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FREEDOM NETWORK TRAINING INSTITUTE HOUSING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT

THROUGH THE HOUSING TTA PROJECT, FREEDOM NETWORK USA WILL PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TTA) TO VICTIM SERVICE AND HOUSING PROVIDERS (INCLUDING OVC HOUSING GRANTEES) ON HOUSING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING AND SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT LOW-BARRIER, TRAUMA-INFORMED, VICTIM-CENTERED, CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE HOUSING POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT PRIORITIZE THE AUTONOMY AND PROTECT SURVIVORS CONFIDENTIALITY AND SAFETY. THE PROJECT WILL FACILITATE COLLABORATION AMONG ANTI-TRAFFICKING SERVICE PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO ENHANCE IDENTIFICATION, REFERRALS, HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY AND SECURITY, AND SERVICE DELIVERY.

SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAVE DIVERSE NEEDS AND RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM A WIDE ARRAY OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT LAND ON A CONTINUUM OF EXPERIENCE, EXPERTISE AND SERVICES FOCUS. PROGRAMS ALSO VARY IN THE UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHY OF SERVICES AND MODELS OF PRACTICE. ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGE IN PRACTICES THAT MAY UNINTENTIONALLY RE-TRAUMATIZE TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS. FNUSA WILL ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED STANDARDS OF CARE (SOC) THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THE NEEDS OF SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. FNUSA WILL ESTABLISH A TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP INCLUSIVE OF DIVERSE IDENTITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, LGBTQ+, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE PROJECT WILL  LEVERAGE EXISTING RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME’S (OVC) ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE: MODEL STANDARDS FOR SERVING VICTIMS & SURVIVORS OF CRIME (MODEL STANDARDS) TO SERVE AS A FOUNDATION FOR THE SOC. FNUSA, TOGETHER WITH THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP (TWG), WILL ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING GOALS WITHIN 36 MONTHS:  GOALS 1. OBTAIN STAKEHOLDER AND SURVIVOR ENGAGEMENT TO ESTABLISH CORE STANDARDS FOR SERVICE DELIVERY AND ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAFFICKING. 2. PROMOTE QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY IN SERVICE DELIVERY. 3. DEFINE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY OF GRANT-FUNDED RECIPIENTS UNDER FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS STATUTES. 4. PROVIDE CONCRETE GUIDANCE ON HOW STANDARDS SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN SERVICE DELIVERY PRACTICES, PROTOCOLS, AND PROCEDURES. 5. FACILITATE CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF STANDARDS, INCLUDING THROUGH WORKING WITH AN EXTERNAL EVALUATOR TO BE IDENTIFIED BY OVC AND OTIP.

FREEDOM NETWORK TRAINING INSTITUTE HOUSING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT

THE FREEDOM NETWORK USA (FNUSA) SURVIVOR REENTRY PROJECT (SRP) WILL ADDRESS THE NEED FOR TRAUMA-INFORMED LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS RELATED TO THEIR TRAFFICKING EXPERIENCE. SRP WILL IMPLEMENT AN INNOVATIVE, NATION-WIDE SPECIALIZED SERVICES MODEL THAT WILL ENSURE THAT SURVIVORS OF BOTH LABOR AND SEX TRAFFICKING ACROSS THE U.S. HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO REMEDIES FOR THEIR CRIMINAL RECORDS. SRP WILL ESTABLISH A SURVIVOR ADVISORY BOARD OF LIVED EXPERIENCE EXPERTS AND WILL PARTNER WITH LEGAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT CONSULTANTS. ADDITIONALLY, SRP WILL COLLABORATE WITH 6 PRO BONO LAW FIRMS TO MULTIPLY THE IMPACT OF THE SRP STAFF AND PAID CONSULTANTS. THE GOAL OF FNUSA'S SURVIVOR REENTRY PROJECT IS TO EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN A TRAUMA-INFORMED, NATIONWIDE, CRIMINAL RECORD RELIEF PROJECT FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED LEGAL INFORMATION, ANALYSIS, AND REPRESENTATION TO AT LEAST 400 VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; DEVELOPING AND STRENGTHENING COLLABORATIONS WITH PARTNERS AND PROVIDING TRAINING FOR APPROXIMATELY 200 PARTNERS INCLUDING PRO BONO ATTORNEYS AND NONPROFIT LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS; PROVIDING REFERRALS TO OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND COLLECTING DATA AND PARTICIPATING IN EVALUATION ACTIVITIES TO DETERMINE IF THE PROGRAM IS MEETING STATED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.