Katherine Chon, Director, Office on Trafficking in Persons
Katherine Chon is the director of the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) and senior advisor on human trafficking at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). OTIP, part of HHS' Administration for Children and Families, develops strategies and implements programs to prevent trafficking, increase victim identification and access to services, and strengthen the health and well-being of survivors. OTIP also works with government and nongovernment partners to raise public awareness, identify research priorities, and inform policy recommendations to strengthen the nation’s response to human trafficking.
Katherine serves on multiple federal working groups focused on human trafficking, violence against women, child exploitation, and resilient supply chains. She is the federal executive officer of public-private collaborations, including the National Advisory Committee on the Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States and the Joint Forced Labor Working Group.
Katherine holds a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School.
Kelly Peralta, Deputy Director, Office on Trafficking in Persons
As deputy director of the Office on Trafficking in Persons, Kelly utilizes her experience in strategic planning, communications, and operations to support services for individuals who have experienced human trafficking, training and technical assistance efforts, public awareness, prevention strategies, and cross-Administration for Children and Families (ACF) partnerships.
Before joining ACF, Kelly spent 11 years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), most recently serving as director of the Office of Communications and Strategy in NIH’s Office of Human Resources. She began her career in the nonprofit sector, working in development and operations at various organizations with public health and human services missions.
Kelly holds a Master of Public Administration with a focus on health policy from American University and a Bachelor of Arts in communication from the State University of New York at Geneseo.
Organizational Structure
OTIP operates through three programmatic divisions focused on prevention, protection, and research and policy.
Prevention Division
The Prevention Division strengthens the ability of frontline professionals to prevent and respond to human trafficking by providing training, technical assistance, and funding to local programs. It also raises public awareness through the Look Beneath the Surface Campaign and other outreach efforts, while facilitating regional coordination and collaboration.
Protection Division
The Protection Division develops, funds, and manages programs that connect individuals who have experienced human trafficking to comprehensive support services, ensuring they receive the resources they need to recover and rebuild their lives.
Research and Policy Division
The Research and Policy Division collects and analyzes data, guides system development, and coordinates program evaluation and research. It also monitors policy developments and ensures that anti-trafficking strategies are evidence-based and data-driven.