Justice at Work Comprehensive Services to Victims of Human Trafficking

Justice at Work (JaW) proposes to enhance the quality and quantity of comprehensive services available to victims of trafficking, especially labor trafficking, across the state of Pennsylvania. With the support of OVC, and in partnership with La Puerta Abrieta (LPA), JaW will provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to labor trafficking victims, including civil legal aid, individualized case management, mental health services, counseling on financial management and tax issues, and training for partner organizations. JaW provides competent staff that all speak Spanish; a special focus on the needs of male victims (as most available resources cater to women and children); comprehensive support for victims in regard to their health and wellbeing, immigration services, and housing needs; and assistance for victims who want to pursue civil legal remedies against their traffickers. JaW is also the only direct legal services organization outside of Philadelphia that specifically serves immigrant clients on non-immigration civil legal issues and does not accept Legal Services Corporation funding. JaW’s history as a farmworker-serving organization has required them to build a service model accessible to clients in rural areas and at considerable distance from their offices. Therefore, services will span across the state of Pennsylvania. JaW will conduct outreach in locations around the state, including door-to-door outreach at farm labor camps and in venues provided by community organizations, consulates, and other collaborative partners. The goals for the project are to: enhance the quality and quantity and geographical distribution of comprehensive services available to victims of human trafficking; promote victim safety and stability in the short-term aftermath of victimization; and provide victims the opportunities to direct services towards their own individualized goals, including increased feelings of safety and wellbeing, increased feelings of autonomy, and working toward economic self-sufficiency.