Legal Aid Society Brings Together Professionals to Fight Sex Trafficking in Chicago

More than 30 attorneys, social service providers, and other professionals serving sex trafficking survivors came together recently to share their experiences, expertise and ideas for combating sex trafficking in the Chicago area.

The interdisciplinary collaboration was part of the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services’ anti-trafficking initiative A.T.L.A.S.S.T. (Attorneys Tendering Legal Aid to Survivors of Sex Trafficking). A.T.L.A.S.S.T. focuses on utilizing civil litigation on behalf of sex trafficking victims. The program seeks to provide pro bono legal services to address all of the legal needs a survivor of sex trafficking faces.

At the meeting, A.T.L.A.S.S.T. subcommittees were formed to foster outreach, develop assessments, protocols, and trainings, and create an online toolkit. These materials will help A.T.L.A.S.S.T. increase identification of survivors of trafficking, and improve collaboration among law enforcement, social services, and legal support as they help survivors of trafficking recover and rebuild their lives.

For more information about this important program, contact Catherine Longkumer, A.T. L.A.S.S.T. staff attorney, at ATLASST@metrofamily.org.