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Home>Latest News

August 10, 2016 by Guest

The Role of Child Advocacy Centers in Sex Trafficking Cases

By Iona Rudisill, Baltimore Child Abuse Center

I became a nurse because when I was ten years old I went to a doctor who missed the signs, and that was my last chance at telling someone about what was going on in my life. My last thought was, ‘Maybe somebody could rescue me. Maybe I could have a different life.’ When that guy missed the signs, it devastated me…I just decided what would have made a difference for me—and that was the medical professionals.
–Jen Spry, RN and survivor of human trafficking

The sex trafficking of juveniles is now recognized as a critical public health concern.  The burden of identifying, referring and treating victims requires multidisciplinary education for health care providers and a coordinated community response, one that Child Advocacy Centers nationwide are prepared to provide.   In 1987, Baltimore Child Abuse Center (BCAC) was the first Child Advocacy Center (CAC) developed in the State of Maryland, and for decades BCAC has been providing a resource to the community with a comprehensive approach for youth who have personally experienced sexual trauma and witnessed various forms of violence.  BCAC is an accredited Child Advocacy Center that understands when providing services to youth who have been trafficked or are highly vulnerable to being trafficked, a holistic response (i.e. forensic interviews, treatment, advocacy, healthcare) is needed – from prevention to aftercare for youth and their families.  Given their background and experience in trauma-focused and multidisciplinary approaches, CACs can provide an excellent healthcare response for DMST cases.  BCAC as well as some other CACs have board-certified forensic pediatricians as part of their multidisciplinary team. This forensic pediatrician collaborates with medical and non-medical colleagues regarding multiple public health care needs such as malnutrition, tattoo removal, forced pregnancies, substance abuse, mental health diagnosis, visionary problems, dental care and burns. These healthcare risks can leave a permanent scar on the life of a youth, if mishandled or overlooked.  Therefore, Child Advocacy Centers are an essential component in providing a necessary healthcare response in the best interest of the youth by performing such medical procedures as non-acute forensic examinations and testing for STIs, as well as healthcare education and necessary referrals.

Collection of forensic evidence in acute cases (sexual violations occurring within 72 hours) may be challenging in the CAC setting due to the extensive time involved in conducting these evaluations and the need for physicians who are comfortable with and experienced in doing these exams.  Even if CACs do not have the personnel, space or time to complete these acute examinations, being able to refer to another healthcare provider is a necessity.  BCAC has addressed this through an active partnership with Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD that is equipped to provide Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations (SAFE) for acute sexual abuse and assault cases, which would include DMST.  Therefore, Law Enforcement and Child Protective Services investigators could transport a child who has received a forensic interview to Mercy for a forensic examination, which would provide the space, equipment and personnel to collect necessary evidence for their investigations.

The healthcare response in a CAC helps to provide consistency for a youth who has experienced DMST because they won’t have to travel to different places or be interviewed by different professionals, who all want to provide the necessary care for them.  Therefore, ensuring that CACs have the critical resources and healthcare providers on staff who have knowledge about the multiple dynamics involved in these case investigations is essential.  Overall, it is vital that health professionals of all branches receive the training and education needed to address the complexities of human trafficking.

In response to this need, Shared Hope International recently released i:CARE, a guide for health care providers to recognize and care for victims of domestic minor sex trafficking. Resources like this one are so important in advancing the knowledge needed to improve the responses to juvenile sex trafficking.  If the doctor who missed the signs in Jen Spry, the survivor quoted above, had been trained, and had the support of other trained professionals in the medical community, she might have been saved from further abuse and might have received the specialized treatment victims of child sex trafficking require.

i:CARE was written in collaboration with physicians, psychologists, nurses, professors, experts and survivors of trafficking, and is accompanied by four short training videos. Visit the Shared Hope Store online to purchase your copy of i:CARE today.

June 28, 2016 by Samantha

Human Trafficking Awareness Week in Mesa, AZ

The Mesa City Council announced a Proclamation establishing June 26-July 2 as Human Trafficking Awareness Week in Mesa, Arizona.

Mesa law enforcement and officials have taken up the fight against human trafficking, working with Shared Hope and the Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network to tackle and prevent exploitation in the City. In 2015 the Mesa Police Department initiated Project Blue Heat to identify and rescue child sex trafficking victims, and to arrest predators.

In 2016, the Police Department created the Human Exploitation and Trafficking Squad (HEaT) and zeroed in on the traffickers and buyers as the offenders.

Thank you to Mayor John Giles for putting your hand to proclaiming Human Trafficking Awareness Week!

The Proclamation -Human Trafficking Awareness Week Proclamation

proclaim

June 26, 2016 by Guest

The Faith in Action Kit Opens Doors

From Beth in California

As an Ambassador for Shared Hope International in the Bay Area of California, I have found that those most interested in having awareness presentations are church groups, so the Faith in Action Kits resonates with their interest.

