Human Trafficking

Prostitution. Sexual exploitation. Sex slavery.

Portland has one of the highest incident rates per capita for the sexual victimization of women, teens, and children in the United States. We believe that God has placed His Church in the center of this moral devastation to be agents of His grace in bringing healing and freedom to those trapped in, and by, this depravity. We know that local churches working together can significantly impact this destructive victimization.

A Collaborative Anti-Human Trafficking Movement

Although many churches and groups have taken up the cause against sex trafficking, no one church or organization can solve this problem. Significant help can only come through a unified effort. These groups are doing great work and Compassion Connect seeks to support them by helping people connect to them. Compassion Connect is committed to helping coordinate work and providing the needed information for the Church to serve as Jesus’ body to bring His love and freedom to the captives.

Advocacy
Advocacy

Advocacy Scale

Advocacy seeks to change policy by creating and changing laws, affecting public opinion, and strengthening the community factors and judicial systems that will deter trafficking. Advocates against human trafficking can engage in advocacy by meeting with a legislator, writing an editorial for a newspaper, signing a petition, and engaging in other activities that raise awareness and promote change. Legislation against human trafficking can be directed at the local level or be targeted at the international countries who desire a working relationship with the United States. Most importantly, advocates pray to the One who is the defender of the helpless.

Get Involved
  1. The Oregon Center for Christian Voices - http://occv.org/get-involved - info@occv.org - 503.222.2072
  2. International Justice Mission - http://www.ijm.org - contact@ijm.org - 703.465.5495
  3. Polaris Project - http://www.polarisproject.org - NHTRC@polarisproject.org - 202.745.1001
  4. Girls Educational and Mentoring Services - http://gems-girls.org - 212.926.8089
  5. Abolition International - http://abolitioninternational.org - 615.356.0946  
  6. ECPAT-USA - www.ecpatusa.org - 718.935.9192  
  7. Global Health Promise - www.globalhealthpromise.org - www.taskforce.org - 503.243.5848 
  8. OAASIS - www.oaasisoregon.org - 503.274.1179
  9. Safety & Justice - www.safetyandjustice.org - 503.335.8449    
  10. Youth Rights & Justice - www.jrplaw.org - 503.232.2540
  11. YWCA-Yolanda House - www.ywca-pdx.org - 503.294.7400   

 

 

Aftercare
Aftercare

Aftercare Icon

After care programs attempt to address both the immediate and long- term needs of each victim of trauma. These services may include residential facilities, medial and mental health care, education, job training and economic development programs. After care or restoration programs work to help the victims of oppression to rebuild their lives and respond to the complex emotional and physical needs that are often the result of abuse.

Get Involved
  1. The Soroptimist Survivor Network - Meets the 4th Sunday of every month info@nwcat.org
  2. Compassion 2 One - www.compassion2one.org - 425.681.9871
  3. Door to Grace - www.doortograce.org - info@doortograce.org
  4. Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC) - www.sarcoregon.org - volunteer@sarcoregon.org
  5. LifeWorks NW - www.lifeworksnw.org  
  6. Outreach & Support to Special Immigrant Populations - www.catholiccharitiesoregon.org - cc.ossip@gmail.com - 503.542.2855 ext. 40
  7. Compassion First - www.compassionfirst.org - inquire@compassionfirst.org
  8. upstARTpdx - http://upstartpdx.org - upstartpdx@gmail.com       
  9. CARES Northwest - www.caresnw.org - emacdone@lhs.org 
  10. Bradley Angle - http://bradleyangle.org - 503.232.1528   
  11. Imago Dei - www.imagodeicommunity.com - 503.231.5096  
  12. Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service - www.mvwcs.com - 503.378.1572
  13. Morrison Child & Family Services -  www.morrisoncenter.org - 503.258.4200 
  14. New Avenues For Youth - www.newavenues.org - 503.224.4339
  15. Outside In - www.outsidein.org - 503.535.3800
  16. Portland Women's Crisis Line - http://pwcl.org - 503.232.9751     

 

 

Awareness
Awareness

Awareness Icon

Organizations that focus on awareness are seeking to educate the public on the scope of human trafficking locally or internationally. Awareness is based upon the premise that you need to know the problem to solve it. Awareness encourages the public “to look beneath the surface” and become cognizant of the trafficked victims in your own environment or outraged at the world wide injustices that allow this to happen. Awareness work can focus on speaking engagements, workshops, trainings, social and internet networking, posting flyers, hosting special events, and other creative efforts to get the word out concerning the 27 million men, women and children today who are held in slavery.

