When you think about a natural disaster like an earthquake, tsunami, flood, or tornado, you probably picture its physical destruction. You might think of collapsed buildings, families sleeping in shelters, or survivors wading through flooded streets. However, as many who have lived through natural disasters know, the actual emergency event is only a piece of the devastation that natural disasters bring. There …
Aging Out of Foster Care
Any wise elder, self-help book, or motivational speaker will tell you that in order to succeed, you have to have a plan. You have to begin with the end in mind. But, how can you plan for a successful future when you’re not sure what the next week, month, or year will hold for you in the most fundamental areas …
What do 437,500 Kids in the US have in Common?
Every two minutes, a child in the United States enters foster care. In 2017, there were 437,500 children in foster care, and that number is rising every day. May is National Foster Care Month. It’s a time when community members, parents, child welfare professionals, and YOU can engage in a national conversation about the issue of foster care in the United States. …
5 Reasons Foster Youth Become Human Trafficking Victims
Why are foster youth more likely to be trafficked and what can you do to help? In 2013, the FBI conducted a nationwide raid in 70 cities. That night, 60% of the youth they rescued from sex traffickers were missing from foster care or from group homes. In 2007, a study of 2,250 child victims of trafficking revealed that 75% …
Knowledge is Power
From Francis Bacon to Thomas Jefferson – many wise people have understood that knowledge is power. What are you learning this week? If you’ve been following along with our blog, you know we are passionate about learning all that we can about human trafficking and related issues. We also know that often this is a moving target. Will you join …
Why Word Choice Matters: Human Trafficking, Smuggling, and more
Human Trafficking, Human Smuggling, Migration, Immigration, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers are labels for people that are often and easily confused. Explaining any one of these terms requires an in-depth look at its context in the United States and around the world. It’s important to understand the differences between these terms for two reasons. First, these terms are used so often …
Knowledge is Power
Learning IS doing something. As the saying goes, “Knowledge is power!” In order to prevent human trafficking from ever happening in the first place, we must be aware that it exists. We must also continually learn about the many changing facets and causes of this evil crime. But perhaps, most important after learning about the issue, is understanding what is already …
Human Trafficking 101: Who are the Victims?
We are working through our Human Trafficking 101 blog series, and this is part three. If you missed the first two posts in this series, make sure to go back and read part one, Uncovering Myths and Intricacies and part two, Human Trafficking Happens Everywhere. And now, for the rest of the story: Where does it all begin for a human trafficking victim? The …
Human Trafficking 101: It Happens Everywhere
Human trafficking happens everywhere. Yes. Even in the United States. Many Americans feel positive that human trafficking only happens “somewhere else” – like in Thailand, India, or maybe Mexico. Somewhere “over there.” It’s hard to fathom that human trafficking takes place on U.S. soil, too. As with any atrocious crime, it’s easy to operate under the false assumption that it …
Human Trafficking 101: Uncovering Myths and Intricacies
Human trafficking. The very phrase seems incomprehensible, and yet the sale of souls in our world today is a reality that is as widespread as it is horrifying. Have you seen news stories about human trafficking, but wondered what it means? Have you learned a bit from a movie or poster, but when someone asks you to explain human trafficking …