NEW YORK – Today, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced the creation of the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP), with Katherine Chon as its director. Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, executive vice president of the Rabbinical Assembly, the international association of Conservative/Masorti rabbis, and former member of President Obama’s White House Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, applauded the action, a direct response to one of the recommendations of the Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
“The creation of the OTIP will enable better support and help for the thousands of individuals – men, women, and children – of all backgrounds who have been and continue to be trafficked within America’s borders,” said Rabbi Julie Schonfeld. “This important change will better serve victims of all forms of human trafficking and allow for a clearer understanding and collection of data. With this improvement, key anti-trafficking programming will be effectively implemented and smart policies will be put into place. It will also improve the integration of anti-trafficking efforts into existing and new Department of Health and Human Services prevention strategies. I congratulate Katherine Chon in her new role and look forward to working with her as we combat one of today’s most pressing, and life threatening, issues.”