To date, the following Departments have received training:

• Business and Consumer Enforcement (BCE) unit of the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)
• Office of Labor Standards within BACP
• Department of Family and Support Services (introductory training)
• Regional planners within the Department of Planning and Development
• Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD)
• Senior leadership at Department of Housing (introductory training)

In October 2020, the Mayor’s Office and the Chicago Police Department have received a grant from the US Department of Justice, Office for Violence Against Women (OVW) to improve CPD’s response to gender-based violence and human trafficking. The City is partnering with local experts and law enforcement consultants to review, revise and reform policies and training across CPD.

• The Mayor’s Office and CPD received a grant from the US Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) to improve CPD’s response to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The proposal leverages the opportunity to improve CPD’s protocols related to human trafficking as well
• Developed a protocol toolkit with input from community-based organizations working in the anti-trafficking field. As a result:
  • BACP’s Office of Labor Standards (OLS) incorporated two questions on their intake assessment to identify potential red flags for human trafficking. Additionally, they added a short script for cases in which red flags are identified
  • MOPD developed an internal protocol if/when a potential victim is identified
• Department of Aviation has permanently placed the Human Trafficking Notice in all public restrooms (~440) at O’Hare and Midway Airports

• In August 2019, Mayor Lightfoot launched the Your Home is Someone’s Workplace campaign which seeks to increase knowledge about the rights of domestic workers and ensure households are compliant with all labor laws as they related to care workers. Learn more here.
• In August 2019, Mayor Lightfoot launched the Protecting Workers Working Group (PWWG), bringing together agencies at all levels of government and community-based organizations to develop recommendations on how to address industries rife with exploitation and trafficking and how to increase protections for vulnerable workers.
• The Mayor launched the Gender-based Violence Advisory Group in February 2020 to help the City build an adequate infrastructure to address all forms of gender-based violence, including human trafficking

•  The Senior Policy Advisor on Human Trafficking participates on several multi-disciplinary teams including: In January 2020, Mayor Lightfoot provided the Keynote address at the No Room for Trafficking training event for hundreds of hospitality workers across Chicago. The event was co-hosted by the IL Hotel and Lodging Association, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA)During the Stay Home Order, Mayor’s Office worked with the EOC to distribute information on human trafficking and domestic violence to families picking up food at CPS’ food sites.

  • Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force (CCHTTF)
  • Human Trafficking Multi-disciplinary Team (HT MDT)
  • Domestic Violence Multi-disciplinary Team (DVMDT)
  • Sexual Assault Multi-disciplinary team (SA MDT)
  • Sexual Assault Advisory Group (SAAG)
• In January 2020, Mayor Lightfoot provided the Keynote address at the No Room for Trafficking training event for hundreds of hospitality workers across Chicago. The event was co-hosted by the IL Hotel and Lodging Association, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA)
• During the Stay Home Order, Mayor’s Office worked with the Emergency Operation Center to distribute information on human trafficking and domestic violence to families picking up food at CPS’ food sites.
• During the NBA All-Star game, the United Center posted the Human Trafficking Notice throughout the building including restrooms.

• DFSS’ was awarded a three-year, $500,000 grant from the US Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to provide transitional housing to survivors of human trafficking

• Amended the Minimum Wage Ordinance to require language on human trafficking on the Chicago Labor Standards notice
• Passed an anti-retaliation ordinance during the pandemic that prohibits an employer from retaliating against a worker who is required to quarantine per public health guidance