Public Management Bulletin #24

Legislation to address domestic sex and labor trafficking was implemented with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000. Collective learning about the nature and incidence of trafficking has grown as our various systems of care and intervention have begun to ask about, document, and address these offenses. Parallel to the learning that previously took place in the field of child abuse and interpersonal violence, awareness is increasing among anti-trafficking professionals that the threat presented by friends and family members is as significant, possibly more so, than the threat presented by strangers.

Our systems and practices are not consistent in inquiring about the possibility that familial trafficking took place or in documenting its existence, nor are we informed about unique interventions or services that would best serve the victims.

The purpose of this bulletin is to remind service professionals to inquire about the possibility of familial sex and/or labor trafficking, to accurately label cases that involve that dynamic, and to encourage our collective learning about and implementation of successful proactive and reactive strategies to alleviate the suffering caused by this crime.