Surviving Trauma and Reaching Success (STARS) Program

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USRI) will implement the Surviving Trauma and Reaching Success (STARS) program which will serve foreign-national victims of human trafficking in the greater Detroit Metropolitan area and nearby regions. The purpose is to offer victims an escape from sex and labor trafficking through culturally responsive and trauma-informed case management and legal immigration services, providing the means of acquiring safety, legal status and a more self-directed, fulfilling life. Project activities include outreach to trafficking victims through liaising with community-based organizations, sexual assault crisis centers, migrant health centers, refugee organizations, and trafficking task forces that include law enforcement, mental health experts and trafficking service providers. Venues for reaching labor trafficking victims include agricultural settings, restaurants, factories, and domestic work settings. The STARS Case Manager will help victims access safe shelter, housing, food, clothing, transportation, personal care items and childcare as needed from community resources and facilitate victim-directed safety plans and Individualized Service Plans. USCRI’s Legal Services Program will offer attorney services including T Visas (for victims of human trafficking), and U Visas (for victims of crime). Other potential remedies include Temporary Protected Status, Self-Petitions for Battered Spouses and Children (VAWA), Protection Orders, Naturalization, Asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Adjustment of Status, and Work Authorization. Expected outcomes over a three-year period include case management services to 90 foreign-national trafficking victims; legal consultation and representation for 120 victims; and community outreach to trafficking service providers, law enforcement, and task forces. Intended beneficiaries of the STARS project are foreign-national victims of human sex and labor trafficking in Detroit and surrounding areas.