Safe Communities

April 1, 2024

United Against Labor Trafficking: Spotlight on Organizations Leading the Charge

Labor trafficking is defined as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery.”

Anyone can be affected by labor trafficking—including children. Companies and their contractors that unlawfully employ children hurt vulnerable communities, undercut labor standards for all workers and, in some cases, create the demand that gives rise to human trafficking. Addressing child labor exploitation and child trafficking is critical to advancing the health, education and well-being of children and families in the United States.

OJP, through its Office for Victims of Crime, is dedicated to combating these crimes and addressing the needs of victims. As the largest federal funder of victim services for survivors of human trafficking, OVC has worked across government and with the anti-trafficking field for over 20 years to strengthen the:

• identification of victims of human trafficking;
• enforcement of human trafficking victims’ rights;
• access to services through victim-centered and trauma-informed programs, policies, and resources; and
• justice, access, and empowerment for all survivors of human trafficking.

Illuminate Colorado, a nonprofit based in Denver, serves families with adults experiencing substance use conditions by implementing programs, policies and initiatives aimed at protecting children and keeping them safe. The organization offers programs that address child maltreatment from multiple angles to effect lasting change. One of those programs is Illuminating Child Care. This program provides an innovative systemic approach to increase access to childcare for parents and caregivers. By partnering with community-based nonprofits, local substance use disorder treatment providers and government agencies, the program provides personalized navigation for their clients while supporting them as they build resiliency, manage stress and learn effective coping skills.

Serving the seven far western counties of North Carolina, the 30^th Judicial District Alliance works with individuals, organizations and agencies to provide outreach, advocacy and training services to empower survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. This includes children who have been exposed to violence and trauma. In North Carolina, 40 percent of cases where a child has been removed from the home are the result of parental substance use. One strategy the nonprofit uses to support child victims is offering animal-assisted therapy programs that address mental, emotional and behavioral symptoms that may result from experiencing trauma. The Log Dog Therapy and Service Dogs Program incorporates therapy dogs in the Children Exposed to Violence program, using the dogs to promote healing from trauma.

The National Children’s Advocacy Center’s mission is to champion and strengthen the global response to child abuse. The NCAC offers diverse services and programs to individuals, families and the community and was the first Children’s Advocacy Center in the world. One of those services is the Child Advocacy, Resilience, Education and Support team. CARES is a treatment-focused community resource and referral team that addresses the comprehensive needs of children and families impacted by a parent or caregiver’s substance use disorder, including the parent or caregiver. Services include trauma therapy, family advocacy and support groups.