Start a multidisciplinary task force and establish a strong foundation of task force CO-leadership structure, clear roles and responsibilities, and internal processes and protocols

This $750,000 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime (CFDA 16.320 - Services for Trafficking Victims program) will support the establishment of a multidisciplinary Arkansas Human Trafficking Task Force. The funding will formalize the task force structure, develop operational procedures, provide professional development and training to key stakeholders, and conduct a community assessment to identify potential areas of sex and labor trafficking. The award will benefit the entire state of Arkansas, which covers 53,179 square miles and has a population of over 3 million, with 41% residing in rural areas. The Arkansas Department of Human Services Office of Administrative Services will serve as the lead entity, with the goal of building a strong foundation of co-leadership, clear roles and responsibilities, and internal processes to combat human trafficking across the state.

This funding will support a formalize task force structure; develop operational procedures; access professional development and training opportunities, deliver training for key stakeholders; and conduct a community assessment to identify potential areas of the community where SEX and labor trafficking may be occurring. Arkansas covers 53,179 square miles, with a 2020 estimated population of 3,013,756 people with 1,235,640 or 41% of its population living in rural arkansas. Among the 75 arkansas counties, 13 (23.5%) are classified as metropolitan (urban) and 62 (82.66%) are classified as nonmetropolitan (rural), based on 2021 university of arkansas rural profile of arkansas. The work of the arkansas human trafficking task force will benefit the entire state.