Child Welfare Response to Human Trafficking Act of 2013 (H.R. 1732)
The trafficking of children for both sexual and labor exploitation is an egregious human rights abuse affecting a growing number of youth in the United States, many of whom come into contact with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. ATEST is working to improve the proper identification of and services to child trafficking victims by promoting the passage of H.R. 1732, Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act. This is a critical piece of federal legislation that works to ensure that child victims of human trafficking are being properly identified by state child welfare agencies and receiving the comprehensive services they need to recover.
H.R. 1732 amends the Social Security Act to require state foster care programs, which receive federal funds under the Social Security Act, to report on current and future efforts to address the human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children in their care. It also mandates data collection on the issue of human trafficking.
Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and publish: (1) best practices for training child welfare employees and court employees on identifying all forms of child trafficking; (2) recommendations for how state welfare agencies can prevent human trafficking; and (3) licensing guidelines for residential facilities with regard to child trafficking victims.
Learn more about child welfare and this important legislation:
ATEST Letter to Support Senate “Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act of 2013”
Fact Sheet: Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act (H.R. 1732)
ATEST National Call: Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Legislation (04/25/13)