Salvation Army Services to Trafficking Survivors
The Salvation Army (TSA) is committed to meeting the needs of human trafficking survivors, regardless of their country of origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation or age. This page provides an overview of TSA service-related activities and will be updated periodically as these efforts unfold.
Direct Service Programs
This section lists only formalized programs designed to serve human trafficking survivors. Additional Salvation Army sites across the nation have expressed a willingness or desire to serve victims. Therefore, if services are needed in a particular area, please follow the instructions for trafficking emergencies.
Central United States
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The Salvation Army's Trafficking Outreach Program Initiative Against Human Trafficking (STOP-IT): This program was established in 2006 to combat all forms of human trafficking. Since the program’s inception, trained Outreach Workers have successfully supported the safe exit of trafficking victims from their life-threatening circumstances. The three program objectives of STOP-IT include: outreach to victims of trafficking, providing support and planning to assist in safe exit from trafficking; training to community service providers regarding trafficking; and raising public awareness on trafficking indicators. For more information, visit their website at www.sa-stopit.org |
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Wellspring: In Omaha, Nebraska, TSA operates the Wellspring program which provides support, education, and advocacy for women, men, and children affected by sex trafficking and prostitution. The services provided at Wellspring are designed using a holistic approach which includes group therapy, case management, individual, and family therapy, limited material assistance, monthly outings, transportation and referrals. Wellspring also provides care and support for the children of prostituted persons.
Eastern United States
New Community: New Community supports women exiting prostitution. It provides case management, crisis counseling, advocacy, biblical instruction, recovery and support groups, a daytime drop-in center, on-street and in-prison outreach to help women escape prostitution by developing a new community, free from exploitation.
Ohio: The Salvation Army in Central Ohio manages the Central Ohio Rescue and Restore Coalition, a network of over 50 faith based, social services, law enforcement and medical organizations working together to combat human trafficking in Ohio. Through the work of the Coalition, The Salvation Army provides training on human trafficking, holds an annual conference, conducts public awareness events, works with law enforcement, supports the passage of strong anti-trafficking legislation and coordinates a matrix of local services for trafficked persons. In addition to managing the coalition, The Salvation Army is a key provider of comprehensive case management services for victims of trafficking in Central Ohio.
Southern United States
Florida: The Florida Division of TSA has been heavily involved in the fight against human trafficking. They are active participants in coalition and human task force meetings. In addition, they have allowed the use of their buildings both for community meetings and as office space for regional representatives of the Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Florida has sheltered several victims of human trafficking, many of which have obtained Continued Presence, found jobs and have moved into their own apartments. TSA has been the recipient of awards from the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, the latest recognition coming in the form of the Freedom Award. The Salvation Army has provided guidance and referrals to several groups that are looking for direction in this area, as well as arranged for speakers at events in the state. The Salvation Army Florida Division is committed to the fight against human trafficking and will continue to assist in everyway possible to eradicate this blight on society.
Western United States
From 2005 to 2009, The Salvation Army Western Territory has served over 300 domestic and foreign victims of labor and sex trafficking in ten Western states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. In 2005, TSA developed a large-scale victim service program called NETS (Network of Emergency Trafficking Services). NETS received a 4-year, $107,147 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. NETS was the first regional approach to trafficking victim services, covering most of the Western United States. It allowed for intensive proactive efforts in 4 cities: Denver, Las Vegas, Anchorage and El Paso.
From 2006-2008, TSA received additional funding from the Department of Justice for anti-trafficking programs in Las Vegas, Hawaii, Alaska and Orange County, CA. All of these programs are direct services programs dedicated to providing comprehensive services to the victims of human trafficking.
A key part of these efforts was the establishment of multi-disciplinary task forces in various sites. Orange County (CA), Hawaii, Las Vegas, El Paso and Alaska worked closely with their respective task forces and Colorado had already established a close anti-trafficking task force through state legislation. All the task forces are involved in services to victims, public awareness, and training and development of protocols to guide the coordinated response to victims.
NETS established The Salvation Army Western Territory Trafficking Council. The purpose of this council is to promote and support the work of TSA in preventing human trafficking and in achieving the freedom, health and well-being of its survivors. Although the funding for NETS has ended, The Salvation Army continues to serve victims throughout the western United States.
The Salvation Army is also a member of the Arizona League to End Regional Trafficking (ALERT), a collaborative effort to combat human trafficking across the state. The Salvation Army meets the basic needs of trafficking victims found in Arizona, such as the need for shelter, clothing and food.