HumanTrafficking.org | United States of America Government Agency: Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement

A web resource for combating human trafficking

United States of America

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement

Address

Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Refugee Resettlement
Administration for Children and Families
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
U.S.A.

Contact Information

Tel: Hotline: +1 888 373 7888

Website

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/

Email

emcgroarty@acf.hhs.gov

Activities

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has a number of responsibilities regarding victims of trafficking found in the United States.

The first responsibility is to issue letters of “certification” to persons who have been identified by a federal law enforcement agent to be a victim of a “severe form of trafficking” as defined in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000. These letters make victims of trafficking eligible for a number of social, legal, and medical services, the same services afforded to refugees in the United States. Victims of human trafficking in the U.S. who are non-U.S. citizens are eligible to receive a special visa (T Visa), benefits, and services through the TVPA to the same extent as refugees in the US. (Victims who are U.S. citizens do not need to be certified by HHS to receive benefits. As U.S. citizens, they may already be eligible for many benefits.) Through HHS, victims can access benefits and services including food, health care and employment assistance. Certified victims of trafficking can obtain access to services that provide English language instruction and skills training for job placement. Since many victims are reluctant to come forward for fear of being deported, one of HHS’ most important roles is to connect victims with non-profit organizations prepared to assist them and address their specific needs. These organizations can provide counseling, case management and benefit coordination.

Only adult victims need to receive certification letters from HHS in order to be eligible to access benefits and services. Children under the age of 18 do not have to be certified by HHS to receive benefits, rather they will receive eligibility letters from HHS.

The second responsibility is to provide grants to organizations in the United States to provide direct services to victims of trafficking. HHS has awarded more than $8 million in grants to organizations throughout the U.S. to provide services to victims of human trafficking and exploitation. Those services, often referred to as “post-certification services,” include temporary housing and legal assistance as well as cultural and educational programs. ¹

In March 2004, HHS/ORR launched a public outreach awareness campaign in the United States called “Look Beneath the Surface.” This outreach is targeting the general public, as well as service providers throughout the United States, to be more cognizant of the fact that more people are trafficked in the United States than people realize.

Comprehensive explanation of services provided by HHS can be found at:
www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking

To access the list of Rescue and Restore Coalition partners,
www.acf.dhhs.gov/trafficking/about/coalition_list.html

¹ http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/about/fed_assist.html