Kentucky receives federal funding to fight human trafficking

The Kentucky Department for Community Based Services has received a $1 million federal grant to prevent child trafficking and to provide support to survivors.

According to a news release, the Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking award is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s $101 million national investment to combat and research human trafficking through specific programming to enhance local and state services. Kentucky is one of only four states to receive funding.

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander says, “Human trafficking affects everyone, but research shows that minority youth may be specifically targeted. We have to see human trafficking as both a crime and a social justice issue. This grant comes at a perfect time to allow us to work with an array of multi-disciplinary child-serving professionals to address human trafficking and its oppressive repercussions on individuals and our society.”