Legal Services of Northern Virginia recently expanded its representation areas to include survivors of human trafficking. Staff attorney, Alexandra (“Alex”) Lydon, and Equal Justice Works Crime Victims Justice Corps Fellow, Alina Launchbaugh, are focused on creating awareness of the existence of human trafficking (both sex trafficking and labor trafficking) in Northern Virginia and the services LSNV can provide to survivors. LSNV can assist human trafficking survivors with all of their civil legal issues outside of immigration services (LSNV is partnered with Tahirih Justice Center to assist survivors with immigration matters, and Northern Virginia Family Service on their mental health matters). Such civil legal services include:
- education advocacy
- employment law and wage claims,
- housing matters,
- records procurement,
- criminal record sealing and expungements,
- public benefits assistance,
- divorce, custody, child/spousal support,
- protective orders
Although Alex and Alina are based out of LSNV’s Alexandria location, they can meet with clients in any of LSNV’s offices throughout Northern Virginia. In addition to survivor representation and assistance, Alex and Alina have been traveling throughout Northern Virginia giving trainings on what human trafficking is, how to spot it in your community, and what resources are available to trafficking survivors. They have had the opportunity to present to a variety of service providers and partner with Northern Virginia Family Service to meet with a number of area public school social workers. Upcoming trainings will reach even more service providers and social workers, as well as high school students and law enforcement personnel. Alex and Alina hope that these trainings will expand the area’s knowledge on human trafficking issues and alert community members to resources available to trafficking survivors. Alex and Alina are passionate about their work and look forward to being a resource for trafficking survivors throughout Northern Virginia.
