Increase Effective Services for Child Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program (Byrne Discretionary Program) helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget. Funds should be used for purposes recommended by Congress.

The University of Toledo, in collaboration with the Second Chance Program, will implement a project that effectively addresses the issue of child and adult sex trafficking in Lucas County. Project objectives include: 1) increasing the number of victims identified; 2) assisting victims with leaving the circumstances of their exploitation; 3) establishing a trafficking coalition; 4) enhancing communication between the criminal justice, social services, and health care systems for the benefit of victims; 5) providing training and technical assistance related to trafficking to the coalition and other local agencies; and 6) educating the public about child sex trafficking. Anticipated results of the project include a written protocol on assisting victims from identification to treatment and heightened community awareness of the problem. The project will produce a promising practices and lessons learned report that will outline barriers, progress, and successes.

NCA/NCF