CDSS Programs TCVAP Benefits and Services

Benefits and Services

TCVAP provides critical benefits and services to non-citizen victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes.  These services include:

  • Cash assistance
  • Food assistance
  • Medical assistance
  • Social services
  • Employment services  

These services are in place to assist the client with social adjustment and facilitate self-sufficiency while they are working with law enforcement on their case, working with a service provider, or seeking immigration relief.  TCVAP benefits and services are also available to the clients eligible family members.  Clients must meet income and resource requirements for each benefit.

TCVAP benefits and services mirror those that are available to Refugees but are state-funded.  Senate Bill 1569 (Chapter 672, Statutes of 2006) extended eligibility for benefits and services to noncertified victims of human trafficking and other serious crimes to the same extent as refugees, effective January 1, 2007. 

Eligibility requirements

For more information and eligibility requirements for the state-funded Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP), Please refer to the All County Information Notice No. ACINI-07-15 (January 29, 2015) and the Regulations and Policy Webpage.

Certified Victims of Human Trafficking

Certified trafficking victims and their eligible family members may receive benefits and services as provided under the TVPA and Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 (TVPRA) to the same extent as refugees.  These benefits and services are federally-funded and individuals must be certified as trafficking victims by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).  To receive certification, victims of trafficking must be willing to assist with the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases and have completed a bona fide application for a T Visa or have received continued presence status from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in order to contribute to the prosecution of human traffickers.

Once they have met these certification requirements, victims of trafficking will receive an official letter of certification from the ORR.  Eligible family members of trafficking victims must hold a Derivative T Visa.  Children victims of trafficking under the age of 18 do not need to be certified in order to receive services and benefits.  The ORR issues a letter stating that a child is a victim of a severe form of trafficking and is therefore eligible for benefits.

Benefits and services available to certified trafficking victims and their eligible family members include cash assistance, food assistance, medical assistance, employment services and social services.

Unaccompanied Minor Victims of Human Trafficking or other Serious Crimes

Minors who are in the U.S. and are identified as a trafficking victim by the ORR are eligible to participate in the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) program.  The URM program provides foster care and resettlement services to minors who are refugees, asylees, crime or trafficking victims, and are in the U.S. alone without a parent or close relative willing or able to care for them.  In California, minors are served in the URM program through Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County (Northern Region) and Crittenton Services for Families and Children in Orange County (Southern Region) who works in partnership with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services.