Human Trafficking Awareness Day 2017
Dear Colleague Letter 17-02
Date: January 11th, 2017
Dear Colleague:
In recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Day, this letter serves as a reminder of the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) role in providing assistance to victims of human trafficking. Since the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), ORR has provided benefits and services to eligible victims of human trafficking. ORR was at the foreground of the Administration of Children and Families’ (ACF) efforts to develop programs to identify and assist victims of human trafficking. In June of 2015, ACF established the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) to coordinate efforts on behalf of human trafficking victims across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federal Government. OTIP is responsible for the overall leadership of anti-trafficking programs and services under the purview of ACF. As a result of the reorganization, OTIP has assumed many of the responsibilities ORR initially undertook under the TVPA.
In particular, OTIP is now solely responsible for issuing both Eligibility Letters for foreign minor victims of human trafficking as well as Certification Letters to foreign adult victims of human trafficking. Foreign victims with an Eligibility Letter or a Certification Letter continue to be eligible for ORR benefits and services when all federal, state, and local requirements have been met. Furthermore, unaccompanied children who are determined to be victims of trafficking and receive an Eligibility Letter, continue to be able to apply to ORR’s Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) foster care program.
For information about obtaining certification for foreign adult victims of trafficking, please see OTIP’s fact sheet, email trafficking@acf.hhs.gov, or call 1-866-401-5510. For more information about assistance for foreign minor victims of trafficking, please see OTIP’s fact sheet or email childtrafficking@acf.hhs.gov. For information about eligibility for ORR benefits and services, please see Policy Letter 16-01 and the ORR Guide to Eligibility, Placement, and Services for Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM).
ORR is committed to ensuring that all those eligible for ORR benefits receive the assistance and services vital to achieving their potential in the United States and becoming self-sufficient, integrated members of our communities.
This Letter rescinds all prior ORR State Letters concerning trafficking in persons.
Sincerely,
Robert Carey
Office of Refugee Resettlement