Services to minor victims of sex trafficking

The proposed project will be implemented by McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Site, Inc.  and will include I-View and Street Addiction, as partners on the project. The project will be dedicated to expanding advocacy and case management services to youth victims of human trafficking. The number of victims served will be identified through outreach, training, public awareness and technology.

The project will be a two-tiered approach.  The first tier is to provide direct services to the victim. Direct services provided will include a needs assessment, enrollment in state and federal benefits programs for eligible trafficking victims; assistance with concrete needs (i.e. food, clothing, transportation, phone, etc.); emergency and transitional housing; legal consultation and services; interpretation/translation; counseling and advocacy; self-sufficiency programs; and referrals for other critical needs including medical, dental, and mental health services. Direct services will also be provided through Street Addiction staff and I-View staff. The second tier to the approach is focused on community awareness and education.  The goal is to provide those most likely to come into contact with victims (i.e. law enforcement, educators, service providers, faith-based and community-based organizations, etc.) the tools necessary to identify trafficking and provide appropriate referrals and services. 

The project will be implemented by McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center, a nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center with the following disciplines, all housed on-site: law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, medical evaluations, mental health services, and victim advocacy.  Services will also be provided by the project partner, Center for Court Innovation.

The service area for this project includes all of Onondaga County in New York State.  Onondaga County covers 780 square miles, is a large and diverse community with a population of 461,809 people.  Approximately 76.5% of residents are white, 5.07 % are Hispanic, 11.5 % are black with the remaining being Asian, Native American, mixed race or “other.”  Services will be provided regardless of age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, or citizen status.