Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles Legal Services for Victims of Human Trafficking

The goal of the FY 2019 Direct Services to Support Victims of Human Trafficking Program is to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to victims of human trafficking, as defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, as amended. Funding through this program supports specialized services to victims of sex and labor trafficking, as well as for efforts to increase the capacity of communities to respond to human trafficking through the development of interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness activities over a three-year project period. This award made to Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles is funded under Purpose Area 2 which is designed to provide free comprehensive direct legal services to trafficking victims in the Southern California area, with a focus on Greater Los Angeles and Orange Counties. These areas include some of the highest number of human trafficking matters opened by U.S. Attorneys. With this funding, LAFLA will provide comprehensive direct legal services to 100 victims of human trafficking, conduct targeted outreach and training to service providers, and provide technical assistance to community groups and service providers. Through these activities, project objectives are to accomplish the following: assess, identify and provide appropriate legal remedies; connect victims to obtain needed social services and other non-legal assistance; and increase awareness and capacity of others in the community to provide services. Clients will have access to LAFLA’s complete range of services for help in resolving legal challenges faced by LAFLA clients. LAFLA also has a wide network of community partners and provides warm referrals for social services, medical, and mental health treatment. This project will support LAFLA’s work representing victims of trafficking by providing access to services in a holistic, client-centered, trauma-informed, culturally intelligent, and linguistically appropriate manner to help clients achieve a sense of security, healing, and stability. CA/NCF