How to Identify and Prevent Human Trafficking of Your Child

Written by Hannah D. Counter, M.A., LPC, EMDR Trained Youth Program Clinical Director

In today's increasingly digital world, understanding the potential risks that children and teenagers face is critical. Human trafficking is a frightening reality that affects countless lives in our community, and it's imperative for parents and guardians to be proactive in identifying and preventing any potential risks to their children.

As Youth Program Clinical Director at New Friends New Life, I work with many young women and girls who have been or are at risk of being exploited, and this role has given me a close understanding of the impact that human trafficking has on our community. However, I also know what a crucial role parents and guardians play in supporting their children. As we enter a new academic year, I encourage parents to become familiar with the signs of human trafficking and learn how they can help prevent it. By focusing on three essential strategies—keeping an open line of communication, creating a safe space, and staying aware—parents can play a pivotal role in safeguarding children:

1. Create a Safe Space:

Establishing a safe, trusting environment at home is essential for a child's overall well-being and understanding of healthy expressions of love. Show empathy, actively listen and validate your child’s emotions.

2. Keep an Open Line of Communication:

By maintaining an open and non-judgmental line of communication, you can create an environment for your child to share their thoughts and feelings. Regularly engage in conversations about their interests, friends, online activities, and daily experiences. Encourage them to share without fear of retribution, and ask questions if your child mentions something that causes you concern.

3. Stay Aware:

Between all the apps and websites available to today’s children, understanding your child's online presence and social interactions is vital. Educate your children about online safety and set clear guidelines on what is appropriate to share online. Remain aware of their friendships both in-person and online. Finally, monitor their online and social activities on a regular basis in a way that works for your family, such as a parental control app or location tracking.

Keep an eye out for sudden changes in behavior such as withdrawal from social activities or secrecy about online activities. If you suspect human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center’s 24/7 hotline: 888-373-7888.

Engaging Community Resources

At New Friends New Life, we have many resources to help girls who have been or are at risk of being exploited. Our Youth Resource Center offers a safe space for girls to visit anytime, whether they want to grab a snack, watch TV, or do homework. Additionally, our staff offers personalized resources based on each girl’s needs. Our case management team addresses their day-to-day needs, such as a safe living space, food, medical needs, and academic support. Our therapists offer support to meet each girl’s emotional needs, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). We also believe that caregivers are critical in our girls’ journey. Our caregiver programs support parents and guardians in creating a safe space for the girls and meeting their emotional needs. 

By fostering open communication, creating a safe and nurturing space and staying vigilant about your child's activities both online and offline, you can significantly reduce the risk of your children being exploited or trafficked. For more information on how to identify and prevent human trafficking, please see our parental tips infographic, which you can download here.

Back to School

Written by Vanessa Garnica-Barker, Community Engagement Manager

As we approach the end of the summer, parents, educators and students prepare for the beginning of the academic year in addition to the excitement of the new school year and the new school supplies, comes anxiety for many students. This anxiety can show up in many ways including social and academic pressures. Some students may look forward to the end of the summer break in hopes of finding refuge, safety and security at school due to an unstable home life, homelessness, or food insecurity.

For the youth at New Friends New Life, we open our doors to the YRC year-round (including the new school year) with drop-in hours for girls to have a safe space to spend their time. The Youth Resource Center (YRC) recognizes, recovers and restores high-risk, exploited and trafficked girls through holistic, trauma-informed care. The YRC recently introduced the Steps to Success program. Each step is tailored by age range and categorized into three buckets: case management, counseling, and education.

Education is a vital area of service to the members of the YRC. The girls served range from middle school, high school and even college aged students. Members receive recognition for their achievements, assistance in tutoring through volunteers and college/scholarship application assistance. With the assistance of donors and supporters, NFNL has been able to provide youth members with backpacks containing all essentials school supplies and has also provided uniforms in past years. While purchasing school supplies may seem routine for students and parents each year, it’s critical that we provide this educational need for members. Often, traffickers lure in vulnerable youth with promises of protection, adventure, love, safety or other very real needs, basic needs. While the most basic needs include food, clothing and shelter, for students, supplies are essential to successfully thrive with the proper materials academically. By providing supplies, we are removing a financial barrier for students and helping equip them with confidence in their academic year. According to the National Education Association, “The study’s researchers concluded that graduation from high school was one of the potential protective factors that can lead to a decreased risk of trafficking for homeless students.”

