Final Report of the Subcommittee on Domestic Trafficking

Section II – Differences in Services Available to Domestic and International Victims<strong>of</strong> TraffickingThe second part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Subcommittee</strong>’s three-part mission was to identify differencesbetween services available to domestic victims and services available to internationalvictims. Before beginning our work, we determined that differences may exist in statuteand in practice. We structured our work accordingly and report our findings below:A. Differences as <strong>the</strong>y exist in statute:As <strong>the</strong> summary chart in <strong>the</strong> previous section shows, <strong>the</strong>re are not many differences intrafficking victims’ eligibility for <strong>the</strong> services we reviewed when one looks at <strong>the</strong>relevant statutes. The two notable differences that our outlines revealed are:1. Some programs are intended to serve only specific populations, and eligibility isrestricted by statute.As <strong>the</strong> summary chart indicates, such programs include:Refugee Cash and Medical AssistanceThese services, administered by <strong>the</strong> Administration for Children and Families (ACF)at <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Health and Human Services (HHS), provide cash and medicalassistance to needy refugees here in <strong>the</strong> United States who have scant financialresources. It is available to needy refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants,certain Amerasians, and trafficking victims who are not eligible for o<strong>the</strong>r mainstreamcash or medical assistance programs, such as TANF, Supplemental Security Income(SSI), or Medicaid.Services to Victims <strong>of</strong> TortureThis service, also administered by ACF, provides social, legal, health andpsychological services for victims <strong>of</strong> torture. Individuals eligible for services arethose who have been tortured in foreign countries and are now in <strong>the</strong> United States,regardless <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir legal status. Individuals who have suffered torture as a result <strong>of</strong>trafficking experiences in <strong>the</strong> United States do not meet <strong>the</strong> eligibility standard.Office for Victims <strong>of</strong> Crime Services for Trafficking Victims Discretionary GrantProgramThis program, administered by <strong>the</strong> Office for Victims <strong>of</strong> Crime (OVC) at <strong>the</strong>Department <strong>of</strong> Justice, is intended primarily to support services for pre-certifiedvictims who: (1) have been identified by law enforcement as a victim <strong>of</strong> a severeform <strong>of</strong> trafficking; and (2) subject to certification by HHS. It provides victims withservices including housing/shelter; sustenance; medical, mental health and dentalservices; interpreter/translator services; criminal justice system-based victimadvocacy; legal services; social services advocacy (explanation <strong>of</strong> available benefitentitlements and facilitation <strong>of</strong> access to those benefits); literacy education and/or jobtraining; and transportation.8