Multi-disciplinary Teams

Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs)

Look first to DoD resources such as the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program (SAPR) for advocacy services to assist with connecting a victim using a “case manager” approach to addressing their needs. Services from these programs will honor a victim’s right to confidentiality and will provide additional information about potential reporting options, resources, and services. The services and resources need to be tailored to each individual and might include:

  • Assistance with military/command considerations
  • Military Protective Orders
  • Civilian Protective Orders
  • Healthcare needs
  • Sexual Assault Forensic exam
  • Relocation
  • Housing
  • Social Workers
  • MCIO/Law Enforcement
  • Mental Health Professionals
  • Legal Services
  • Other non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
  • Chaplains
  • Religious Institutions
  • Immigration assistance

Human Trafficking Task Force or Coalition

There are more than 120 human trafficking task forces nationwide. Some of them are Federally funded, some are state-wide task forces, and some serve a city or local community. These task forces are comprised of Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, victim service providers, and community-and faith-based organizations that together ensure that trafficking victims are proactively identified and referred for appropriate services, while at the same time their offenders’ cases are investigated and prosecuted. The Task Forces work together to identify victims of sex and labor trafficking and ensure that they have access to a comprehensive array of services. Task forces are required to implement victim-centered and coordinated approaches to identify victims of all types of trafficking, address the individualized needs of victims through services, and investigate and prosecute sex and labor trafficking cases at the local, state, tribal, and federal levels. Here is one link to help find local Task Forces: https://ovc.ojp.gov/matrix-ovc-funded-human-trafficking-services-grantees-and-task-forces

Try to locate human trafficking resources in the community. Reach out to NGOs in the local community and neighborhood. Be pro-active: call and introduce yourself, obtain information on the services they provide and get names of other local service providers. It is important to reach out to anti-trafficking and other related organizations now - not just when services are needed. Once your Chaplaincy has begun this work, take the time to build and maintain relationships with community providers who offer services for trafficking victims.