As students return to school, it’s important to understand that recruitment can occur through social networks and among peers. Educators and administrators play a vital role and are trained to recognize risk factors, identify potential victims and report, engage in local prevention efforts and educate community members through the TEA’s RISE program. According to NEA Today, “To remain vigilant against trafficking, educators must understand some of the risk factors of trafficking to better identify and support students in need. While children and young adults are all susceptible to trafficking, certain vulnerable groups face an increased risk.” In addition to non-profit agencies working to combat human trafficking, educators play a vital role as they can serve as the eyes and ears in recognizing and reporting potential trafficking. Teachers can also help combat trafficking by inspiring and taking the time to pour into students who are high risk among their communities. Teachers truly wear many hats and are some of the most versatile professionals with each responsibility they take on. Thank you educators for the many hats you wear!

Insights on the Immeasurable Impact of the Nonprofit Industry

Written by Bianca Davis, CEO

One of the many things I’ve come to admire about Dallas is the philanthropic spirit of this community. Local nonprofit organizations like New Friends New Life are able to affect change around significant social issues because of the incredible generosity and support of the individuals, civic leaders, and corporations who are bold enough to fight against sex trafficking, domestic violence, homelessness, hunger, and a host of other social ills. In recognition of National Nonprofit Day on August 17th, let’s look at the impact of this industry.

There are more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations (NPOs) in the U.S. These NPOs account for $2.62 trillion in revenue, and represent the third largest workforce in the country, behind only retail and manufacturing!  As you may know, what sets NPOs apart from for-profit companies is what happens at the bottom line at the end of the fiscal year. NPOs raise money to provide services to the community - most nonprofits provide these services (counseling, housing, training, etc.) at no cost to the clients (like at NFNL), or at a nominal cost. There is no distribution of earnings to stakeholders or individuals at the end of the year. 

For the past 25 years, New Friends New Life has thrived and grown as a nonprofit organization committed to restoring and empowering survivors of trafficking and exploitation. This weighty mission is only attainable through donor support, and every gift makes a difference. I recognize that celebrating a Silver Jubilee year is no small feat, given the sober statistic that only 50% of nonprofits are successful. In fact, 30% of nonprofits don’t make it to 10 years before having to close their doors. The fact that NFNL is still in the fight 25 years later is a testament to YOU, for whatever action you have taken to show your support – donating your time, your dollars, or amplifying our message in your workplace and social circles.

Speaking of donated dollars, in 2021, 56% of people in the U.S. donated an average of $574 to charity. In addition, 45% of donors worldwide participate in a recurring gifts program. (Click here to join NFNL’s Power of 10 Club). This commitment to giving is significant particularly because of the lingering economic impact of the pandemic which wreaked havoc on the nonprofit sector at that time – many NPOs are still trying to recover.

It is not lost on me that NFNL has been able to maintain and grow its services, staff, and programs despite the troubled waters of the past three years. This shows very clearly that our strategic and passionate Board of Directors, our brilliant and compassionate staff, and YOU are making a difference – the most giving and collaborative group of donors and supporters anyone could ask for. Each day brings new challenges and new opportunities, with the only certainty being that of our commitment to creating a community where women and girls can soar above the limits of their pasts to achieve their dreams.

I invite you to read our newly released 2022 Annual Report to see how your investment in New Friends New Life is impacting the women and girls we serve, and the larger community.

Minority Mental Health Month: Representation, Economics, Allyship

Written By: Diann Tigner, Economic Empowerment Specialist

July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. I would like to take the time to focus on representation, economics and what we can all do to create safer spaces around us for People of Color (POC) specifically. Growing up, I had the unique privilege of being raised in an area that was infested with drugs, people battling addiction, economic crisis and wrestling with mental illnesses… some being family members. “Privilege?”, you may ask “Why would someone say living in that environment is a privilege?” 

During my childhood, my mother and I experienced homelessness, mental health challenges, and economic crises. I use the word privilege because being around those elements is what shaped me into the woman I am today. I get to serve women like my mom daily and they get to see hope through someone that looks like them. Every morning, I get the opportunity to serve women that did not have the privilege to easily walk away from their struggles, yet still fight for a better future.

94% of sex trafficking victims are women,  62% of them are women of color (WOC), but in 2021 only 27% of therapist were POC. While not everyone who walks in our doors have been diagnosed with a mental illness, the majority have. This includes depression, anxiety, and PTSD among others. The number of POC representation in the mental health field is severely lacking which in turn can cause a lack of trauma-informed cultural care. This is why representation matters. This is also why non-POC must do work to address their biases and work to become culturally competent. If 72 % of therapist are White, there must be a gateway to discuss mental blocks, unconscious biases and most importantly, white supremacy/racism in the systems.

As an Economic Empowerment (EE) specialist, who has worked in the community mental health field for seven years, providing case management services including housing, finances, education, and career guidance, I see firsthand the difficulties of economic crisis. Majority of the women walking through our doors state in their EE consultation that they are overwhelmed and uncomfortable with their current financial stability. NFNL Members report making less than the lowest 25th percentile of income, barely surviving paycheck-to-paycheck.  Our women also come from backgrounds that can make it difficult to find legitimate work while trying to maintain their mental health and trauma triggers at work, for example 60% of our members have criminal records from acts they were forced to commit while being trafficked. While NFNL has helped many women in these areas, we can’t do it alone. There is more we all can do as a society to assist in these barriers.

