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Category: Project

Description: The overall purpose of this study is to better understand how child welfare agencies select and implement screening tools, train workers on their use, and explore how children and youth identified as trafficked or at increased risk of trafficking are connected to services that meet their needs. Identifying and Addressing Human Trafficking in Child Welfare Agencies (IAHT) is being conducted by RTI International through a contract from the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with ACF’s Children’s Bureau. IAHT is being implemented as part of the Domestic Human Trafficking and the Child Welfare Population project. OPRE’s webpage about the project is located here: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/research/project/domestic-human-trafficking-and-the-child-welfare-population. IAHT is a one-time qualitative study of state and local child welfare human trafficking leaders and staff. Data will be collected from state personnel in 25 states and local personnel in up to 8 states. IAHT is designed to address several research questions, including: (1) What are current practices among child welfare agencies nationally for screening for human trafficking and subsequent delivery of specialized services for children and youth who are identified as trafficking victims or at high risk of victimization? (2) How do child welfare agencies with promising screening practices screen for human trafficking and train personnel to implement screening? (2a) How do child welfare agencies select their approaches to screening for human trafficking, and what has been their experience in implementing these? (2b) How do child welfare agencies train personnel on screening for human trafficking, and what has been their experience with training implementation? (3) What is the relationship between screening and subsequent referrals for, access to, and delivery of specialized services for children and youth identified as trafficking victims or at high risk of victimization? (3a) How do child welfare agencies connect children and youth to specialized services, and what has been their experience with this process? (3b) How do child welfare agencies assess specialized services for children and youth who are likely trafficking victims or at increased risk, in terms of appropriateness, acceptability, availability, and accessibility? Data will be collected using a combination of telephone and video interviews with child welfare personnel. Interviews with state and local human trafficking coordinators and casework supervisors will include questions regarding agencies’ human trafficking screening tools and practice, specialized services for children and youth identified as likely victims of human trafficking or at high risk for trafficking, and staff training related to human trafficking.   Analysis of the IAHT data has the potential to inform child welfare agencies’ decisions on programs and practice related to human trafficking. Findings from this study may help inform child welfare practice by sharing information on widely used practices and those considered as promising strategies for identifying children and youth who have been trafficked and connecting them to specialized services. The main page for the study’s approved Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) package is here: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAOMBHistory?ombControlNumber=0970-0563. Under "View Supporting Statement and Other Documents," you can access information about the project, including respondent forms and data collection instruments.