​​Maine Anti-Trafficking Efforts

For the past five years, there has been growing momentum in Maine around the issue of human trafficking. In early efforts, there was a push to raise awareness and provide basic training to service providers and law enforcement. Soon after, we saw the development of local anti-trafficking multidisciplinary teams and public policy changes at the statewide level. These teams provide the backbone for how Maine will likely manage anti-trafficking services now and in the years to come. There is increasingly a focus on supporting local anti-trafficking teams to provide a collaborative and comprehensive response to the needs of a human trafficking victim. As awareness of the issue increases, so does the need for safe, appropriate, victim-centered services. 

For access to immediate services in Maine call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888.

Maine's Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence centers offer 24-hour support to survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Visit here to find out more about your local sexual assault support center or dial 1-800-871-7741 for immediate services. Visit here to find out more about your local domestic violence agency or dial 1-866-834-4357 for immediate services. 

Statewide Efforts

U.S. Attorney's Office/Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Workgroup
Chair: Heather Putnam
The U.S. Attorney's Office/Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Workgroup is a multidisciplinary group of local and statewide law enforcement and service providers which exists to target statewide policy and infrastructure opportunities to support state and local response to trafficking and sex exploitation; and to provide a statewide platform for sharing local trafficking resources and coalition development.
 
Maine Sex Trafficking and Exploitation Network Provider Council
Contact: Jess Bedard, Director of Program Planning and Performace, MECASA
The MaineSTEN Provider Council is made up of all service providers from the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Workgroup, statewide agencies representing local service providers and the service provider chairs of all local anti-trafficking teams. They support MECASA staff in prioritizing anti-trafficking efforts, and advise in the development tools, trainings and resources for service providers supporting victims of human trafficking.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Human Trafficking Task Force
The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Human Trafficking Task Force (HTTF) is a collaboration of municipal, county, state and federal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies in the state of Maine, working in conjunction with social service organizations to identify, assist and protect the dignity and rights of the victims of human trafficking. 
​
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services
Federal legislation has required a change in the child welfare response to minors in state care in an effort to identify and respond to the commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of children. DHHS has new policies on screening and responding to suspicion of the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in place in 2015. In 2016, every child welfare district in the state will receive a day-long training on indicators of CSEC, the local MDT response and the new protocols. This training will also be open to members of local Children's Advocacy Centers and anti-trafficking MDTs.
 
Maine Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers 
Contact: Annette Macaluso, Program Coordinator
Maine's Children's Advocacy Centers are developing protocols for responding to the commercial sexual exploitation of children and are building the capacity to respond as part of official child welfare response - this includes a local MDT response based on national models.
 
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
MCJA has made Human Trafficking the required statewide training for all law enforcement for 2017.

Not Here Justice In Action Network
Contact: Jennifer Morin, Program Director
Not Here Justice in Action Network (NHJAN) is a grassroots effort to facilitate collaboration with key members of society to address the threats of human trafficking and exploitation, child abuse, sexual violence and gender inequality. They are especially concerned about the impact on vulnerable children globally and domestically.

Local Teams

​Southern Maine Anti-Trafficking Response Team (SMART)
Co-chairs: Ali Howe, Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine and Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services
Formerly known as Greater Portland Coalition Against Sex Trafficking and Exploitation/York County Coalition Against Trafficking (GPCASTE/YCCAT) and established in 2011, SMART is a multidisciplinary effort which provides a victim-centered, coordinated community approach to preventing and responding to human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in Maine. 
 
Lewiston/Auburn Human Trafficking Collaborative
Tri-chairs: Jaime Ricker, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services; Eric Bell, Auburn PD; Tricia Grant, Survivor Leader
This group has been meeting since 2014.
Penquis Sex Trafficking Action Response Team (START)
Co-chairs: Kristie Decker, Rape Response Services and Laura Angelucci, Partners for Peace
START is a multidisciplinary team committed to ending sex trafficking and commercial exploitation and serving its victims throughout Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties, Maine. Their goal is to increase public awareness of the problem, build an effective response system, strengthen enforcement and prosecution of trafficking and sexual exploitation and ensure quality services for survivors. 
 
Somerset/Kennebec Coalition Against Sex and Labor Trafficking and Exploitation (CASTLE)
Chair: Donna Strickler, Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Center
KenSom CASTLE is a multi-disciplinary team with the goal of recognizing, reducing, and responding to human trafficking by engaging the community through interagency cooperation and education. ​

Trafficking-Specific Service Providers

CourageLIVES (formerly Hope Rising)
A program of Saint Andre Home 
Saint Andre Home opened Maine’s first safe house and residential treatment program for survivors of human trafficking in May 2015. The program provides: transitional housing with in-home mental health and substance abuse treatment; outpatient counseling on an availability and case by case basis; case management services for clients; and after-care services. 
 
Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services
Contact: Daniella Cameron, Senior Program Director
A program of Preble Street, Anti-Trafficking Services is a multi-agency collaborative which provides intensive case management, mental health and substance abuse counseling, and legal services to victims/survivors of labor and sex trafficking in York and Cumberland Counties. Their work includes developing protocols and housing resources for a multidisciplinary team.
​
​Maine STEN is not a direct service provider. For access to immediate
​ services in Maine call the National Human Trafficking Hotline:  1-888-373-7888.