Providing direct assistance and case management to survivors of human trafficking, this program also aims to educate the community about human trafficking, as well as how to identify individuals who are being forced or coerced for the purpose of sexual exploitation or labor.

We recognize the primary role each survivor has in exiting their own trafficking experience and our role in coming alongside survivors to provide supportive services on an individualized basis. This approach restores power, which is vital to achieving self-sufficiency. We also offer My Life My Choice, a ten-session, nationally acclaimed prevention and support group curriculum that is used to educate and empower girl-identifying youth ages 11-18. Victims come from all demographics and include young children, teenagers, men and women. The Bakhita Empowerment Initiative works with willing clients who are seeking ways to emancipate themselves and begin a new life, self-empowered and independent.

Human trafficking is a form of interpersonal violence that involves exploitation for the purposes of commercial sexual activities or labor or services, through the use control to force or compel victims to engage in those activities.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) defines “Severe Forms of Trafficking in Persons” as:

Sex trafficking:

Commercial sex act induced by force, fraud or coercion, or in which person performing the act is under age 18. The term ‘‘commercial sex act’’ means any sex act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person. Exception to rule of control: When minors (under 18) are exploited in commercial sex, there is no need to show force, fraud or coercion

Labor trafficking:

Debt bondage means a person is under the control of their debtor as a security for debt, if the value of those services as reasonably assessed is not applied toward the liquidation of the debt or the length and nature of those services are not respectively limited and defined.

Involuntary Servitude is a condition of servitude induced by any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that, if the person did not enter into or continue in such condition, that person or another person would suffer serious harm or physical restraint.

22 U.S.C. §  7102, Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. (2000). Sec. 201–103, 106th U.S. Congress.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-106hr3244enr/pdf/BILLS-106hr3244enr.pdf

25 typologies of human trafficking in the United States
Each typology has a unique business model, trafficker & victim profile, recruitment strategies and control mechanisms that facilitate that particular type of trafficking.

Polaris. (2017). The typology of modern slavery: Defining sex and labor trafficking in the United States. https://polarisproject.org/typology

You may have encountered trafficking victims without realizing their circumstances. It is important to know the “red flags” so that if you encounter a victim, you will be prepared with information to offer help or make a report on their behalf.

The following information on case identification provides a brief background on human trafficking, as well as tips for identifying and assisting victims. A trafficking victim may look like many of the people you see daily. You can help victims of trafficking get the help they need by looking beneath the surface for evidence of being controlled and exploited for either labor or commercial sex.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 provides for prevention, protection and prosecution in trafficking cases. The protections provided to victims of human trafficking include, but are not limited to:
  • For foreign national victims: Applying for a T Visa, which provides temporary legal immigration status for up to three years, with the possibility of applying for permanent residency.
  • For foreign national victims: Ability to receive certification from the Department of Health and Human Services upon receipt of a T Visa, thereby allowing the victim to qualify for public benefits, such as those received by refugees.

Rights of trafficking victims in Kentucky include:

  1. They are not culpable for crimes committed as a direct result of their victimization.
  2. They should not be detained in facilities inappropriate to their status as crime victims.
  3. They must receive necessary medical care and other assistance.
  4. They will be provided protection if their safety is at risk or if there is danger of recapture by the trafficker.
  5. Minor victims of human trafficking shall not be charged with prostitution or other offenses they were forced to commit as part of their trafficking. This includes not being charged with status offenses related to their trafficking (being a runaway, out of control of parent, or truancy).

The first Kentucky Human Trafficking Task Force was established in Lexington in 2006, followed in 2007 by the Louisville Human Trafficking Task Force. There are now several additional task forces, including a Statewide Task Force that meets in Frankfort.

This list of Kentucky’s task forces includes contact information for getting connected and attending a meeting.

  • Lexington Human Trafficking Task Force
    Co-Chairs: Brittney Thomas and David Mayre (AUSA- Eastern District)
    Meetings bimonthly on Wednesdays, 10am-12pm at Global Lex, 1306 Versailles Road, Lexington.
  • Franklin County Human Trafficking Task Force
    Chair: Donna Jackson
    Meets at 6:30 pm the 3rd Monday of each month at the Frankfort Police Station Community room.
  • Shelbyville Human Trafficking Task Force
    Co-Chairs: Jami Wilson and Soha Saiyed
    Meetings are 12-1pm in the North Central District Health Dept bldg. conference room located at 1020 Henry Clay St. Shelbyville.
  • Louisville Metro Human Trafficking Task Force
    Co-Chairs: Kristina Smith and Dr. Jennifer Middleton, U of L Kent School of Social Work
    Thursdays (bimonthly) 12:00-1:30 YMCA Safe Place, 2400 Crittenden Drive, Louisville.
  • Nelson County Human Trafficking Task Force
    Co-chairs: Soha Saiyed & Amy Nace-Degonda,
    Meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 11:30-12:45pm, SCN Center on the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth campus in Bardstown.
  • Bullitt County Human Trafficking Task Force
    Chair: Elissa Montoya at 502-216-5161
    Meetings are at the Ridgeway Library, in Shepherdsville the first Wednesday of every month at 2PM.
  • Southeast Kentucky Human Trafficking Task Force
    Co-Chairs: Mollie Harris  & Magen Zawko
    2nd Friday of very month, from 10am-12pm at Joseph Hospital (London) in the Basement Conference and Training Room.
    Web: https://sekytaskforce.wordpress.com/about/what-is-human-trafficking/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sekytaskforce/
  • Northern KY Task Force-RIGHTS
    Co-Chairs: Theresa Vietor and Sharlene Boltz
    Meets at the St. Elizabeth Training and Education Center 3861 Olympic Blvd, Erlanger from 2-4 PM.

If you are interested in starting a new task force, you may request a Task Force Tool Kit to help get you started

  • Comprehensive Case Management and Multidisciplinary Work with Survivors of Human Trafficking

  • Case Management with Human Trafficking Survivors: Trauma and Dissociation

  • Special Considerations for Foreign National Victims of Human Trafficking

  • Unaccompanied Minors: Services and Benefits for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking

  • Screening for Human Trafficking: What needs to be included in screening and protocol development?

  • Best Practices and Guiding Principles in Providing Services to Victims and Survivors of Human Trafficking

  • Assisting Human Trafficking Victims and Survivors with Accessing Benefits and Public Assistance

  • My Life My Choice: A Treatment and Prevention Resource for At-Risk Adolescent Girls

  • Labor Trafficking: How to Identify and Respond

  • Human Trafficking 101: Definitions, Overview, Laws, Indicators, and Resources for Victims

  • Identifying and Responding to Human Trafficking within the Medical Profession

  • The Intersectionality between Substance Abuse and Human Trafficking-

  • Child Trafficking in Kentucky: Identification and Response

  • Dynamics in Support Group Facilitation

  • Train the Trainers

$1.3 million in grants to serve survivors – Check out the press release here