The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Victim Services (MDHHS/DVS), in partnership with Uniting Three Fires Against Violence (UTFAV), Michigan Victim Advocacy Network at Michigan State University (MiVAN) and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Services Administration (CSA), was awarded an Improving Outcomes for Human Trafficking of Child and Youth Victims FY 23 grant. The main barriers to advancing effective anti-trafficking efforts in Michigan are 1) lack of awareness regarding the true nature of the crime; 2) lack of insight regarding the true scope of the problem; and 3) ineffective and unreliable data collection strategies. Other barriers include a lack of multidisciplinary, cross agency coordination of efforts. Although there are pockets of successful anti-trafficking work taking place in Michigan, this work often occurs in silos. This project proposes utilizing methods that have been pivotal in advancing the work of the domestic violence and sexual assault fields to advance Michigan’s anti-trafficking movement. These include engaging in a coordinated community response, centralizing the voices of survivors, and elevating best and promising practices that are empowerment-based, victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive. The project goals are to: (1) gain a better understanding of the nature and prevalence of sex and labor trafficking in Michigan; (2) improve statewide response to children and youth victims of labor and sex trafficking; and (3) promote an anti-trafficking movement in Michigan grounded in best practice, including being empowerment-based, survivor-centered, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed.

Phase 1 of the project is a Planning Phase, and Phase 2 is a Needs Assessment. The planning phase will begin with convening a multi-disciplinary statewide Advisory Committee (Committee) comprised of key stakeholders that have expertise in responding to the needs of trafficking victims. The Committee will be led by MDHHS/DVS and will initially consist of individuals that have been identified during this application process and have indicated their commitment to participate. The Committee will then create and implement an outreach plan to those identified and finalize their membership. Once the Committee’s membership is finalized, a mission statement and guiding principles will be developed. The Committee will then review project goals and compile a list of known systemic gaps impacting an effective response to trafficking of children and youth within Michigan. A statewide needs assessment facilitated by MiVAN will be the next task to be overseen by the Committee. The information gained through this assessment will be used to inform the work of the Committee as they create training and data collection plans and develop, prioritize, and implement project goals. The implementation phase of the project will consist of carrying out awareness campaigns, with a special focus on reaching Tribal communities and those vulnerable to labor trafficking.