NonSub Change Memo_DVHT (0970-0542)_SOGI Qs

To: Jordan Cohen

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

From: Vera J. Kiefer, Research and Data Collection Analyst

Office on Trafficking in Persons

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Date: August 13, 2021

Subject: NonSubstantive Change Request – Domestic Victims of Human Trafficking Program Data (OMB #0970-0542)

This memo requests approval of nonsubstantive changes to the approved information collection, Domestic Victims of Human Trafficking Program Data (OMB #0970-0542).

Background

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand benefits and services to victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons in the United States (U.S.), without regard to their immigration status. The TVPA also authorizes HHS to establish and strengthen programs to assist United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who have experienced sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking in persons (22 U.S.C. § 7105(f)(1)). Acting under a delegation of authority from the Secretary of HHS, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) awards cooperative agreements to organizations to establish a program to assist U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who have experienced human trafficking through the Domestic Victims of Human Trafficking (DVHT) Program. The central purpose of the DVHT Program is to connect survivors with the services they need to improve their well-being and health outcomes.

Domestic Victims of Human Trafficking Program Data (OMB #0970-0564) is an active and approved collection of client-level data on those served through the DVHT Program. The information collected allows ACF to evaluate service delivery efforts, inform prevention programming, and monitor program outcomes. In addition to client-level data, information on the type and cost of services provided through the program is collected to enable ACF to respond to congressional inquiries related to program spending and to provide technical assistance to grantees on managing available funding for individuals and households enrolled in the program.

Shortly after taking office, President Biden issued Executive Order 13985 (Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government), directing the Federal Government to pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. Individuals who experience trafficking—or vulnerable to it—often suffer disparities in education, health care, housing, employment, and access to public services, as well as a host of inequities that represent the social determinants of health. 

DVHT Program grantees are expected to effectively serve all victims of all forms of trafficking in a person-centered, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed manner, including individuals belonging to groups that have been historically underserved, marginalized, or subject to discrimination or systemic disadvantage, in order to increase identification of and support for individuals from these groups.

As such, we are seeking to make nonsubstantive changes to our existing Domestic Victims of Human Trafficking Program Data (OMB #0970-0564) collection, particularly data elements related to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Survey Measures to better support equity for individuals belonging to groups referenced in EO 13985.

Overview of Requested Changes

The proposed changes to the data elements and corresponding field values below reflect measures accepted by the Federal Interagency Working Group on Improving Measurement of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Federal Surveys:

Current Data Element	Current Corresponding Field Values	Proposed Change to Data Element	Proposed Change to Field Values
Sex	Male Female Unknown	Gender Identity	Male Female Transgender Male Transgender Female Genderqueer/Gender Non-Conforming Unknown Not Reported
Question: Does the client identify as LGBTQ?	Yes No Unknown	Question: Does the client identify as LGBTQ2S+? Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), Two-Spirit, or another gender/sexual/romantic minority	Yes No Unknown

Research shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), Two-Spirit, and other (LGBTQ2S+) persons, as well as Black, Latinx, and Native American individuals are disproportionately likely to experience trafficking in persons and other forms of abuse and exploitation.¹ Men and boys are also under-identified among this victim population, particularly non-heterosexual men and boys who have experienced sex trafficking. Additional research is needed to assess the disparate impacts of demographic characteristics on victimization.

Information from DVHT Program service providers, particularly performance indicator data related to victim demographics, trafficking experience, and referrals/service delivery informs our collective understanding and will be factored into response protocols, as well as prevention and evidence-building related activities. By making nonsubstantive changes to our SOGI data indicators to make the data elements and corresponding field values more inclusive and reflective of guidance issued by the Federal Interagency Working Group on Improving Measurement of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Federal Surveys, ACF will be better able to disaggregate data by these variables, to identify unique needs and victimization profiles for individuals belonging to these groups to inform service provision and other opportunities for programmatic support.²

These proposed updates are informed by feedback from existing grantees providing services to victims of trafficking in persons, best practices identified by the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center (NHTTAC), NHTTAC’s Human Trafficking Leadership Academy (HTLA), and existing research examining the trafficking experiences of particular demographic groups.

1 Butler, C. N. (2015). The racial roots of human trafficking. UCLA Law Review, 62, 1464–1514.

Curtis, R., Terry, K., Dank, M., Dombrowski, K., & Khan, B. (2008). Commercial sexual exploitation of children in New York City, volume one: The CSEC population in New York City: Size, characteristics, and needs. (Report No. 225083). National Criminal Justice Reference Service. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/225083.pdf

Fedina, L., Williamson, C., & Perdue, T. (2016). Risk factors for domestic child sex trafficking in the United States. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 34(13), 2653–2673. doi:10.1177/0886260516662306

Georgia State University. (2019). Atlanta youth count 2018 community report: The prevalence of sex and labor trafficking among homeless youth in metro Atlanta. Retrieved from https://atlantayouthcount.weebly.com/

Gibbs, D. A., Henninger, A. M., Tueller, S. J., & Kluckman, M. N. (2018). Human trafficking and the child welfare population in Florida. Children and Youth Services Review, 88, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.02.045

Koepplinger, S. (2008). Sex trafficking of American Indian women and girls in Minnesota. University of St. Thomas Law Journal, 6(1), 129–137. Retrieved from https://ir.stthomas.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1179&context=ustlj

Martinez, O., & Kelle, G. (2013). Sex trafficking of LGBT individuals: A call for service provision, research, and action. The International Law News, 42(4).

Swaner, R., Labriola, M., Rempel, M., Walker, A., & Spadafore, J. (2016). Youth involvement in the sex trade: A national study. Center for Court Innovation. Retrieved from https://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Youth%20Involvement%20in%20the%20Sex%20Trade_3.pdf

2 FCSM: Federal Committee on statistical Methodology INTERAGENCY REPORTS. FCSM | Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology Interagency Reports. (n.d.). https://nces.ed.gov/FCSM/interagency_reports.asp.