Polaris Project operates the Greater DC Trafficking Intervention Program (DC TIP) to combat human trafficking in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Southern Maryland. Launched in 2002, DC TIP works to create an effective community-based response to curb local human trafficking network activity. DC TIP provides comprehensive services to foreign national and U.S. citizen victims in the Washington, DC metro area and works towards long-term, systemic change.
Activities
Outreach and Victim Identification: - Direct outreach to victims in the criminal justice system and other safe intervention points identified by field research
- Four 24-hour multi-lingual crisis hotlines in English, Spanish, and Korean that receive local and national calls from potential victims and Polaris Project clients
- Creation and distribution of outreach materials that contain hotline information for victims. These materials are produced in partnership with survivors of trafficking and are available in English, Spanish, and Korean.
- Community outreach to increase awareness among individuals who may come into contact with potential trafficking victims in the course of their daily work
Crisis Intervention and Emergency Services:- Collaboration with local and federal law enforcement to conduct direct crisis intervention and assessments with potential victims of human trafficking through the Sex Trafficking Assessment Team (STAT), which is made up of specially trained staff and volunteers. The STAT is on-call 24-hours a day to respond to calls from law enforcement, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, potential victims, and other agencies.
- Provision of emergency services, including food, clothing, emotional support, legal advocacy, social service support, and a safe place to stay. In some cases, Polaris Project staff provide overnight hotel accompaniment.
Victim Services and Protection:
- Comprehensive case management services tailored to the specific needs of each client, including emotional support, safety planning, crisis intervention, social services advocacy, criminal justice and legal advocacy, child related assistance, clothing and materials assistance, document obtainment assistance, housing search support, food assistance, assistance in securing government benefits, educational support, and employment assistance
- Drop-in center that provides clients with a safe and welcoming place where they can feel at home. In this confidential location, clients have access to computers, telephones, and food. Case management services, group activities, and social events and activities are usually held at the center. Clients can also come to the center to simply relax and unwind.
- Accompaniment for appointments
- Referrals to other organizations in the Washington, DC area that can help provide additional services, including educational/vocational programs, employment assistance programs, housing programs, legal services, food, substance abuse treatment programs, mental health services, medical/dental services, and child related services
Weekly Support Groups:- Weekly client groups for survivors of trafficking to provide a positive and supportive environment for them to discuss topics, such as healthy relationships, personal finance, nutrition, securing employment, and personal concerns. Polaris Project lead support groups in English and Spanish. During the group sessions, child care is provided for all clients who have children.
Emotional Support and Individual Therapy:- Optional individual therapy for victims who have endured substantial emotional trauma. Services are provided by a licensed social worker on staff
Job Training Program:- Job training program for survivors who are 18 years old or older in collaboration with Sasha Bruce YouthWorks, a non-profit agency in the DC area. The job training program prepares clients for jobs in an office setting by teaching hard skills, including resume writing, phone usage, filing, and computer skills, as well as soft skills, such as conflict resolution, job interview skills, and how to interact with coworkers and managers
Transitional Housing Program:- Transitional housing program for survivors. The program is conducted in a scattered site model, which is comprised of three separate apartments throughout the Washington, DC area that can house up to a total of five residents. Residents are able to stay in the program for 6 to 12 months, and during their stay they are provided with gift cards to assist them with groceries, material items, and metro transportation as well as a pre-paid cell phone with a limited call list so that they can contact Polaris Project staff as well as other important individuals who are providing them with support.
Prevention and Youth Empowerment: - Training for social service providers and others who work with populations who are at high risk of human trafficking to educate them about potential trafficking indicators and available resources
- Workshops with individuals who are at high risk of commercial sexual exploitation to offer prevention programming and identify potential victims who are in need of intervention services
- DC TIP has also worked with the Mayor's office to provide resources for the DC public school system and has partnered with the U.S. Department of Education to create a Fact Sheet on Human Trafficking for national distribution.
Task Force, Coalition, and Infrastructure-Building: - Unifying efforts within and between government and non-government efforts to better coordinate effective regional trafficking suppression.
- Polaris Project was one of the founding members of the DC Task Force on Human Trafficking in 2004 with the DC police department and the DC US Attorney's office. Membership has grown to over 15 government agencies and 21 diverse non-government organizations meeting on a weekly and monthly basis. The DC Task Force has prosecuted over 35 traffickers, rescued over 70 victims of trafficking, and successfully advocated for the DC City Council to make September Human Trafficking awareness month.
- Polaris Project also participates in the Victims Services Subcommittee of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, which meets in Baltimore, MD. Polaris Project staff offer technical assistance on building anti-trafficking efforts in Maryland by bringing together law enforcement and diverse stakeholders.
- Training on diverse issues within the anti-trafficking field, technical assistance on best practices, and agency-specific strategic planning and consultation.
Grassroots Community Mobilization: - In 2004, Polaris Project launched the DC Meetup on Trafficking. Now the group is led by a group of dedicated community members, and it has grown to have a total of over 430 members in the DC area. The group is working on designing and implementing two local anti-trafficking campaigns, creating www.stopmodernslavery.org, and planning local events and fundraisers. For more information about the group and how you can get involved, go to Meetup.com.
The DC TIP operates with support from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, District of Columbia Office of Victim Services, The Community Foundation for the National Capitol Region, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, The Washington Area Women’s Foundation, and individual donors.
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