About

(FY19)

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking

The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, in partnership with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, was awarded a FY19 Improving Outcomes for Human Trafficking of Child and Youth Victims grant. Massachusetts identified key challenges to address during its grant period of performance, including law enforcement response and training, coordination and standardization of MDTs in counties across the state, and limited capacity of caregivers (biological and foster families) to support children and youth who have experienced trafficking. This grant funding builtupon an established MDT model in Massachusetts to strengthen a statewide approach to improving outcomes for child and youth victims of sex or labor trafficking by improving law enforcement coordination and coordination across counties, as well as by strengthening home-based placements for child and youth victims. Objectives were to: (1) Establish statewide human trafficking response guidelines, including collaborative best practice standards for law enforcement when responding to and investigating potential human trafficking scenarios, which were  to be used by current law enforcement professionals and to inform the curriculum in law enforcement training programs; (2) hire a coordinator to support the 12 sex trafficking MDT coordinators statewide, facilitate multijurisdictional efforts, develop initial standardized protocols for county MDTs, and assess the service array for youth in the state; and (3) develop video trainings and resources for biological families and kin/foster parents on supporting a child or youth who had experienced trafficking as well as training for Department of Children and Families caseworker staff, family resource staff, and intensive foster care provider staff on how to support caregivers. The project directly leveraged existing law enforcement and child welfare efforts and coordinatedwith local survivor-led/informed organizations on project activities. Northeastern University assistedwith program evaluation; formative research with youth, caregivers, and Department of Children and Families staff to inform training development; and data collection efforts involving children and youth identified as victims of human trafficking and referred to the child advocacy centers.

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Massachusetts Resources

Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Guidelines

Developed through a cross-disciplinary team led by law enforcement officials, with the goal of establishing best practice standards for law enforcement when responding to and...

Never Worry Alone: Engaging Foster Parents in Best Practices to Care for Youth Who are at Risk Of Or Who Have Been Exploited

This 9-part video series was developed in partnership with My Life My Choice, a survivor-led organization that provides comprehensive and evidence-based programs. While educational in...

Informed Conversation: Improving Skills to Engage Kin/Foster Parents in Supporting Youth Impacted by Human Trafficking

Developed to provide child welfare workers with the knowledge and skills to have conversations with and support kin/foster parents who care for youth who have...

Virtual Formative Research With Youth Who Have Experienced Trafficking For Training Development,  Interview Guides, And Lessons Learned

Massachusetts’ virtual formative research materials were created to inform trainings and resources for caregivers and child welfare workers to strengthen home-based placements for child and...