The improving multidisciplinary partnerships to address child trafficking (impact) program is headquartered at the DEE norton lowcountry children's center, INC, in charleston, SC

The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center, Inc. will use a $704,240 Project Grant from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Victims of Crime under the Services for Victims of Trafficking program to expand trauma-informed services for minor victims of human trafficking through its Improving Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Address Child Trafficking (IMPACT) program. Specifically, the IMPACT program will convene a multidisciplinary team to implement the victim response protocol for Charleston and Berkeley Counties, South Carolina; provide intensive, culturally-appropriate case management and referrals to assessments and evidence-based interventions for at least 200 youth victims; and improve identification, services and equity in access to care for marginalized youth. The grant period is from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2025 and services will be performed in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

The impact program aims to expand and strengthen the trauma-informed services for minor victims of human trafficking. These services are expected to support increased safety, independence, self-sufficiency, and well-being for these victims. Consistent with recommendations to respond to the commercial sexual exploitation of children with a coordinated, community-wide approach, the impact 1) convenes regular meetings of a multidisciplinary team that implements the protocol for responding to minor trafficking victims in the service area; 2) provides intensive, child-centered case management to increase access to developmentally- and culturally-appropriate services; and 3) provides referrals to and provision of trauma-informed assessments and evidence-based interventions to reduce the impact of child trafficking on the minor victim and their family. Specific types of services to be provided by impact staff include: 1) information and referral, 2) personal advocacy/accompaniment, and 3) emotional support, safety, and health services. The proposed project will address all forms of trafficking of minors (i.e., SEX trafficking and labor trafficking) in the program's primary geographic service area, charleston and berkeley counties, south carolina. The target population for the proposed project is minors from birth to age 17 who are suspected to be, or confirmed, victims of human trafficking. The proposed project will continue the impact program's role in serving youth victims in the region and will further improve the identification of minor victims of SEX and labor trafficking. The impact program anticipates delivering services to at least 200 youth over the project period based on the tremendous need for services in the community. The impact program also proposes to improve services and equity in access to care among minority/marginalized youth by applying a cultural equity lens.