Maryland Human Trafficking Initiative

The purpose of this award, funded under the Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking Program, is to improve outcomes for children and youth who are victims of human trafficking by integrating human trafficking policy and programming at the state or tribal level and enhancing coordinated, multidisciplinary, and statewide approaches to serving trafficked youth.

The proposed initiative will build upon existing relationships to provide a comprehensive system-wide response for identifying at risk child and youth victims of human trafficking in Maryland. This collaborative endeavor compliments other efforts by local government, law enforcement, prosecution, and social service providers. The goal of this project is to improve outcomes for child and youth victims (up to age 24) of trafficking in Maryland. More specifically, in response to the issue of human trafficking and the needs of the state, this project aims to develop a statewide strategy which leverages existing victim services, child welfare and juvenile services efforts against human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. The goals are based in part on the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force’s recommendations for addressing trafficking in the state, as well as on guidance from state and local attorney general’s offices, local task forces and coalitions. CA/NCF