Trafficking Victims Support Project

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 direct services to victims of sex trafficking 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 under Purpose Area 1 to The YWCA of Western Massachusetts’ Trafficking Victims Support Project (TVSP) will provide all victims of human trafficking in Hampden County, Massachusetts with an array of comprehensive services. The project will provide victims with wraparound case management and peer support services so they get the services they need to meet their complex needs, and support a coordinated community response to help victims of sex and labor trafficking. This award supplements existing services, as the YWCA would be the hub through which all YWCA and external provider services would be coordinated through case management, trafficking-specific advocacy, and peer support. A comprehensive and coordinated service delivery plan will be developed for each presenting victim while co-presenting issues that may increase vulnerability to revictimization and/or present additional barriers to long-term healing and goal achievement (addiction history, immigration status, criminal record). The YWCA will implement action research to achieve continuous quality improvement goals while documenting the process of implementation, project successes, challenges, and solutions. CA/NCF