The task force will use comprehensive, trauma-informed approaches, promote racial equity to remove barriers to access among vulnerable communities

The International Organization For Adolescents, Incorporated (Iofa) received a $749,632 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs under the Services for Trafficking Victims program (CFDA 16.320) with an award date of October 1, 2023. Iofa will use this funding to implement a comprehensive, trauma-informed approach to combat human trafficking in Westchester County, New York. Key activities include: 1) conducting proactive trafficking investigations and expanding task force partnerships; 2) enhancing survivor engagement and mentoring programs; 3) expanding access to services for labor trafficking victims; 4) developing survivor-informed policies and protocols; and 5) strengthening data collection and analysis. Iofa will collaborate with sub-recipients Neighbors Link, My Sisters Place, and Savannah Sanders, LLC to deliver training on labor trafficking, increase case management services, and establish a lived-experience advisory council. The project aims to increase identification of trafficking victims, referrals to services, and investigations/prosecutions of human trafficking cases.

Project activities: 1) conduct proactive investigations of human trafficking; 2) expand task force partnerships to underserved, marginalized communities and organizations serving populations at risk for labor trafficking; 3) expand and formalize survivor engagement and mentoring; 4) expand access to services for victims (IE. Labor trafficking); 5) develop accessible, culturally appropriate, and survivor-informed policies and protocols; 6) strengthen data collection and analysis. Expected outcomes include increased: 1) number of law enforcement and community partners trained to identify and refer victims of human trafficking; 2) rate of identification of individuals experiencing trafficking, especially labor trafficking; 3) number of individuals experiencing human trafficking referred for trauma-informed, survivor-informed services; 4) number of investigations/prosecutions of human trafficking cases; 5) engagement/input of survivors in task force activities. The service area of westchester county (1 million population) is a prime location for human trafficking due to its proximity to new york city, pandemic migrants, immigrant population, and industrial worker expansion in its 6 cities, 19 towns, and 23 villages. Intended beneficiaries are victims/survivors of human trafficking; law enforcement; service providers; and underserved, marginalized communities at-risk of SEX and labor trafficking in westchester county. Subrecipients: neighbors link, my sisters place, and savannah sanders, LLC will: 1) expand education and training on labor trafficking for low income, immigrant communities; 2) increase intake and case management services for labor trafficking; and 3) establish a lived-experience advisory council. Training will also be provided on diversity, equity, and inclusion and disability inclusion. Finally, since 2020, the task force has conducted 66 investigations and prosecutions, and IT is estimated that service providers have served at least 165 survivors of human trafficking.