The michigan department of health and human services, division of victim services proposes to implement the improving outcomes for child and youth victims of trafficking project

The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Victims of Crime awarded $1.6 million to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on July 1, 2026, under the Domestic Trafficking Victim Program (CFDA 16.834) to implement the Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Trafficking Project.

The recipient will deliver five core activities through June 30, 2030: advanced training for investigating and prosecuting labor and sex trafficking of children and youth; training for child welfare professionals on identifying, investigating, and responding to labor and sex trafficking; a forum for trafficking survivors to participate in initiatives promoting personal growth, resilience, and long-term healing; specialized trainings to build capacity of anti-trafficking professionals to provide effective services; and training and awareness activities within Michigan tribal communities, with focus on improving response to trafficking within tribal gaming entities.

Work is performed at the recipient's headquarters in Lansing, Michigan. The recipient will collaborate with child welfare agencies, law enforcement, prosecutorial agencies, victim services organizations, and tribal entities across Michigan. Expected outcomes include a strengthened criminal justice response to trafficking, improved identification and response to trafficking within the child welfare system and tribal communities, and improved anti-trafficking services promoting healing and well-being for child and youth trafficking survivors.

The purpose of this project is to strengthen the statewide response to child and youth trafficking by collaborating with key systems that play critical roles in identifying and responding to victims, such as child welfare, law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, victim services, and tribal gaming entities. Project activities include: (1) delivering advanced training for investigating and prosecuting labor and SEX trafficking of children and youth; (2) providing training to child welfare professionals aimed at improving the identification, investigation, and response to labor and SEX trafficking; (3) creating a forum for survivors to participate in initiatives that promote personal growth, resilience, and long term healing; (4) building the capacity of anti-trafficking professionals to provide effective services through the delivery of specialized trainings; and (5) providing training and awareness activities within the tribal communities of michigan, with a focus on improving the response to trafficking within tribal gaming entities. Expected outcomes include a strengthened criminal justice response to trafficking, improved identification and response to trafficking of children and youth within the child welfare system and tribal communities of michigan, and improved anti-trafficking services that promote healing and well-being to children and youth that have experienced trafficking.