U.S. Department of Justice: 2020 Services for Minor Victims of Sex Trafficking

Deadline: 29 May 2020

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is seeking applications from states, tribes, and units of local government to develop, expand, and strengthen assistance programs for minor victims of sex trafficking.

This program is designed to develop, expand, and strengthen assistance programs for minor victims of sex trafficking. Under the authorizing statute, the term “sex trafficking of a minor” means an offense described in section 1591(a) of title 18 or a comparable state law, against a minor.

The primary goal of this program is to develop, expand, and strengthen assistance programs for minor victims of sex trafficking.

The objective in providing these services is to achieve increased safety, self-sufficiency, and well-being for minor victims of sex trafficking.

Objectives include—

the provision of services to meet the individualized needs of minor victims of sex trafficking; and
collaboration with, and training for, local partners (e.g., social service providers, public sector personnel, private sector personnel likely to encounter sex trafficking victims) to ensure minor trafficking victims are properly identified and referred for appropriate services.

Under this program, the funded states, tribes, and units of local government will provide (directly and through partnerships) an array of services that minor victims of human trafficking often require to address their needs for safety, security, and healing, such as—

providing residential care to minor victims of sex trafficking, including temporary or longterm placement as appropriate;
providing 24-hour emergency social services response for minor victims of sex trafficking;
providing minor victims of sex trafficking with clothing and other daily necessities needed to keep such victims from returning to living on the street;
case management services for minor victims of sex trafficking;
mental health counseling for minor victims of sex trafficking, including specialized counseling and substance abuse treatment;
legal services for minor victims of sex trafficking;
specialized training for social service providers, public sector personnel, and private sector personnel likely to encounter sex trafficking victims on issues related to the sex trafficking of minors and severe forms of trafficking in persons;
outreach and education programs to provide information about deterrence and prevention of sex trafficking of minors;
programs to provide treatment to individuals charged or cited with purchasing or attempting to purchase sex acts in cases where—
- a treatment program can be mandated as a condition of a sentence, fine, suspended sentence, or probation, or is an appropriate alternative to criminal prosecution; and
- the individual was not charged with purchasing or attempting to purchase sex acts with a minor; and
10. screening and referral of minor victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons.

As established in 34 U.S.C. § 20702, a “minor victim of sex trafficking” means an individual who—

is younger than 18 years of age, and is a victim of an offense described in section 1591(a) of title 18 or a comparable state law; or
is not younger than 18 years of age nor older than 20 years of age;
before the individual reached 18 years of age, was described in subparagraph (A); and
was receiving shelter or services as a minor victim of sex trafficking.

Funding Information

Maximum number of awards OVC expects to make: 4 awards
Estimated maximum dollar amount for each award: $1.5−$2 million
Total amount anticipated to be awarded under solicitation: up to $8 million
Period of Performance start date: January 1, 2021
Period of Performance duration: 12 months

Eligibility Criteria

Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 20702, the following entities are eligible to apply:

States, tribes, or units of local government that—

have significant criminal activity involving sex trafficking of minors;
have demonstrated cooperation between federal, state, local, and, where applicable, tribal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers in addressing sex trafficking of minors;
have developed a workable, multidisciplinary plan to combat sex trafficking of minors, including—
- building or establishing a residential care facility for minor victims of sex trafficking;
- the provision of rehabilitative care to minor victims of sex trafficking;
- the provision of specialized training for law enforcement officers and social service providers for all forms of sex trafficking, with a focus on sex trafficking of minors;
- prevention, deterrence, and prosecution of offenses involving sex trafficking of minors;
- cooperation or referral agreements with organizations providing outreach or other related services to run away and homeless youth; and
- law enforcement protocols or procedures to screen all individuals arrested for prostitution, whether adult or minor, for victimization by sex trafficking and by other crimes, such as sexual assault and domestic violence; and
provide assurance that a minor victim of sex trafficking shall not be required to collaborate with law enforcement to have access to residential care or services provided with a grant under this section.