Services to Victims of a Severe Form of Trafficking
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Through continued funding from the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP), several programs made significant strides in supporting survivors of human trafficking and raising public awareness.
Lighthouse award recipients provided direct services to 38 labor trafficking survivors, primarily low-income women aged 11 to 74, exploited in domestic work, agriculture, food service, and elder care. Public awareness efforts included bus ad campaigns in California and Missouri and 43 outreach events that reached over 2,100 individuals.
TVAP and Aspire programs delivered trauma-informed care to vulnerable youth. Notably, OTIP expedited support for a 17-year-old female fleeing forced labor, coordinating with federal agencies to ensure her safety and access to services. Additionally, two siblings who experienced severe abuse and trafficking received comprehensive wraparound care, including mental health counseling, basic needs assistance, and educational support, resulting in safe placements and school re-engagement.
SOAR funding enabled the expansion of a care coordination model, training 345 healthcare and service providers and implementing a trafficking response protocol in a local hospital. The program currently serves 124 survivors, and recent screenings identified 24 new potential victims who were promptly enrolled in services.
NHTH continued to play a critical role in identifying and responding to trafficking cases. In one instance, a minor sex trafficking victim was connected to urgent mental health services through OTIP’s rapid coordination with child welfare and law enforcement. Another case involved a minor in an active trafficking situation in New York, where OTIP facilitated a multi-agency response to ensure the child’s safety and access to victim services.
Program Objective
The Services to Victims of a Severe Form of Trafficking program, administered by the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funds a coordinated set of initiatives designed to support foreign national victims of human trafficking. These efforts aim to ensure that individuals who have experienced severe forms of trafficking—whether labor or sex trafficking—receive access to comprehensive and trauma-informed responsive services that promote safety, recovery, and long-term independence.
This single, integrated program includes multiple funding opportunities that address the various needs of trafficking survivors across age groups and service settings. Through case management, outreach, training, and emergency response, the program strengthens national and local capacity to identify victims, connect them to appropriate services, and improve institutional responses to trafficking. The program also supports the development of strategic partnerships, regional coordination, and public awareness efforts to enhance victim identification and service delivery nationwide.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Local
- Not-for-Profit Organization
- Nonprofit Organization
NOFOs under this program are unrestricted and open to any of the following entities; city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state controlled institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS other than institutions of higher education; nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS other than institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Beneficiaries
- Senior Citizen (65+)
- Adult (20–64)
- Teen (13–19)
- Pre-Teen (10–12)
- Young Child (4–9)
- Refugee
- U.S. Citizen
- Resident/Citizen of U.S. Territory
- Not-for-Profit Organization
- Nonprofit Organization
These discretionary awards will benefit foreign national victims of human trafficking and those vulnerable to trafficking as well as health care and social service agencies working with vulnerable populations, other interested persons, and the general public.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
Each application will be screened to determine whether it meets any of the disqualifying factors: missing the application deadline, required electronic submission or waiver requested and approved, or exceeding the Award Ceiling. Disqualified applications are considered to be “non-responsive” and are excluded from the competitive review process.
Applications competing for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated by objective review panels. Each panel is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson.
Results of the competitive objective review are taken into consideration by ACF in the selection of projects for funding; however, objective review scores and rankings are not binding. Scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. ACF reserves the right to consider preferences to fund organizations serving emerging, unserved, or under-served populations, including those populations located in pockets of poverty. In addition, ACF reserves the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering geographic distribution of federal funds (e.g. ensuring coverage of states, counties, or service areas) in its pre-award decisions.
ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management or financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and manage subrecipients.
Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested.
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 90 to 120 days
Contact the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management or review the NOFO, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Program details & compliance
Description
The following components are funded under this program:
Trafficking Victim Assistance Program (TVAP) & Aspire: Child Trafficking Victim Assistance Program
Lighthouse: Services, Outreach, and Awareness for Labor Trafficking
SOAR to Health and Wellness
National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH)
Each funding opportunity contributes to the overarching goal of helping victims of trafficking rebuild their lives and access the support they need to thrive.
Mission Categories
Primary: Specialized Family and Child Welfare Services
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) leads HHS's efforts to combat human trafficking and modern forms of slavery by administering anti-trafficking programs through grants and contracts and collaborating with federal, state, tribal, and local government and non-government organizations. OTIP is responsible for the overall leadership of anti-trafficking programs and services under the purview of ACF, including, but not limited to implementing provisions of relevant federal legislation and advising the Assistant Secretary in the development of anti-trafficking strategies, policies, and programs.
The TVPA of 2000, as amended, and subsequent reauthorizations authorize HHS to assist foreign national and domestic (United States citizen and lawful permanent resident) victims of human trafficking through a number of efforts including screening and identifying victims; providing victims benefits and services; conducting research; training for the identification of trafficking survivors; and raising awareness and preventing human trafficking. Funds may be used only for the purpose set forth in the NOFOs.
NHTH funding may be used to support the operation of a dedicated, toll-free, 24-hour, seven days a week, every day of the year U.S. national telephone and online communication system staffed by trained and experienced human trafficking advocates that provide services and assistance to victims of severe forms of labor and sex trafficking in persons.
TVAP funding may be used to fund time-limited comprehensive case management services on a per capita basis to foreign national victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons and potential victims of trafficking seeking the Health and Human Services (HHS) certification so they can re-establish their ability to live independently.
Aspire funding may be used to fund time-limited comprehensive case management services on a per capita basis to foreign national children and youth victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons and potential victims of trafficking seeking the HHS certification so they can re-establish their ability to live independently.
Lighthouse funding may be used to: 1) provide comprehensive, culturally responsive, and linguistically appropriate case management and victim assistance to foreign national adults who have experienced labor trafficking; 2) Conduct outreach to increase identification of foreign national adults who have experienced labor trafficking; and 3) Conduct public awareness activities for the local community and organizations that may encounter individuals who have experienced labor trafficking.
SOAR funds may be used to implement SOAR trainings and capacity building to identify, treat, and respond to patients or clients who have experienced severe forms of human trafficking as defined by the TVPA of 2000, as amended, among their patient or client population.
Restrictions
No funds made available through NHTH may be used to promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to preclude assistance designed to promote the purposes of the TVPA by ameliorating the suffering of, or health risks to, victims while they are being trafficked or after they are out of the situation that resulted from such victims being trafficked. No funds may be paid for international travel.
Required Documentation
Proof of Nonprofit Status is required for TVAP, Aspire, NHTH, Lighthouse and SOAR.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements