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Professional Development Scholarships
These scholarships are coming soon! Contact NHTTAC to sign up for the latest updates.
The National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center (NHTTAC) offers professional development scholarships to individuals and multidisciplinary teams (MDT) that work with human trafficking survivors and/or populations at risk of human trafficking.
Scholarships cover professional development expenses up to $500 for individuals and $1,500 for teams.
Awards are based on eligibility, limited to available funds, and processed in the order in which the applications are received. Scholarships are nontransferable and can be used only for professional development related to an applicant’s responsibility to support human trafficking survivors or populations at risk of human trafficking. NHTTAC will only award one scholarship per person or per organization in any 12-month period.
Professional development scholarship funds are available to cover some or all of the following:
- Transportation expenses such as air, train, or bus fare (not to exceed $500 per individual)
- Lodging expenses (up to the federal government rate in that area)
- Conference costs (excluding late fees)
The above costs will be paid directly by NHTTAC on behalf of the awardee. Awardees must cover all other expenses on their own (including ground transportation, meals, incidentals, etc.), may only use the funds to cover approved amounts as mentioned above, and are encouraged to use the least costly mode of transportation to and from the event. Rental car services are not allowable under any circumstances.
Who is eligible?
Eligible applicants are professionals from an organization or who are part of an MDT that works with human trafficking survivors or populations at risk of human trafficking within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Applicants must currently work with human trafficking survivors and/or populations at risk of human trafficking and have been doing so for at least one year.
They can include:
- Child welfare experts
- Public health professionals
- Medical service providers
- Behavioral health professionals
- Violence prevention agency staff
- Advocacy organization staff
- Volunteer service center staff that provide support to trafficking survivors and/or populations at risk of trafficking
- Tribal, state, and local agencies and MDTs (up to five individuals) that include service providers or professionals who work with human trafficking survivors or populations at risk of human trafficking
Human trafficking survivors who have a minimum of one year of professional experience (including volunteer experience) working with human trafficking survivors and/or populations at risk of human trafficking are encouraged to apply.
The following conditions also apply:
- NHTTAC must receive the completed application at least 60 days prior to the event or the request will be rejected. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule.
- The event focuses primarily on developing skills related to providing services or support to professionals working with human trafficking survivors and/or populations at risk of human trafficking.
- The event furthers OTIP's organizational mission and objectives for professionals working with human trafficking survivors or populations at risk of human trafficking.
- The conference or training is delivered by a credible organization.
The scholarship recipient(s) will be invited to submit a brief readout, summary of lessons learned, or testimonial to OTIP after having attended the conference or training.
For Individuals
- The applicant's organization has insufficient funds for training. Individuals applying on their own will be asked to demonstrate financial need.
- The scholarship request is supported by the applicant's supervisor. If the applicant works independently, he or she must provide a letter of support from someone with whom he or she has an established working relationship.
- Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis. No more than three individual scholarships will be available per event.
For Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs)
- An MDT consists of three to five individuals from various disciplines who are collaborating to assist human trafficking survivors and/or populations at risk of human trafficking.
- No single discipline can be represented more than once within the team.
- All MDT members must complete their own applications using information specific to their organizations' budget and requested expenses.
- All applications for an MDT scholarship must be submitted within 48 hours of each other.
- Incomplete MDT submissions will be denied.
- The MDT must identify one member as the team coordinator to ensure all applications are submitted within 48 hours of each other and to respond to followup questions.
How do I apply?
For more information on how to apply, email NHTTAC or call 844-648-8822 to speak with a NHTTAC specialist and determine your eligibility.
The following individuals are ineligible to apply:
- OTIP T/TA expert consultants or staff from OTIP grantee organizations
- Individuals or MDTs (including human trafficking task forces) that are applying to enhance their criminal justice response to human trafficking
- Federal employees and active duty military personnel
- Students or individuals seeking degrees, certification, or licensure who do not meet the 1-year professional experience requirement
- Individuals featured as speakers or trainers at the event for which they are requesting support
- Individuals who do not work with human trafficking survivors or populations at risk of human trafficking
- Individuals or organizations that have received a scholarship from OTIP within 12 months from the T/TA event date
Agencies with needs related to the criminal justice system should to apply to the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center.
NHTTAC is federally prohibited from providing technical assistance that may be used to participate in, support, or advocate for the legalization or practice of prostitution.
Contact NHTTAC
Email NHTTAC or call 844-648-8822 for more information or to speak with a NHTTAC specialist. The NHTTAC call center is open from 8:30 to 5:00 EST Monday through Friday. All email inquiries will be responded to within 1 business day.
NHTTAC services are free and delivered based on need.
Last Reviewed: June 19, 2019