Funds totaling $1.9 million have been designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to counter youth human trafficking in schools and online. The funds will be given to four local education agencies, which will collaborate with expert non-profit organizations to identify and address the risk of human trafficking within schools.
The funding comes as part of the Human Trafficking Youth Prevention Education (HTYPE) Demonstration Program, administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). This program aims to tackle the rise in online harassment, abuse, and human trafficking targeting young individuals. By partnering with educational organizations and the ACF Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP), the program seeks to enhance awareness about human trafficking in schools and motivate more people to contribute to its eradication.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the importance of ending human trafficking, stating, "We must do whatever we can, for as long as necessary, to end the scourge of human trafficking." He highlighted that the funding will serve to enhance awareness about human trafficking in schools and encourage more individuals to join the fight against it.
Jeff Hild, Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, recognized the vital role played by caregivers and school-based professionals in this initiative. Their ongoing interaction with youth makes them well-positioned to spot potential signs of abuse and trafficking.
OTIP Director Katherine Chon shared the success of a network of eight school districts, which trained over 9,000 personnel and identified at least 50 victims of human trafficking last year. They also provided prevention education to more than 16,000 students.
The latest funding round will benefit four education agencies: Oakland Unified School District ($500,000), Milwaukee Public Schools ($450,000), Education Service Center Region 19 in El Paso, TX ($474,296), and School District 1 in Denver, CO ($500,000). These funds will help schools adapt their safety programs to meet the specific needs of their diverse student populations.
This funding initiative is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's broader strategy against human trafficking, as outlined in the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.
