Faith-Based and Community Organizations Can Help End Trafficking

Victims, survivors, and concerned community members can contact the hotline at 1-888-373-7888, through text messaging (233733), and through online chat 24 hours a day in multiple languages. Since 2007, the Hotline has received reports of over 35,000 cases of potential trafficking across the U.S. and U.S. territories and connected survivors to critical services. In 2018, HHS will increase public awareness and outreach efforts to faith-based and community organizations to strengthen our national response to human trafficking. Access our poster and brochure for faith-based and community organizations. Take part in the HHS Look Beneath the Surface public awareness campaign so everyone knows that help is available for victims of trafficking.

If you work with populations in need, you may encounter victims of trafficking. We offer expertise on how to effectively and safely work with those who have experienced trafficking to reduce their risk of being re-traumatized. The National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center (NHTTAC) provides training for health and human service professionals to identify and respond to the complex needs of survivors of trafficking. The Center also supports organizations and communities to address the root causes that make individuals, families, and communities vulnerable to trafficking. Email NHTTAC for more information.

Many cities and counties across the U.S. have multi-disciplinary task forces or coalitions that need faith-based and community organizations to provide their particular expertise to strengthen efforts to combat local trafficking. Email the Hotline for information on local groups or check out DOJ’s Services & Task Forces Map.

In FY 17, a national network of HHS-funded grantees provided direct assistance to more than 1,500 victims of human trafficking and their families. Local organizations assisting foreign national victims of trafficking can enroll as a sub-recipient to one of the grantees anywhere in the country. Funding will enable service providers to support survivors of trafficking, including short- and long-term housing, substance use, mental health counseling, education, job training, legal advocacy, or financial counseling. Email OTIP for more information.