Enhancing the Scope of Holistic Legal Services in Ohio and Tennessee for Victims of Human Trafficking

Through this award, Advocating Opportunity will implement the Enhancing the Scope of Holistic Legal Services in Ohio and Tennessee for Victims of Human Trafficking project. The purpose is to enhance services for human trafficking victims by providing trauma-responsive, holistic legal services for victims of trafficking in Ohio and Tennessee, with a focus on Lucas, Franklin, and Davidson Counties, and the flexibility to provide services in other areas of Ohio and Tennessee where none exist and/or where a victim may have relocated. The project places a particular emphasis on collaborating with and training local partners on labor trafficking, and sex trafficking as needed, as well as placing emphasis on building resilience-based services and networks to enhance the quality of services to all trafficking victims. The first project activity, to provide holistic legal services to meet the individualized needs of human trafficking victims, includes the following: 1) conducting a thorough intake process and assessment with clients with a Program Coordinator; 2) assigning each client an Advocate and an Attorney with whom they will develop an individualized service plan; and 3) delivering holistic legal and social services using Advocating Opportunity’s Resilience Model, which includes weaving trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and resilience-based interventions into each client’s service plan. The second activity, to provide training and technical assistance to local project partners, includes the following: 1) hosting trainings that improve partners’ ability to (a) identify victims, (b) identify appropriate resources and refer victims to these resources, and (c) provide trauma-responsive support; and 2) providing partners with follow-on technical assistance so that they effectively implement the skills and knowledge acquired in trainings. Training will be focused on labor trafficking identification and responses, with sex trafficking identification and responses as needed, and training on trauma-responsive care. Collaborative, follow-on technical assistance will be provided for all topics for staff and partners. The deliverables to be provided are the holistic legal and social support services, outreach, partner training, and technical assistance described. These deliverables will be measured quarterly, and data reported will include number of new and continuing victims served, type of services provided, service hours or units delivered, number and type of trainings delivered, and service satisfaction data captured through client satisfaction surveys.