International Organization For Adolescents Incorporated

WESTCHESTER COUNTY ANTI-TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE

THE TASK FORCE WILL USE COMPREHENSIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES, PROMOTE RACIAL EQUITY TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO ACCESS AMONG VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. 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.

TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ASSIST YOUTH SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS

NEW FUTURES MENTORING PROJECT TO PREVENT THE TRAFFICKING OF GIRLS

THE OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (OVW) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) INITIATIVE PROVIDES OVW GRANTEES AND SUBGRANTEES WITH THE EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT SUCCESSFUL STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, AND CAMPUS PROJECTS; INCREASE VICTIM SAFETY; AND BOLSTER OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY. THROUGH COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, OVW SUPPORTS EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, CONFERENCES, PEER-TO-PEER CONSULTATIONS, AND TARGETED ASSISTANCE THAT ALLOW CURRENT AND POTENTIAL GRANTEES AND SUBGRANTEES TO LEARN FROM EXPERTS AND ONE ANOTHER ABOUT HOW TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND INCORPORATE PROMISING PRACTICES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. IN ADDITION, OVW IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEMS AND VICTIM SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING AND TO FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE NOT TRADITIONALLY WORKED TOGETHER TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. WITH FY 2023 TA INITIATIVE FUNDING, THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR ADOLESCENTS, INCORPORATED (IOFA) WILL IMPLEMENT THE BUILDING CAPACITY TO SERVE YOUTH SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING PROJECT. THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CONSOLIDATED YOUTH AND ENGAGING MEN GRANTEES AND PARTNERS ON STRENGTHENING THEIR SERVICES TO ADDRESS YOUTH SEX TRAFFICKING. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT PERIOD, IOFA WILL PROVIDE WEBINARS, CREATE SHORT TRAINING VIDEOS AND SOCIAL MEDIA REELS, CREATE RESOURCES AND NEWSLETTERS, AND PROVIDE IN-PERSON AND ONLINE SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. ALL DELIVERABLES WILL BE YOUTH-CENTERED AND SURVIVOR-INFORMED AND WILL SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON OUTREACH TO YOUTH THAT ARE PART OF TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, INCLUDING BIPOC, LGTBTQ+, IMMIGRANT YOUTH, AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES. THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS FY 2023 TA INITIATIVE PURPOSE AREA 11: YOUTH VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING. THIS AWARD IS A NEW AWARD.