Traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to lure their victims and force them into labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Immigrants and foreign-born residents are particularly susceptible to various forms of illegal exploitation. Our Trafficking Victims Assistance Program provides comprehensive case management services for foreign national victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons, potential victims of trafficking seeking Health and Human Service Certification, and their qualified family members.

Who can benefit from TVAP Services?

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, we can help you:

• Are you being forced to work against your will?
• Are you being forced to turn in your paycheck?
• Has your identification or documentation been taken from you?
• Are you pressured by your employer to work long hours?
• Have you or your family been threatened with deportation by anyone?
• Are you being monitored when interacting with others?
• Are living in dangerous, overcrowded or inhumane conditions provided by an employee?
• Do you have to ask permission to eat/sleep/use the bathroom?
• Are there locks on the doors/windows so you cannot get out?
• Is someone pressuring you to engage in sex acts of any type?

Rising Ground’s TVAP is licensed to support:

• Foreign-born victims of severe trafficking who have received HHS certification or, in the case of children, an HHS eligibility letter
• Potential victims of a severe form of trafficking seeking assistance to obtain HHS certification
• Any family members in receipt of a derivative T Visa

TVAP Case Management Services

The Rising Ground TVAP Case Workers will help children and families access social services in the greater NY area by:

• Connecting them with an immigration lawyer
• Locating medical and mental health services
• Obtaining a non-work social security card
• Applying for public benefits

In addition, TVAP eligible clients will receive support in:

• Safety Planning
• Public Benefits
• Emergency assistance
• Life skills training
• Housing (rent, utilities)
• Financial support
• ESL/Education
• Employment

If you have received HHS certification as a victim of severe trafficking or think you might be eligible for these services, contact us.