The Pennsylvania Alliance Against Trafficking in Humans (PAATH) is a collaborative effort of non-profit and non-governmental organizations working together to ensure that Pennsylvania’s comprehensive anti-human trafficking legislation – Act 105 – is implemented uniformly throughout the Commonwealth. PAATH was formed in response to the fiscal note being cut from the legislation prior to being passed in 2014. Because no one agency received funding to ensure the implementation of Act 105, PAATH works collaboratively toward this purpose. PAATH’s main goal is to ensure the uniform implementation of Act 105 throughout the Commonwealth, including the prevention, protection, and prosecution provisions in the Act.
To achieve this goal, PAATH’s Steering Committee, which is administered by CSE Institute Director Shea Rhodes, oversees the work of four subcommittees: the Public Awareness Committee, the Training Committee, the Victim Services Committee, and the Labor Committee. Michelle Cooper, of YWCA York, chairs the Public Awareness Committee. The Public Awareness Committee is responsible for developing a public awareness campaign regarding human trafficking, including the remedies that are available to victims and survivors under Pennsylvania law.
The Training Committee is co-chaired by Shea Rhodes, of the CSE Institute, and Heather Evans, of the Valley Against Sex Trafficking. The Training Committee is responsible for training community groups and law enforcement on Act 105, and acts as a resource to PAATH members to ensure each PAATH organization is training its members with a consistent message. In addition, the Training Committee keeps track of the types of organizations and audiences who are learning about human trafficking and the law addressing human trafficking in Pennsylvania.
The Victim Services Committee is co-chaired by Arielle Curry, of the Salvation Army’s New Day to Stop Trafficking Program, and Rhonda Hendrickson, of YWCA Greater Harrisburg. The Victim Services Committee is responsible for creating a network of human trafficking service providers throughout the Commonwealth.
Lastly, Meredith Rapkin, of Friends of Farmworkers, chairs the Labor Committee. The Labor Committee is responsible for disseminating information about Act 105 across labor trafficking organizations, including providing community education and support for labor trafficking victims.
The CSE Institute has been spearheading the administration of PAATH since its formation in 2014. This includes providing logistical staffing and administrative support for PAATH’s initiatives, and acting as a clearinghouse for all implementation efforts made by and on behalf of PAATH. The CSE Institute’s goal in administering PAATH is to ensure all information about Act 105 is disseminated in a cohesive and uniform fashion. This includes organizing and overseeing trainings throughout the Commonwealth, referrals to victim services organizations, and working on the creation of a statewide public awareness campaign to inform the public of Act 105 and its relevant provisions. Though each committee has different tasks, the CSE Institute works to ensure all messaging pertaining to Act 105 is consistent. For example, the CSE Institute recently agreed to conduct a survey for the Victim Services Committee. The project will involve creating and disseminating a survey to victim services organizations to determine which organizations are human trafficking trauma-informed. The results of the survey will aid the Victim Services Committee in its goal to create a master referral list for victims of human trafficking throughout the Commonwealth.
With the recent passing of the one-year anniversary of Act 105, PAATH is looking forward to the future with renewed energy to pursue its goals. The CSE Institute will continue administering PAATH as it progresses into its second year, and looks forward to PAATH’s continued success.