I was privileged to have been sponsored by the United Methodist Women (UMW), California-Nevada Region, to have a SHI booth at the worldwide UMC General Conference in Portland this past April. My relationship with the United Methodist Church began about a year and a half ago.  Within five minutes of my arrival at the conference Shared Hope booth, the Bishop for that region showed up. We had met only briefly before, but Bishop Brown began our conversation with, “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”  Kismet! And music to my ears!

I showed him the brochures and resources at our table, including the Faith in Action kit.  Then I began to load him up with an armful of materials as I shared stories of our work.  I knew Linda Smith wouldn’t mind if I gifted him with her book, Renting Lacy.

He was very interested in the faith-based materials and informed me that, upon his retirement this fall, he plans to train pastors using the Faith in Action kits to effectively speak and preach on the issue of sex trafficking.  My reply?

“Well then, give me back all that stuff and I will MAIL YOU every single tool you will need to in order to do that, including a Faith In Action Kit.  And I will come and train you!”

He is going to get permission from his leadership and then we’ll get started.  I can’t tell you how exciting this is!

At the moment of this writing, I’m here at the California Nevada United Methodist Church Annual Conference working a Shared Hope booth, and Bishop Brown just walked by and shook my hand and thanked me for the packet! The new Faith in Action kit opens doors for us and all we have to do is walk through!

June 24, 2016 by Guest

What Could I Do to Make a Difference?

A Guest Post from Shannon in Virginia.

When I became an Ambassador of Hope, I was passionate about spreading awareness of trafficking in my native state of West Virginia. Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by rich natural and cultural resources, it is easy to feel you are far away from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, West Virginia struggles with real world problems, such as severe poverty, drug use and unemployment. I grew up knowing the state I loved lagged behind others in economic growth and the health of its citizens. As I became involved in combatting sex trafficking, it broke my heart to find out that West Virginia also lagged behind in its laws to protect victims and bring justice to the people who exploit them.

2As I began encouraging citizens and legislators to ask for stronger laws to protect their children, I have been honored to work with advocates and everyday citizens to educate West Virginians about the topic and ways that they can take action. In a recent visit, I spoke to a roller derby group about warning signs of trafficking while they are on the road traveling to competitions, worked with a women’s organization to hold a community screening of our prevention film Chosen, and was a guest on a radio show to talk about how West Virginia can strengthen its laws.

I was especially humbled to speak to a group of law enforcement officers, child and victim advocates in my hometown. These men and women are on the front lines of the issue and work hard to protect vulnerable populations from people who hurt them. It was exciting to meet the West Virginia State Police corporal (pictured here on the right) that had successfully worked a case I often use to illustrate that trafficking does not have to involve money, but that it can be anything of value exchanged for sexual acts. In this case, a man solicited elementary-age victims over the Internet and lured them with Ugg boots and cigarettes.  The perpetrator received a long prison sentence and will be unable to harm other children in the community. Read the story here.

Though West Virginia struggles with issues that make it vulnerable to trafficking, it has heroes like this officer, concerned citizens and legislators that continue to sponsor and push for stronger laws against trafficking. They all recognize that there is a need for awareness and are constantly working to ensure West Virginia lives up to its state motto, “Mountaineers Are Always Free.” I am happy to do my small part.

June 14, 2016 by Guest

Unforgettable and Life-Changing: My Experience as a Volunteer with Shared Hope International

A Post from Stephanie Tynan.

tynanNo life is worth another man’s profit.

I had heard about sex-trafficking before I stumbled upon Shared Hope International’s website; I knew that this devastating crime existed in our world. But what I didn’t know, was how sex-trafficking is an international, multi-billion-dollar industry that is so corrupt, so heartless and so gut-wrenching. It strips the life and soul from the victims it captures and so many of the ruthless perpetrators who profit off of human life are hiding behind the shadows, without punishment.

Volunteering with Shared Hope not only gave me the chance to dedicate my time to an organization with a generous mission, but it taught me more about sex-trafficking: the signs to recognize sex-trafficking and ways to help prevent it from happening to someone I know. The employees and volunteers at Shared Hope exude selfless support, love, and encouragement to help the women and children who were or are affected by the evil that this awful crime haunts them with. The staff are friendly and they truly care about the well-being of the people who suffer from sex-trafficking. They shared their resources with me and their knowledge about the issue. I thank them for their kindness to me and for what they do to help others.

I was not aware of how incredible of an organization Shared Hope International is and I am so glad I stumbled across their website that day. Shared Hope International is doing miraculous things. I feel so honored and appreciative that I was able to work with Shared Hope and to join their mission to help end this devastating crime.

Thank you Shared Hope International.

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