Training Services
Collaboratively Combating Human Trafficking
IOFA is an established global leader in developing and implementing effective and practical training opportunities to address the problem of human trafficking. For nearly a decade, IOFA has developed successful training programs for key responders including government leaders, law enforcement, community organizations, educational establishments, and service providers. IOFA has successfully trained more than 5,000 professionals on issues relating to human trafficking in the United States and countries throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
IOFA has developed specialized curricula and training modules for audiences in the United States and internationally in the following areas:
- Human Trafficking Training and Capacity Building Seminars for Non-Governmental Organizations and Community Groups
- Human Trafficking Training Seminars for Law Enforcement
- Preventing Youth Trafficking
- Attorneys and legal providers
- Community service providers
- Department of Labor investigators
- Department of Homeland Security agents (ICE, CBP, BCIS, etc.)
- Domestic violence survivor advocates
- Faith-based service providers
- FBI agents
- Medical and mental health providers
- Police and sheriff personnel
- Prosecutors
- Refugee providers
- Sexual assault survivor advocates
- Shelter staff
- Victim Witness Coordinators
- Break the Chain Campaign, Washington DC
- Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), Los Angeles, CA
- Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Immokalee, FL
- Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC), Miami, FL
- International Organization for Adolescents (IOFA), Chicago, IL and New York, NY
- Legal Assistance Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), Los Angeles, CA
- National Immigrant Justice Center, Heartland Alliance, Chicago, IL
- Safe Horizon, New York, NY
If you would like to learn more about IOFA's specialized training curricula and modules, or would like to request a training, please contact Katherine Kaufka at kkaufka@iofa.org or 773.404.8831.
IOFA is a founding member of the Freedom Network Training Institute (FNTI) and serves to coordinate training in the Northeast and Midwest regions. FNTI has created two training and advocacy curriculums:
To date, FNTI members have trained more than 5,000
Freedom Network Training Institute Members include:
Working Around the Globe
In the United States
IOFA received recognition from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former New York Senator Hillary Clinton for efforts to train community organizations and law enforcement, including FBI, ICE, NYPD, and various District Attorney offices, through the Community Response to Trafficking project. IOFA provided the training to operators of "The Trafficking Information and Referral Line", the first national anti-trafficking hotline in the United States, sponsored by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department and run by Covenant House.
In Asia
In a program sponsored by the Trafficking in Persons Office of the U.S. State Department, IOFA worked with community organizations in Taiwan to organize the first national training on the issue of human trafficking. This effort resulted in the training of 250 police chiefs and 50 judges, prosecutors, and attorneys involved in drafting Taiwan's anti-trafficking law.
In Africa
IOFA, in collaboration with a leading local human rights organization in Tanzania, trained staff and community leaders to conduct a community mapping research project to better understand the modalities of human trafficking in their region. This information is being utilized to develop a training program for young people in the community sponsored by the United Nations Fund for Women.
In Europe
In collaboration with the Stability Pact and Media and Development International (MADI), IOFA trained journalists and other media representatives from Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Romania, Bulgaria, and Moldova to responsibly report on issues relating to human trafficking by collaborating with non-governmental organizations, exploring various angles of the issue, and promoting healthy dialogue about the factors contributing to the growth of human trafficking.
In the Baltic States
IOFA, in collaboration with local non-governmental organizations and Cross Sector Solutions, organized and trained four multi-disciplinary anti-trafficking working groups to develop community responses to trafficking. The groups, formed in four different regions of the country successfully uncovered and brought to the attention of INTERPOL several anti-trafficking rings.
In Latin America
In collaboration with COIN, a local non-governmental organization, IOFA, through its Girls Talk! initiative has trained adolescent girls to serve as leaders in their country working to combat violence against girls.
