Human Trafficking - Medical Offramps program to Identify and Serve Victims of Human Trafficking in Medical Settings in Alameda County, California

Through the FY 2019 Field-Generated Innovations in Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking solicitation, OVC will support projects that enhance identification of and services for victims in order to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving anti-trafficking field, and to best serve victims of human trafficking. Projects will develop or enhance promising practices, models, and victim-centered programs, or apply them in innovative ways, to build the capacity of victim service providers to close gaps in assisting all victims of sex and labor trafficking in the United States. The Human Trafficking – Medical Off ramps collaborative of Alameda County will train and support medical providers in identifying and treating victims of all forms of human trafficking. This project is the extension and expansion of a pilot program that trained and identified “champions” among the staff at four area hospitals to recognize human trafficking and to develop internal protocols for trauma-informed medical care and social services referrals. This project expansion will: 1) add 11 community health clinics in high-risk communities to the program; 2) add a new emphasis to identifying and treating victims of labor trafficking to the curriculum; 3) create a local bedside advocacy program modeled after the successful programs for victims of sexual assault; and 4) create a single-point-of-contact system for medical personnel to refer patients to trauma-informed and victim-centered services needed by victims of human trafficking. This program anticipates identifying at least 240 new victims of human trafficking in their community to start the process of service provision and healing. CA/NCF