Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. OVC encourages grantees to coordinate their efforts with other similar OVC-direct funded human trafficking programs within the relevant jurisdiction to enhance the projects and avoid duplication of efforts. Grantees are expected to work together to determine whether OVC discretionary award funds have been, are being, or are to be used (in whole or in part) for one or more of the identical services for the same person or family member (cost items) included in the each of their grant award budgets.

If duplicative costs and services are identified, each grantee must notify their OVC grant manager(s) in writing of the potential duplication and, if requested by OVC, submit a Financial or Programmatic GAM to eliminate any inappropriate duplication of funding.

Yes. As long as there is no duplication in costs or activities, OVC funds may be used to provide services to a client who is already receiving services through another federal funding stream. For example, an OVC grantee could provide legal services to an individual client receiving housing services funded through a different federal award. However, please consult requirements for other funding sources, as they may differ.

Please refer to the solicitation your award was funded under for program-specific requirements.

Human trafficking is a crime that impacts not only the victim, but also the victim’s family. Providers must work with each client to understand his or her individual situation and develop appropriate goals regarding family members. Grant funds for services are intended primarily to support the cost of direct services for victims of human trafficking. Where the services for family members are directly related to promoting justice and healing for trafficking survivors, they are potentially allowable.

Every effort must be made to refer family members to other free and low-cost services, and to assist them in accessing federal, state, or local programs for which they may be eligible, including Medicaid, TANF, subsidized or transitional housing programs, schools, and workforce development and employment programs. Please contact your grant manager with specific questions related to using grant-funding for services for family members.

Per OVC’s human trafficking victim assistance performance measures, the definition of an eligible family member is: A related family member of the principal individual that receives services under the given grant. These individuals are not counted as the principal individual clients for the purpose of reports, and services incurred will be counted separately. For minors, eligible family members may include parents, spouse, children, and unmarried siblings under 21. For adults, eligible family members include spouse and children.

Grantees that serve all human trafficking victims within a geographic service area may also serve victims from outside of that area, with written approval from the OVC grant manager, if the grantee determines that it has the capacity to serve the victim and no other OVC-funded grantee is available to serve the victim. Grantees planning to permanently expand their service area must submit a Grant Award Modification (GAM) for a change in project scope.

Yes. As long as the client is a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons who currently resides in the United States, they are eligible to receive services.

Grantees are able to serve all human trafficking victims, regardless of when the client experienced trafficking, subject to the specific parameters detailed in their award solicitation.

Yes. Clients are never required to self-identify as a victim and services should not be contingent upon self-identification. If the grantee determines, in good faith, that the client is a victim of human trafficking, services may be provided.

Grantee program staff should record the date(s) when the eligibility requirement is met on the intake form, case management system, or the equivalent. This documentation should be maintained in the case file to demonstrate the completion and outcome of screening for OVC program eligibility for each client served. Specific details of the person's human trafficking experience are not necessary and generally should not be kept in the file maintained by the case manager or other staff.

Grantees should have policies and procedures in place to ensure that staff working directly with clients receive adequate training, support, and supervision. OVC requires that key staff, including case managers, must have prior victim service experience or be under the direct supervision of a senior case manager or project director with such experience. OVC recommends that case managers receive clinical supervision from a licensed social worker.

Grantees should note that the OVC award condition that states that the project director and/or any other key program personnel designated in the application shall be replaced only for compelling reasons. Successors to key personnel must be approved by OJP, and such approval is contingent upon submission of appropriate information, including, but not limited to, a resume. Changes in program personnel, other than key personnel, require only notification to OJP and submission of resumes, unless otherwise designated in the award document.

Any human trafficking grantee (and any subrecipient thereof) may not permit any grant staff to interact with any minor in the course of activities under the award, unless the recipient or subrecipient first has made a written determination of the suitability of that individual to interact with participating minors, based on current and appropriate information.

Yes. OVC strongly encourages the project coordinator or program director and one other key staff member from your organization to attend an in-person or remote OVC grantee orientation and have relevant staff participate in OVC-sponsored training and technical assistance throughout the award project period.

OVC recommends that new staff and community partners take the Understanding Human Trafficking foundational training.