In 2020, we announced the release of our advanced legislative framework—the next step in state report cards! With the advanced framework, we shifted focus from criminal provisions to survivor-centered protections. All grades under the Protected Innocence Challenge remain the same as a separate project and can be viewed here. Learn more about our advanced framework here.

After 9 years of grades under the Protected Innocence Challenge framework, we saw incredible growth across the nation! When we began that project, the average grade was an F, but by 2019 the majority of states have achieved an A or B grade and no states were failing. During this timeframe, many states passed legislation focused on improving gaps in their criminal laws. However, a critical gap remained in states’ progress on enacting laws that improved victim protections. Our advanced framework shifts its perspective to highlight survivor-centered reforms that ensure victims are supported, vulnerable children and youth are protected, and prevention is prioritized. We are optimistic that states will raise their grade just as they did with our first grading project, the Protected Innocence Challenge!

Shared Hope’s Policy Team convenes several months before the release of the Report Cards to review and analyze enacted state legislation against the advanced legislative framework. This process allows the team to apply the same standards to every enacted bill to determine if it: (1) relates to one or more of the 40 Policy Goals; and, if so, whether it meets the Policy Goal(s). If the legislation does meet the Policy Goal(s), points will be given to that state. For many Policy Goals, even if a state has not fully accomplished the goal, the state can still receive partial credit for taking legislative steps toward accomplishing the Policy Goal.

The Report Cards do not analyze or grade non-statutory responses, such as regulation or agency policy or implementation. While we recognize the importance of implementation and enforcement, grading on statutory law provides a clear mechanism for evaluating policy goals across all states while ensuring that survivor-centered reforms are an enduring part of states’ service responses and represent a long-term commitment to addressing the needs of child and youth sex trafficking survivors. We are currently examining opportunities to collect, uplift, and share such practices, understanding that the most sustainable progress occurs when all stakeholders–survivors, communities, agencies, and legislators– are working in tandem to protect and support child and youth who have experienced exploitation.

Yes! States can receive up to 10 points of extra credit for policies that expand protections to child labor trafficking survivors and to youth 18+. This issue brief provides more information about how states can earn extra credit.

In developing the advanced framework in 2020, we convened over 200 field experts, including lived experience experts, to inform and guide the development of the framework. Before the Report Cards are released each year, we invite state Attorneys General, Governors, and statewide human trafficking coordinators to review and provide feedback on their state’s Analysis Report. We review all of the feedback we receive and, where appropriate as it relates to the advanced framework, we incorporate the feedback into the state’s Analysis Report.

Yes. In order to have time to accurately assess the impact of enacted legislation and allow time to seek vettor feedback on each state’s analysis report, we do not look at legislation that was enacted after August 1^st. Any legislation enacted after August 1^st that impacts the advanced legislative framework will be incorporated into the following year’s Analysis Report and grade.

Our hope is that you will use your State Analysis Report as a tool that will assist you in developing and advocating for better laws to support survivors! Our recommendations provide feedback on how state laws can be enacted or improved. In addition to the recommendations in the State Analysis Report, there are also issue briefs for each Policy Goal that include drafting considerations that you can share with your representatives.

If a new law is passed that relates to a Policy Goal, points will be given to that state. We utilize 40 Policy Goals to grade states on six Issue Areas.

You can send your legislators The Report Card on Child & Youth Sex Trafficking through this campaign that takes just a minute to complete. Fill in the form with your information, and we’ll send an email directly to your legislators explaining the project and how they can access their state score. You can also directly set up meetings with your state legislators and tell them about our Report Cards and your state’s grade.

Yes! Legislators and advocates can request a consultation with our policy team here.