Covenant House Alaska’s Comprehensive Services to Prevent Trafficking of Girls

With funding through the OVC 2024 Preventing Trafficking of Girls program, Covenant House Alaska’s (CHA) proposes a project titled, “Covenant House Alaska’s Comprehensive Services to Prevent Trafficking of Girls.” The primary purpose is aimed at preventing and addressing the trafficking of girls and young women in Anchorage, Alaska, aiming to mitigate the high incidence of human trafficking within the community. The primary activities include the development and implementation of a prevention program, enhancement of services for identifying and supporting trafficking victims, and participation in peer-to-peer learning opportunities for continuous improvement. The prevention program will focus on online exploitation and grooming, with the creation of a culturally sensitive curriculum that addresses internet-based recruitment tactics. Additionally, CHA will enhance its service offerings by providing comprehensive, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive services to identified victims, which include safety planning, crisis intervention, and individualized Success Plans. The expected outcomes are multi-fold. First, the project aims prevent and reduce the victimization of girls and young women through targeted prevention and support services. Second, it seeks to improve the capability of CHA and its community partners to identify and respond to trafficking situations through specialized training and the development of a trauma-informed prevention curriculum. Moreover, the project intends to foster a community environment that is informed and responsive to the needs of trafficking victims. The geographic service area includes Anchorage, Alaska, which encompasses nearly 300,000 people and represents a significant portion of the state’s population. This area is marked by its remote location and the unique challenges faced by Alaska Native communities, which are disproportionately affected by trafficking. Subrecipient activities include collaborations with the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center, who will assist in curriculum development, training delivery, and service provision, ensuring that the project’s goals are met comprehensively and collaboratively.