Like many minor victims of sex trafficking, Sofia* felt isolated and unsure, but adding to her anxiety was her inability to speak English; she simply couldn’t understand the help offered by the Department of Child and Family Services. This is when the department reached out to Saving Innocence, a survivor assistance program supported in part by Shared Hope. Fortunately, our support in 2016 enabled them to hire their first bi-lingual case manager, Jasmine. Jasmine’s language and professional skills working with survivors were just what Sofia needed.
Sofia took the phone and Jasmine began talking with her, speaking in Spanish. She began to feel at ease as Jasmine explained the medical care that the DCFS social worker could offer. Jasmine encouraged her to get the medical check and Sofia finally agreed. Even though this interaction was brief, Sofia felt cared for because she was understood.
These moments of care happen each time case managers at Saving Innocence come to the aid of survivors of trafficking. Because of your financial support to Shared Hope you are a part of the care being offered. To see what that means to survivors of trafficking check out the video below: A Day in the Life of a Case Manager. It illustrates their work, and the role you play too as you support the efforts of our partner organizations.
This December your impact on the lives of survivors will be doubled through a generous matching grant. All gifts, up to $150,000 will be doubled if given before December 31st. Help us support survivors of trafficking by giving at this link.
Our passion to see child sex trafficking survivors restored and empowered is a central theme of our work. Not only do we help provide services through our partners; we work to affect the systems that serve trafficked youth at every level. Your support enables us to strengthen laws through our Protected Innocence Challenge so victims have avenues to comprehensive services, your support helps us research and promote best practices for serving trafficking survivors through our JuST Response Council, and you help us offer training to professionals interacting with trafficking survivors.
*Name changed to protect confidentiality.
