Saint Francis Ministries has always been dedicated to the care and safety of young people, so it should be no surprise that we have a particular interest in protecting children from human trafficking.
January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has designated this year’s theme as: Activate Connections to Prevent Human Trafficking.
As experts in child welfare, Saint Francis understands well the importance of strong human and community connections in keeping families together and children safe.
According to DHHS, “Human trafficking cannot be prevented by any one individual, community, organization, or government. To improve the lives of those we serve, we must activate connections throughout the systems that impact individual, family, community, and societal health and well-being. When we partner to prevent, we can enhance our efforts to keep everyone safe from human trafficking.”
Multiple factors contribute towards the trafficking of youth, including poverty, abuse, neglect, and substance use. By addressing these factors, it’s possible to prevent a child from being trafficked. It’s also possible for youth to recover from the trauma of trafficking and go on to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. But they need help, and Saint Francis can provide that help.
We can’t do it alone, though. Again, it takes family, community, and societal connections to keep kids safe from human trafficking predation.
Is there room in your life to learn as you can about human trafficking to help protect children and youth from servitude? Is there room in your year to support our efforts to keep children safe?
We’ll talk more about human trafficking this month to help raise much needed awareness. We’ll also share how Saint Francis helps safely remove youth from trafficking situations and set them upon the path towards healing and hope.
