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

The Department of Public Safety Arkansas was awarded a $750,000 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime under the Services for Trafficking Victims program (CFDA 16.320). The funding will support the establishment of a multidisciplinary Arkansas Human Trafficking Task Force to combat sex and labor trafficking across the state. Key activities include formalizing the task force structure, developing operational procedures, providing training for stakeholders, and conducting a community assessment to identify potential trafficking areas. This 3-year project will benefit Arkansas's entire population, including the 41% of residents living in rural areas. The award date is October 1, 2023, with a final completion date of September 30, 2026.

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.