Kentucky's Annual Report On Child Victims Of Human Trafficking.pdf

Annual Report for Child Victims (2020)

Overview:

This report, submitted by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) as required by KRS 620.029(2)(b), details Kentucky's response to child victims of human trafficking during the 2020 fiscal year. CHFS' Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) leads these efforts in collaboration with numerous community partners.

Key Findings:

Report Volume: Since 2013, 1,165 incidents involving 1,398 alleged victims have been reported statewide. In 2020, there were 206 reports involving 234 alleged victims.
Geographic Distribution: The majority of reports originate from Jefferson and Northern Bluegrass regions.
Types of Trafficking: Most cases involve sex trafficking (216 out of 234 in 2020), followed by labor trafficking (12 reports in 2020). Six reports involved both sex and labor trafficking.
Community Response: DCBS staff actively collaborates with organizations like Catholic Charities, KASAP, DJJ, DBHDID, and others to enhance community-based responses to human trafficking cases through training, webinars, conferences, and technical assistance.

Program Enhancements:

DCBS has implemented several enhancements to its human trafficking program:

Updated Training: Provided specialized trainings for various audiences including community partners, DCBS staff, and the public on human trafficking and Kentucky's mandatory reporting laws (KRS 620.030).
Improved Documentation: Updated existing policies and procedures to comply with federal requirements (P.L. 113-183) and implemented an updated investigative assessment tool to specifically assess for human trafficking.
* Enhanced Database: Updated the state’s child welfare database (TWIST) to indicate an individual's status as a human trafficking victim and distinguish between labor and sex trafficking.

Next Steps:

The report emphasizes the need to continue building strong community partnerships, expanding training opportunities, and refining documentation practices to better serve Kentucky's child victims of human trafficking.