ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The New York State Comptroller’s Office has its sights set on making changes in the effort to help victims and survivors of human trafficking, calling for improvements in services for that population in a report issued this week.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released an audit essentially saying the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) needs to do better when it comes to overseeing services for victims and survivors of human trafficking.

What You Need To Know

  • A state comptroller audit seeks changes that could help survivors of human trafficking

  • The comptroller’s audit found that 53% of human trafficking survivors referred to social services offices did not contact them

  • The comptroller recommends improved data collection and monitoring for improved evaluation

According to the report, many do not have access to the services they deserve.

Human trafficking is the unlawful act of transporting or the use of force, fraud or coercion to make someone engage in commercial sex or other forms of forced labor. OTDA’s Response to Human Trafficking Program (RHTP) can refer state-confirmed trafficking victims to local Department of Social Services offices.

The comptroller’s audit found that 53% of human trafficking survivors referred to social services offices did not contact them.

Auditors also found OTDA does not track if survivors who go to a social services office are also connected to a provider for additional help.

“They really need a lot of understanding about trauma, because that is that is a huge, huge thing at the DSS office is you've got a whole bunch of traumatized people who are very, very anxious and very scared, and they're not processing what they're being told the right way because their brains are all in trauma mode,” said Melanie Blow, of Rochester Regional Coalition Against Human Trafficking.

Blow works to protect victims and survivors every day and says it’s extremely challenging for trafficking victims to go through the process of obtaining services because they are so traumatized.

While this might not seem like good news, Blow explains why she feels so positive about the release of this audit.

“I think that's really, really, really exciting," she said. "Because these are fixable issues.”

DiNapoli’s audit recommends OTDA:

  • Improve data collection and monitoring for improved evaluation
  • Provide better guidance and communication to service providers
  • Ensure duties and responsibilities are effectively communicated to staff at local DSS offices

Blow says there needs to be a reimagining of how victims and survivors are reached, like the system should go to them and meet them at their level and build trust.

There are some street outreach programs just popping up that are doing just that.

The Office of Temporary and Disability responded to a draft copy of that report.

The OTDA mostly did not agree with the findings and in part argued that "Consistent with survivor-centered programming, all services are voluntary, as services have proven to be more effective when a person chooses to engage."

The office also said its is meeting the policy expectations when it comes to the site visits the Comptroller's Office mentioned.