Feb 25th 2008, 06:50

Break Free From Slavery

Take control of your life with the help of the HHS

Human trafficking, though not always conspicuous, is widespread all over the world. Either caused by poverty, lack of awareness, lack of education, early marriage, or something else, two things remain the same: they need to be released and be given an opportunity to live better lives.

The U.S. Government has strict, pertinent laws against this and readily provides services for eligible victims. While victims who are U.S. citizens may already be eligible, non-U.S. victims are qualified to receive benefits and a special visa through the ‘Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA).’ These benefits include availability of social service programs and immigration assistance. Other benefits and services like food assistance, income aid, employment aid, housing, health care, and English language training are also supplied.

People who are aged 18 and up are determined by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be eligible by:

• Being a victim of trafficking as defined by the TVPA;
• Assisting in the investigation and prosecution of traffickers;
• Completing a genuine T-Visa; or
• Receiving ‘continued presence’ status from the Department of Homeland Security

Child victims or people aged 18 and below are immediately eligible (not needing a T-Visa or a ‘continued presence’ status). Once proven to be victims of this crime, the HHS issues a ‘Letter of Eligibility,’ where the victim or the advocate uses the letter as proof to the social service providers. With the help of TVPA, victims who received temporary status in the U.S. can apply permanent residency and even get T-Visas for their family members in some situations.

Here is a list of programs that are available for human trafficking victims:

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  - Cash benefit and work opportunities program for families with kids under 18. Visit their site at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa.
• Food Stamp Program
  - Pay grocery food by other means. Go to www.fns.usda.gov/fsp for more info.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  - For people who have disabilities or older than 65 years and have limited income and resources. Visit www.ssa.gov.
• Torture Treatment Program
  - Services for victims of torture funded by the HHS. Go to www.hhs.gov.
• State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
  - For children who are 18 or below who are uninsured and unqualified for Medicaid. Visit www.cms.hhs.gov/home/schip.asp to know more.
• Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program
  - Helps unaccompanied refugee minors and trafficking victims to be educated as they enter adulthood, also providing family reunification services. To know more, go to www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/programs/unaccompanied_refugee_minors.htm.
• Medicaid
  - Public health insurance for low-income people. For further information, go to: www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp.
• Health Screening
  - Diagnosis, treatment, and illness prevention provided by the State Department of Public Health.
• Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance (RCA and RMA)
  - For refugees not accommodated by other cash or medical assistance programs like TANF, Medicaid, and SSI: get assistance for 8 months, followed by issuance of a letter of eligibility. Go here: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/programs/cma.htm.
• One-stop Career Center System
  - Free job search for job seekers or people who need education and training for future job applications.
• Job Corps
  - Department of Labor job education program for people aged 16-24. Go to: http://jobcorps.dol.gov.
• Matching Grant
  - Gives job counseling and placement, cash and living assistance, and case management. It is funded by the HHS.
• Housing
  - Eligibility for public housing assistance. Try this site: www.hud.gov/renting/phprog.cfm.

For other State-specific programs, go here:
www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/orr/partners/coordina1.htm

To know more about human trafficking assistance, go here:
www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking

 

 

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