OTHER RESOURCES
A grant through the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS/ORR ) funded the New England Coalition Against Trafficking (NECAT), and a state-level coalition was begun under these auspices. The Connecticut Coalition Against Trafficking (CTCAT) has been in existence since fall 2009 and is a grassroots network of service providers, educators, and others working with or interested in helping victims of human trafficking in the state through information-sharing and technical support. CTCAT is co-chaired by the International Institute of Connecticut Director of Project Rescue (http://iiconn.org/) and the Executive Director of the Paul and Lisa Program (http://paulandlisa.org/). Learn more and order free materials at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/.
The State of Connecticut benefits from a General Assembly Trafficking in Persons Council provided for by state law and chaired by the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. The Council consists of representatives from the offices of the Attorney General, Chief Public Defender, Commissioners of Labor, Public Health, Mental Health, and Children and Families, among others, as well as appointed representatives of domestic violence service providers, legal services providers, social justice and human rights advocates, and immigrant communities. The Council consults with government and non-governmental organizations to develop recommendations to strengthen state and local efforts to prevent trafficking, protect and assist victims, and prosecute traffickers; identifies criteria for providing services to adult trafficking victims and their children; and provides updates and progress reports on trafficking prevention efforts and victim assistance. To obtain past reports on the number of victims identified and the trainings being undertaken in the state, visit http://ctpcsw.com/trafficking-in-persons/.
A number of other initiatives have developed in Connecticut to respond to trafficking in the state. For example, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families developed a protocol for the intake and investigation of minor victims of sex or labor trafficking. The Connecticut Office of Victims Services has developed a pilot project with the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence to provide victim services such as shelter, basic needs, referrals to health care, and assistance with permanent living arrangements. The Permanent Commission on the Status of Women is authorized to develop training programs on trafficking in persons for the State Police, the Chief State's Attorney's office, local police departments, and community organizations. Lastly, in recognition of the need for a multidisciplinary approach to serving and protecting victims of human trafficking, Connecticut state law provides for the development of a coordinated response system among the State Judicial Department's Office of Victim Services and local nongovernmental organizations.
CT-DCF Protocol http://www.ct.gov/dcf/cwp/view.asp?a=2639&Q=453920
On the federal level, a BJA/OVC-funded task force, known as the Smuggling & Trafficking in Persons Investigative Taskforce (STOP-IT), was established to investigate and prosecute trafficking cases. STOP-IT is chaired by the Assistance US Attorney Krishna Patel, and is a collaborative effort between the Department of Justice- Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor- Wage and Hour Division, Connecticut State Police, and the International Institute of Connecticut.
Law Enforcement links: OJP Task Force e-Guide https://www.ovcttac.gov/TaskForceGuide/EGuide/Default.aspx
Project Safe Childhood at the Department of Justice http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/
Federal Bureau of Investigation http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/civilrights/human_trafficking
Homeland Security Investigations http://www.ice.gov/human-trafficking/
The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) works to improve the national response to protect victims of human trafficking in the United States. The NHTRC is a national, toll-free call center that is operated by Polaris Project and funded by the Department of Health and Human Services and other supporters. The NHTRC provides callers with a range of services including victim assistance through urgent and non-urgent referrals within the anti-trafficking and related fields; tip reporting; and comprehensive resources and technical assistance for the anti-trafficking field and those who wish to get involved. The NHTRC is available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. 1-888-3737-888.
Service Provider links: Polaris Project http://www.polarisproject.org/
Freedom Network USA http://www.freedomnetworkusa.org/
Trafficking in the News
East Hartford Woman Sentenced to More Than Nine Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking of Minors
http://www.fbi.gov/newhaven/press-releases/2011/east-hartford-woman-sentenced-to-more-than-nine-years-in-federal-prison-for-sex-trafficking-of-minors
Sex Trafficking of Americans: The Girls Next Door
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2011/05/sex-trafficking-201105
The John Next Door: The Growing Demand for Prostitution
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/07/17/the-growing-demand-for-prostitution.html
The State of Connecticut benefits from a General Assembly Trafficking in Persons Council provided for by state law and chaired by the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. The Council consists of representatives from the offices of the Attorney General, Chief Public Defender, Commissioners of Labor, Public Health, Mental Health, and Children and Families, among others, as well as appointed representatives of domestic violence service providers, legal services providers, social justice and human rights advocates, and immigrant communities. The Council consults with government and non-governmental organizations to develop recommendations to strengthen state and local efforts to prevent trafficking, protect and assist victims, and prosecute traffickers; identifies criteria for providing services to adult trafficking victims and their children; and provides updates and progress reports on trafficking prevention efforts and victim assistance. To obtain past reports on the number of victims identified and the trainings being undertaken in the state, visit http://ctpcsw.com/trafficking-in-persons/.
A number of other initiatives have developed in Connecticut to respond to trafficking in the state. For example, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families developed a protocol for the intake and investigation of minor victims of sex or labor trafficking. The Connecticut Office of Victims Services has developed a pilot project with the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence to provide victim services such as shelter, basic needs, referrals to health care, and assistance with permanent living arrangements. The Permanent Commission on the Status of Women is authorized to develop training programs on trafficking in persons for the State Police, the Chief State's Attorney's office, local police departments, and community organizations. Lastly, in recognition of the need for a multidisciplinary approach to serving and protecting victims of human trafficking, Connecticut state law provides for the development of a coordinated response system among the State Judicial Department's Office of Victim Services and local nongovernmental organizations.
CT-DCF Protocol http://www.ct.gov/dcf/cwp/view.asp?a=2639&Q=453920
On the federal level, a BJA/OVC-funded task force, known as the Smuggling & Trafficking in Persons Investigative Taskforce (STOP-IT), was established to investigate and prosecute trafficking cases. STOP-IT is chaired by the Assistance US Attorney Krishna Patel, and is a collaborative effort between the Department of Justice- Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor- Wage and Hour Division, Connecticut State Police, and the International Institute of Connecticut.
Law Enforcement links: OJP Task Force e-Guide https://www.ovcttac.gov/TaskForceGuide/EGuide/Default.aspx
Project Safe Childhood at the Department of Justice http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/
Federal Bureau of Investigation http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/civilrights/human_trafficking
Homeland Security Investigations http://www.ice.gov/human-trafficking/
The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) works to improve the national response to protect victims of human trafficking in the United States. The NHTRC is a national, toll-free call center that is operated by Polaris Project and funded by the Department of Health and Human Services and other supporters. The NHTRC provides callers with a range of services including victim assistance through urgent and non-urgent referrals within the anti-trafficking and related fields; tip reporting; and comprehensive resources and technical assistance for the anti-trafficking field and those who wish to get involved. The NHTRC is available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. 1-888-3737-888.
Service Provider links: Polaris Project http://www.polarisproject.org/
Freedom Network USA http://www.freedomnetworkusa.org/
Trafficking in the News
East Hartford Woman Sentenced to More Than Nine Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking of Minors
http://www.fbi.gov/newhaven/press-releases/2011/east-hartford-woman-sentenced-to-more-than-nine-years-in-federal-prison-for-sex-trafficking-of-minors
Sex Trafficking of Americans: The Girls Next Door
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2011/05/sex-trafficking-201105
The John Next Door: The Growing Demand for Prostitution
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/07/17/the-growing-demand-for-prostitution.html
