Impact
Evaluating federal programs to improve service delivery for people who have experienced human trafficking
Human trafficking is a significant public health issue that causes harm to individuals, families, and communities. Because of this, it is critical to develop evidence-based anti-trafficking strategies, policies, and programs that effectively address the needs of survivors.
RTI has partnered with the Administration of Children and Families (ACF), a branch of the Department of Health and Human Services, to design and implement in-depth evaluations of existing ACF or ACF-supported programs as part of the Building Evidence for Trafficking Interventions and Response (BETIR) project. This project aims to expand the evidence base of human trafficking research through relevant and accessible findings in identified priority areas.
The ACF's Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) and Office of Trafficking In Persons (OTIP) have selected two studies and have the option to elect up to four more projects, which will be identified in 2024-2025. These studies will help inform researchers, service providers, and policymakers of evidence-based, trauma-informed practices that can identify and serve victims of human trafficking.
Follow-Up Study of the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) and Other Federally Sponsored Hotlines
ACF provides funding for the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH), a 24-hour toll-free line which provides assistance and service referrals to potential victims, service providers, law enforcement officials, and others, as well as provides time-sensitive tips to appropriate local, state, or federal law enforcement authorities. RTI previously conducted a 5-year evaluation of the NHTH from 2016-2021, revealing multiple successes and areas for hotline improvement. The current evaluation will assess the impact of the changes implemented since the last evaluation. In addition, this evaluation will explore how the NHTH works with law enforcement, other hotlines, and service providers to effectively serve those who contact the hotline.
To answer these questions, RTI will seek input from community members and individuals with lived experience of trafficking and will leverage a mixed methods research design. Results will be used to develop recommendations and best practices that the NHTH and other federal hotlines can employ to improve service delivery.
Evaluation of the Trafficking Victims Assistance Program (TVAP) and Aspire Program
RTI will conduct a process evaluation of ACF’s two programs to assist foreign national victims of human trafficking: the Trafficking Victims Assistance Program (TVAP) for adults and the Aspire program for children. Historically, TVAP served both adults and children through national coordination. In FY 2023, ACF funded TVAP as two separate programs to better serve the needs of children and adults. ACF also instituted a regional organizational approach to better coordinate local services. Because these changes are relatively new, this study aims to understand the updated programs' administration, implementation, and impacts on their respective clients.
Ultimately, both the NHTH and TVAP/Aspire evaluations will contribute to the growing evidence base of human trafficking research and to the development of strategies and services that prevent and respond to human trafficking.
Learn more about RTI’s research on human trafficking.
