2. USCCB/MRS
 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Migration and
Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS) holds more than 30 years of
experience working with refugees and immigrants.
 Contributed to the development of key provisions of the Trafficking
Victims Protection Act of 2000
 Provides specialized training and technical assistance on human
trafficking
 Created the first Human Trafficking screening tool implemented across
all of the juvenile detention and shelter facilities contracted by the
Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)/Division of Unaccompanied
Children’s Services (DUCS) for unaccompanied alien children in federal
custody.
 Provided services to clients through HHS/ORR & DOJ/OVC grants

3. The Dignity of Work (DOW)
Program
What is Dignity of Work?
 Dignity of Work is a new program aimed at providing
employment services to survivors of human
trafficking who typically have not been eligible, or
may have missed their eligibility window, for
employment services.
Who is Eligible?
 Pre-Certified Victims of Trafficking (VOT)
 Individuals granted Eligibility Letters as Minor VOTs,
now ready to pursue employment
 U-Visa recipients for whom the qualifying crime was
human trafficking

4. The Dignity of Work (DOW)
Program Cont.
DOW Goals:
1. Demonstrate that availability of employment and related
services for VOTs increases the likelihood that they can
enter dignified employment and achieve self-sufficiency.
2. Increase knowledge and coordination among case
management providers serving VOTs regarding best
practices supporting VOT achievement of self-sufficiency.
3. Develop systemic understanding of the most effective pre-
employment/employability services for VOTs to enhance
their readiness and success in achieving dignified
employment and self-sufficiency.

5. The Dignity of Work (DOW)
Program Cont.
What are the services offered?
• Job Readiness and Placement Assistance: Ensure that
the client is prepared to seek employment and has the
skills necessary to succeed in a U.S. work environment.
• Post-Placement Assistance: For those clients with
Employment Authorization, ensure that employment is
maintained through the program service period and
beyond. Ensure that clients have appropriate working
conditions.
• Job Upgrades/Professional Recertification: For clients
with Employment Authorization, provide resources and
services that could enable the client to upgrade to a
higher position, increase compensation and/or benefits,
and find more fulfilling employment.

6. The Dignity of Work (DOW)
Program Cont.
Pre-Employment Services
• Transportation Assistance
• Life Skills Education
• Formal Education/GED
• Interviewing Techniques
• ESL
• Resume Writing
• Job Application Training
• Child Care
• US Work Laws and Workers’
Right Education
Post-Employment Services
• Specific Job Skills Training
• Certification Programs
• Tax Form Orientation
• Computer Training
• Mentorship
• Budgeting/Financial
Management
• On-Site Job Visits
• Career Planning
Specific employment services may include (not mutually exclusive):

7. The Dignity of Work (DOW) Program:
Post-Employment Services
 Follow-up services are extremely important for VOTs
considering their experiences with working in the
past
 Work place visits and employer meetings can ensure
job retention and prevent repeated exploitation
 This allows case managers to focus skill
development and specialized training
 For clients that have specialized training or
certifications in their home country, these services
will enable them to obtain higher paying
employment, thus enhancing future self-sufficiency

8. How is DOW different from existing
refugee resettlement programs?
 It is a 2-year research project to develop
best practices for employment services for
VOTs (service period of 3-6 months)
 There is a strong focus on post-
employment services considering VOTs
history of exploitation
 Does not replace, but rather compliments
existing programs such as Match Grant (if
clients are eligible, they should be enrolled in available employment
programs)

9. How the DOW Program
Works
1. Referring agencies identify potential clients and send a Request to
Enroll form to DOW program
2. Once USCCB determines that the client is eligible, they will connect
them with a local resettlement office within our network to receive
services.
3. Referring agencies continue to provide comprehensive case
management services and are the lead for the case
4. Participating resettlement offices and clients sign consent forms to
participate in the research study (if they choose)
5. USCCB Service Providers provide Employment Services (Pre or Post)
to enrolled clients
6. USCCB provides Service Providers with ongoing technical assistance,
case consultation, training, and educational materials
7. Service Providers submit required forms (Employability Assessment,
Monthly Reports, etc.) to USCCB for evaluation purposes
8. USCCB will analyze data obtained from Service Providers to develop
an enhanced understanding of effective employment services for
VOTs

10. How the DOW Program Works
Cont.
Service Provider Responsibilities
(these are providers within the USCCB resettlement network)
 Provide Pre/Post-Employment
Services to Participating Clients
 Complete required reporting and
assessment tools upon
enrollment and a monthly basis
 Participate in project monitoring
phone calls, webinars, and site
visits
Referring Agency Responsibilities
 Continue to provide
comprehensive case
management services
 Coordinate with DOW
Employment Specialists in
service provision
USCCB Responsibilities
 Provide technical assistance and
case consultation
 Conduct monthly webinars/
trainings surrounding human
trafficking and employment services
 Disseminate educational materials
to Service Providers
 Disburse per capita funding to
Service Providers
 Conduct Research Study Interviews
 Collect and analyze data gathered
from assessment tools and reports

11. The Research Component of
DOW
 DOW is a demonstration project that relies on data gathering to
develop an enhanced understanding of best practices for
employment services for VOTs
 Employment and self-sufficiency data will be gathered through:
 An initial Employability Assessment
 Monthly Self-Sufficiency Progress Reports
 Monthly Case Management Progress Reports (only for clients receiving case
management services)
 Service Provider and client feedback will be obtained through:
 Individual interviews
 Focus groups
 Written surveys
 This is NOT an evaluation of Service Providers or specific
agencies.

12. Confidentiality
Considerations
 USCCB will obtain informed consent from both
clients and Service Providers to participate in
research study interviews (either party may choose to not participate)
 Client information will remain confidential in
reports, data gathering, and analyses
 Service Providers must follow federal regulations
concerning confidentiality requirements
 USCCB will monitor Service Providers for
compliance

13. Referral Considerations
 Clients should have already achieved a certain level of
stability
 Have medical needs been addressed? Mental health? Legal?
 Clients should be ready and willing to enter the workforce
(if not already employed)
 Clients should not be currently receiving employment
services from another provider
 Check to see if there is a resettlement program near you
where your client can be referred
 http://www.usccb.org/about/resettlement-services/diocesan-
resettlement-offices.cfm#IL

14. Resources
 State & Federal Trafficking Laws-
http://www.polarisproject.org/resources/state-and-federal-laws
 National Hotline- http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/national-
human-trafficking-hotline/the-nhtrc/overview
 State Department Trafficking In Persons Report-
http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2012/
 How To Identify a Trafficking Victim- http://www.usccb.org/about/anti-
trafficking-program/identifying-trafficking-victims.cfm
 Human Trafficking Resources-
 Department of Homeland Security
 Department of Justice
 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act 2008-
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-110publ457/pdf/PLAW-
110publ457.pdf
 Legal Resources-
http://www.uscrirefugees.org/2010Website/5_Resources/5_4_For_Law
yers/5_4_3_Human_Trafficking_Resources/5_4_3_1_Human_Traffickin
g_Manuals/AGuidefor_LegalAdvocates.pdf

15. Questions
Matt Haygood, LICSW, CACII
Program Support Coordinator, Anti-Trafficking Program
USCCB/MRS
202-541-3232 office
202-541-3324 fax
mhaygood@usccb.org or
mrsdignityofwork@usccb.org