survivor representation at conferences and events by offering scholarships to hosting organizations

HHS will also continue to implement its commitments in the Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services to Victims of Human Trafficking in the United States, including coordinating NHTTAC services with other HHS and Federal centers providing anti-trafficking training and resources.

Learn more about NHTTAC and how to apply for assistance