Description
The Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) within the Administration for Children and Families is announcing funds for the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH). The goal of the NHTH is to maintain and support the operation of the current NHTH, which includes telephone (1-888-373-7888), text, chat, and website capabilities that provide coverage in the United States (U.S.) and U.S. territories. The NHTH is a dedicated, toll-free hotline, and is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year, and is staffed by trained experienced human trafficking advocates that provide services and assistance to victims of severe forms of human trafficking as defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Under the NHTH, the following activities are required: 1. Operate the NHTH, a 24/7 U.S. national telephone and online communication hotline system; 2. Increase the identification and protection of victims of severe forms of human trafficking; 3. Provide information and service referrals to victims of trafficking using a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach, and in a timely manner; and 4. Notify law enforcement agencies of potential cases of human trafficking as well as instances when a trafficking victim is in imminent danger, and document emerging trafficking schemes to assist in the detection and investigation of trafficking cases. The NHTH must provide assistance to both foreign and domestic victims of trafficking to include multi-lingual services, crisis intervention, information, and referrals to anti-trafficking and/or direct victim services programs, temporary lodging/housing resources, and access to other emergency assistance. The NHTH must work cooperatively with law enforcement and other key stakeholders to support appropriate notification and interventions on behalf of potential victims in distress. The NHTH must have the capacity to receive and process requests in multiple formats, i.e., text, chat, email, and telephonically. The NHTH must take reasonable measures to safeguard protected personally identifiable information in compliance with 45 CFR §75.303(e).