Ensuring that Cast and its partners have the capacity and skills to respond to the comprehensive legal needs of all types of victims of human trafficking in Los Angeles.

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 The Coalition to Abolish Slavery Trafficking (CAST) is funded under Purpose Area 2 which is designed to maintain its capacity to serve large numbers of trafficking survivors with comprehensive legal services by hiring two attorneys who will provide legal services to survivors in Los Angeles County. The project goal is to ensure that CAST and its partners have the capacity and skills to respond to the comprehensive legal needs of all types of victims of human trafficking in Los Angeles. Through this grant, 120 victims will receive comprehensive legal services from two CAST attorneys and another 30 will receive services from CAST’s pro bono partners. In addition, CAST will train 75 attorneys, hold six outreach events for providers and attorneys, and collaborate with local coalitions and agencies to ultimately improve victim identification, referral, and service provision. Finally, CAST will participate in action research to assess program performance throughout the life of the award. CA/NCF