The central purpose of these cooperative agreements is to increase the identification and protection of human trafficking victims in the United States and to increase public awareness about human trafficking.

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division within the Department of Health and Human Services

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(HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) seeks to accomplish this purpose by awarding cooperative agreements toorganizations that will serve as regional focal points for an intensification of local outreach to and identification of victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons.

Eachsuccessful applicantwill be required tolead or actively participate in a community-led effort within a state to bring together and leverage local resources to address human trafficking in a region, such as a Rescue & Restore Coalition or a law enforcementtaskforce ("coalition").

Also,each successful applicant mustsub-award at least 60 percent of grant funds received to local organizations that can identify and/or work with victims of human trafficking.

A successful applicant must be the planner, fiscal agent, monitor, and technical assistance provider for the sub-awardees.

The grant recipient may retain no more than 40 percent of the grant award.

ORR seeks to award one cooperative agreement per geographic area for a period of three years.The Director of ORR will give priority to geographic areas with reported high incidence of human trafficking.The Director of ORR may give priority consideration to applications that demonstrate three or more years of experience in identifying and assisting both sex and labor trafficking victims, making service referrals for trafficking victims, providing referrals to law enforcement, and providing technical assistance and trainings on human trafficking.