Human Trafficking - Resources for Professionals

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You are on this page: Human Trafficking - Resources for Professionals

The documents on this site were developed by OCFS to support professionals in the field identify and provide services to youth who have been trafficked or sexually exploited. These resources incorporate promising practices developed with Safe Harbour: NY programs.

Tools Required by the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act

The use of the following tools is required for certain professionals in accordance with OCFS's policy 15-OCFS-ADM-16 - Requirements to Identify, Document, Report, and Provide Services to Child Sex Trafficking Victims:

The following resources are available to provide guidance to providers using these tools:

The following tools are available to support professionals in accordance with OCFS's policy 16-OCFS-ADM-09-R1 - Protocols and Procedures for Locating and Responding to Children and Youth Missing From Foster Care and Non-Foster Care: (Revised 5/26/2023)

OCFS Anti-Trafficking Toolkits

The OCFS Handbook

OCFS Handbook

In 2016 OCFS released Responding to Commercially Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Youth: A Handbook for Child Serving Professionals (Handbook). This document is intended to guide direct-care professionals through many of the common issues that arise when working with a youth who is vulnerable, trafficked, or sexually exploited.

Download the Handbook

Download the Handbook as a package for professional printing

Download specifications for professional printing

The OCFS Blueprint

OCFS Blueprint

The Blueprint for Building a Child Welfare Response to Commercially Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Youth (Blueprint) is intended to serve as a road map for Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) to respond to the needs of trafficked and sexually exploited youth and their non-offending family members in their localities. Built on the accomplishments and lessons learned from Safe Harbour: NY partner counties, this document outlines steps counties can take to create or support the infrastructure vital to identifying and providing effective services to trafficked and sexually exploited youth and their non-offending family members.

Download the Blueprint

Trainings on Human Trafficking and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)

Computer Based Trainings (CBT)

OCFS created several computer-based trainings (CBT) which are accessible through the Human Services Learning Center (HSLC). Anyone with access to HSLC is encouraged to use these free resources:

HSLC

OCFS offers free, computer-based trainings on many subjects through the Human Services Learning Center (HSLC). Users must have an HSLC account to access these trainings. To create a free account visit www.hslcnys.org/hslc/ and click on "Register new account." For support using HSLC contact 1-800-413-3210 or email HSLCSupport@hslcnys.org.

Train-the-Trainer

Beginning in 2021, OCFS will offer an annual Train-The-Trainer event for our CSEC/Human Trafficking training with supplemental offerings of the Human Trafficking/CSEC 101 training itself that can be scheduled through the Youth Engagement Specialist at each regional office. These offerings will develop the capacity of local partners and programs to provide trainings on human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children. For more information please contact humantrafficking@ocfs.ny.gov.

Additional Training Resources

Additional OCFS Tools and Resources

See also Resources for Foreign-Born Youth.

Initial Trafficking Interview Tool for Youth

OCFS created the Initial Trafficking Interview Tool for Youth (OCFS-2175) to help child-serving professionals navigate difficult conversations with youth about work, money, and sex. This optional tool is administered directly to youth to quickly, accurately, and consistently identify youth who have likely been trafficked for sex and labor.

Palm Cards

OCFS created a tool the size of a business card to help educate communities about child trafficking. One side of the card has the definitions of child trafficking, and the reverse has sample questions that can be asked of someone to help assess whether they might be experiencing human trafficking. The palm card contains contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline. These cards can be downloaded using the link below and printed locally.

Download the OCFS Anti-Trafficking Palm Card

OCFS Child Trafficking Fast Facts and other Resources

OCFS developed a series of fact sheets and handouts to provide guidance on common challenges within anti-trafficking work. Click on the title of each document below to download these resources.

Further Reading

A wealth of resources to address human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children is available. Please explore the links below to learn more:

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