Evaluation of OVC FY09 Services for Domestic Minor Victims of Human Trafficking

This project will address the knowledge gap concerning the characteristics and unique needs of domestic minor victims of trafficking and the strategies for delivery and coordination of services to these youth. The investigators plan to employ a participatory process evaluation in collaboration with two programs funded under a separate solicitation by the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC). The investigators expect that the findings will ascertain promising practices to help victim service agencies and law enforcement make informed decisions for victim services and create a knowledge base for future programs.

The first goal of the project is to document components of program implementation in two programs currently providing services to this population. The objectives of this goal are to provide a description of who receives services and how participants use the services, to describe key partnerships and their activities, and to document any unintended activities. The second goal is to identify promising practices for service delivery programs for this population. The objectives of this goal are to identify critical elements of the service delivery programs, to assess the extent to which the program was implemented as planned, and to assess participant and stakeholder experiences and satisfaction with the programs. The third goal of the project is to inform delivery of current and future efforts by youth-serving agencies, law enforcement, and others serving this population. The objectives of this goal are to provide feedback to OVC-funded grantees serving this population, and to produce grantee-specific summary reports, a final report to NIJ, and disseminate valid policy-relevant results.

A three phase process will be employed in partnership with two OVC-funded grantees and their partner agencies. First the investigators will use applied ethnographic techniques to familiarize themselves with the grantees, their partner agencies, and communities. They will then engage in a structured evaluation with each of the two OVC grantees to articulate program elements. Second, the investigators will work with the grantees on evaluation implementation including qualitative and quantitative data describing client characteristics, service delivery, partnership structure and functioning. The analysis will serve as the basis for program refinements. The last phase will involve dissemination during which the investigators will generate products designed for each of four targeted audiences (practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and the general public).

ca/ncf