PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Attorney General Jason Miyares recently announced additional funding to improve outcomes for youth victims of human trafficking during Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
According to a release, the $1.29 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime will be used to expand research, enhance training and to start innovative support programs for child victims of human trafficking.
“No child should ever have to endure the horrors of human trafficking,” Miyares said. “This comprehensive multi-year plan will leverage the expertise and resources of our public and private partners to identify victims, dismantle trafficking networks, and ensure survivors receive the compassionate, trauma-informed care they deserve. By tackling gaps in identification, training, and services, Virginia will continue to act as a national leader in combating child and youth trafficking for years to come.”
The release also states that many traffickers specifically target minors through social media, the foster care system and by taking advantage of runaway and homeless youth.