Get Involved
  1. Oregonians Against the Trafficking of Humans (OATH) - www.oregonoath.org - oregonoath@mcso.us  
  2. Stop Child Trafficking Now - www.sctnow.org - portland@sctnow.com - 212.333.7286
  3. The Exile Poster Project - www.exileposterproject.com - lisa@imagodeicommunity.com - 503-231-5096
  4. International Justice Mission - www.ijm.org
  5. AWARE - www.awareprogram.net - 360-699-2384  
  6. Not For Sale - www.notforsalecampaign.org - 650.560.9990  
  7. Shoe Revolt - www.shoerevolt.com 
  8. Soroptimist - www.soroptimistpdx.org - http://nwcat.org    

 

 

Prevention
Prevention

Prevention Icon

Effective action to prevent trafficking in persons requires a comprehensive approach, including measures to prevent trafficking, to protect victims of such trafficking and to prosecute traffickers. The root causes of trafficking are multifaceted. Human trafficking has grown to become such a large industry because of the seemingly unlimited supply of vulnerable victims and the high demand for sexual and labor exploitation. The “supply factors” relate to a person’s vulnerability to be trafficked. For the purposes of this notebook, organizations that deal with helping and empowering vulnerable individuals who are at a much greater risk of being exploited by others will be considered prevention agencies.

Get Involved
  1. Pure Desire Ministries International - http://www.puredesire.org - info@puredesire.org - 503.489.0235
  2. Janus Youth Programs - www.janusyouth.org - 503.233.6090
  3. Adorned In Grace - http://adornedingrace.blogspot.com/ - linda@compassionconnect.com 
  4. Mending the Soul Ministries - www.mendingthesoul.org - 866.535.5044
  5. Transitional Youth - www.transitionalyouth.org - 503.350.7268
  6. HomePlate - www.homeplateyouth.org - info@homeplateyouth.org - 503.867.7762  
  7. GirlStrength - www.portlandonline.com/police/Girlstrength - 503.823.0239   
  8. Junior League of Portland - www.juniorleagueofportland.org - 503.877.4557
  9. Mosaic's Anti-Human Trafficking Initiative - www.mosaicportland.org - 503.287.6789   
  10. Transition Projects - www.tprojects.org - 503.280.4700  

  

 

Rescue
Rescue

Rescue Icon

 

Strictly speaking organizations that focus on rescue are those groups that actively work to free victims from slavery. Often they work alongside government officials to rescue victims from those who are enslaving them. In addition to those group that do direct rescuing, we have listed organizations that offer hospi- tality or other social services to vulnerable populations as rescue agencies. These programs can be the key in “looking beneath the surface” to identify trafficked persons while at the same time they can offering the services necessary to provide freedom from their situation.

Get Involved
  1. Rahab's Sisters - www.rahabs-sisters.org   
  2. Tomorrow's Hope -  www.fathershouseportland.com - info@fathershouseportland.org - 971.230.0030
  3. Called To Rescue - www.calledtorescue.org - info.calledtorescue@gmail.com   
  4. Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force - http://oregonsatf.org - 503.990.6541  
  5. Raphael House - http://raphaelhouse.com - 503.222.6507
  6. Salvation Army-White Shield - www.usw.salvationarmy.org - 503.239.1248   

 

 

Shelter
Shelter

Shelter Icon

There is a shelter crisis for trafficked victims in the United States.  The Home Foundation estimates that there are less than 100 beds nationally for an estimated 100,000 identified traffic victims annually. Placing trafficked victims in existing homeless or domestic violence shelters is not an ad- equate solution due to the unique needs of this population.

Traffickers often search for their escaped victims (which they view as lost income), and may track the victim to the shelter, putting the other shelter residents at risk. Also, trafficking victims (especially children) may need a higher level of security than a homeless or domestic violence shelter can provide. Finally, trafficking victims have ex- perienced a unique set of traumas which other shelters may not be equipped to address.

Get Involved
  1. Door to Grace - http://www.doortograce.org - info@doortograce.org
  2. Shared Hope International - www.sharedhope.org - 1-866-HER-LIFE