MRS > Services and Programs > Anti-Trafficking Grants & Programs
USCCB/MRS administers two anti-trafficking programs in partnership with the Department of Health & Human Service, Office of Refugee Resettlement.
In January of 2003, USCCB/MRS and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) received funding from ORR to implement the Trafficked Child Placement and Technical Assistance Program. Both USCCB/MRS and LIRS place children with specialized Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) programs, in which licensed child welfare agencies provide foster care, in a family, small group, or independent living setting, for certain unaccompanied minors, including trafficked children. Through these programs, trafficked children are able to receive culturally and linguistically appropriate care, including mental health services, intensive case management, and education.
USCCB/MRS and LIRS also conduct technical assistance and training for URM programs and service providers with trafficked children in their care, and work to expand the capacity of the URM programs to provide specialized services to trafficked children.
Most recently, USCCB/MRS contracted with DHHS/ORR to provide services to survivors of trafficking in the United States and U.S. territories. This National Services Contract for Victims of Human Trafficking allows USCCB/MRS to subcontract with local organizations to provide comprehensive case management services to adults and pre-eligible children who are survivors of human trafficking, as defined in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. USCCB/MRS provides coordination, training, per capita funding, and monitoring to subcontractors, and partners with Project REACH and Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) to provide technical assistance to the subcontractors serving human trafficking survivors.
For more information about this program, please email MRSTVICS@usccb.org, or call
202-541-3357
USCCB also administers two anti-trafficking grants from the U.S. Department of Justice, for persons who have been identified as possible trafficking victims, but have not yet been certified as such:
The Services to Victims of Human Trafficking in Oregon grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime to develop a comprehensive program that provides services locally to victims of human trafficking, training to law enforcement and service providers, and coalition-building for the state of Oregon. MRS works in partnership with Catholic Charities of Portland/Outreach and Support to Special Immigrant Populations Program (OSSIP) and Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) to provide these services in Oregon. OSSIP brochure in PDF.
When a trafficking victim is identified, Catholic Charities of Portland either provides comprehensive services for the victim, or locates the nearest service provider trained by their office. Through this sub-grant from USCCB, Catholic Charities of Portland provides funding, technical assistance, and monitoring to the agency for the duration of the services.
The Services to Victims of Human Trafficking in the Mid-Atlantic States grant is funded by the U. S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime to develop a comprehensive program that provides services locally to victims of human trafficking, training to law enforcement and service providers, and coalition-building in the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and parts of Maryland. MRS works in partnership with Catholic Social Services of Philadelphia/Special Immigrant Populations Project (SIPP) and CLINIC, Inc., to provide these services in the Mid-Atlantic states. SIPP brochure in PDF.
When a trafficking victim is identified, Catholic Social Services of Philadelphia either provides comprehensive services for the victim locally, or locates the nearest service provider trained by their office. Through this sub-grant from USCCB, Catholic Social Services of Philadelphia provides funding, technical assistance, and monitoring to the agency for the duration of the services.