What is human trafficking?
“Human trafficking is the recruitment and/or movement of someone within or across borders through the abuse of power/position with the intention of forced exploitation, commercial or otherwise.” (The Human Trafficking Clinic, 2009)
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery and impacts populations all around the globe, including US-born individuals. Individuals and families seeking out economic opportunities, or attempting to escape dangerous living conditions, are often targeted by traffickers for exploitation. Traffickers use force, fraud or coersion to control their victims. Victims are exploited for both labor and sex trafficking purposes. These victims have been trafficked for domestic servantude, restaurant, hotel & factory work, as well as and agriculture. Many victims of human trafficking are forced to work in prostitution or the sex entertainment industry. Trafficking occurs in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
What services does Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountain provide related to human trafficking?
LFSRM has been serving victims of human trafficking who are foreign nationals since 2000. Services have been provided to both victims of sex and labor trafficking. Services available included, but are not limited to: case management, basic needs, housing, cash assistance, pre-employment training, employment placement services, health referral services, referrals and assistance with community services, assistance with public benefits, and limited immigration legal services. LFSRM administers numerous federal and state programs that certified VOTs may be eligible to be enrolled. To supplement services, LFSRM has also been a sub-contractor of USCCB and is sub-grantee of USCRI throughout these past 12 years.
LFSRM is a steering committee member of the Colorado Network to End Human Trafficking. LFSRM focuses on providing services to VOTs who have been certified and collaborates with service providers who have been identified to work with the pre-certified clients. If needed, LFSRM has the possibilities of working with pre-certified clients. LFSRM administrators a URM program, which serves minor VOTs.
LFSRM works with the Colorado Network to End Human Trafficking (CoNEHT). For more specific information, CoNEHT can be contacted toll-free at 1-866-455-5075, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What are the relevant laws on human trafficking?
US Federal Laws on Human Trafficking:
Violence Against Women Act - 2013, including the TVPRA
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) - 2003, 2005, 2008
Trafficking Victims Protection Act - 2000
Colorado State Laws on Human Trafficking
For more information, visit:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/programs/anti-trafficking
http://www.dhs.gov/one-dhs-blue-campaign
If you think that someone is a victim of trafficking, call 1.888.3737.888 to reach the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, or CoNEHT at 1-866-455-5075.