How can mental health workers, companies, or allies support women in this demographic? Here is six ways to start:

1.      Training and Education - Ask yourself, “What have I done lately to learn about Women of Color (WOC)?” Have I read a book, researched a topic, facilitated groups as Allies in safe spaces for WOC? NFNL hosts a book club twice monthly, where we facilitate conversations on the POC experience and how, while our experiences may be different, we have commonalities to keep us grounded and connected. We also allow space for our allies to question their own unconscious biases.

2.      Team Building- Team building can consist of games, company workshops, or even conversing about uncomfortable conversations. Start thinking of what biases you see popping up in your companies, family outings, or friend groups. How can you challenge that conversation?

3.      Checkups - Simple! Do you prioritize the mental health of your staff/team as much as you do the people you love? Consider what you would do if a person of color in your immediate circle told you someone said something offensive. Find resources to learn more about what you can do in those situations.  

4.      Don’t be afraid of the elephant in the room- Mental health mixed with discussions on race is difficult. There is no easy way to mesh the two topics. But that does not mean they should not be had. This is a list of topics to start the conversation.

5.      Hire and pay POC – We are worthy of the job titles, but many studies show we are less sought after and less paid. Let’s close the wealth gap and give POC what is deserved. 

6.      VOTE in favor of equality.

If we work together there is so much more that we can do. Progress and change do not happen overnight, but we must take every opportunity we can for growth. So, let’s grow together. What will you do to make the change?

A Salute to Fathers and Father Figures Who #StandForHer

Written By - Matt Osborne, Liaison to the Men’s Advocacy Group at NFNL

As I write this article on Father’s Day, I reflect on how blessed I feel to be the father of two amazing college-aged daughters. Despite my very less than perfect parenting, I am thrilled to see my daughters slowly but surely growing into strong and confident women. They are two of the main reasons I have focused my career on combatting commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking since I first became aware of these issues while working for the US Government (CIA and State Department) almost 20 years ago. During the past two decades I have seen unfortunately how fatherlessness—or at least the absence of a committed and loving father or father figure in the home—has contributed to several problematic social issues, not the least of which is human trafficking.

I read a study recently that claimed in the US there are an estimated 20 million children living in a home without the physical presence of a father. The study noted that “fatherlessness is associated with almost every societal ill facing our country’s children and creates vulnerabilities that are easily exploited.” At New Friends New Life, we have seen firsthand how a host of social problems feed the pipeline of child and adult sex trafficking, such as poverty, teen runaways, the lack of good education and job opportunities, the rise in child sexual abuse material online, and much more. But perhaps primary among these factors, the epidemic of absent fathers has created voids that are readily filled by human traffickers who seek out and prey upon those whose basic needs go unmet.

The US Department of Justice has reported that many sex trafficking victims come from fatherless and unstable homes, and sex traffickers exploit these vulnerabilities by creating a warped “father-child” relationship with victims and manipulating their need for love and acceptance. Without this love at home, many victims find in sex trafficking organizations the “love” and sense of belonging that they crave.

Our Men’s Advocacy Group brings together men who are willing to take a #StandForHer by celebrating and promoting engaged and committed fatherhood. For fathers of daughters, we note that human traffickers take advantage of women and girls who may be craving love, connection, and support at home. For fathers of sons, we encourage them to raise their boys to be Men with More: more intolerant of bad “locker room talk,” more respectful of women and girls, and more respectful of themselves.

 Our free curriculum known as The manKINDness Project combats the demand that is primarily driving the commercial sex trade. We do this by promoting an understanding of healthy masculinity, which our boys today are certainly not seeing on social media, television or in movies. We teach these young men that if they speak disparagingly of, or objectify, the opposite sex, those attitudes could easily translate into toxic relationships with women and girls later in their life. One of our standard lines to these boys is that no man just wakes up one day at the age of 35, 45, 55, etc., and says… “Today I am going to purchase sex for the first time,” but rather it is a journey of a thousand steps that brings a man to the point where he believes it is appropriate to buy another human being. The manKINDness Project would nip that prospect in the bud by challenging these boys to treat every female with the same respect he would give the most important women in his life.

As another Father’s Day comes and goes, may each of us who have been given the blessing of being a father, or father figure, recommit ourselves to being active, engaged, loving, and committed in the lives of our sons and daughters. Together we can raise the standard of fatherhood that our society so desperately needs, and in so doing can combat the negative effects that fatherlessness has had on human trafficking victims in the US and around the world.

Celebrate HER

Written by: Hannah D. Counter, M.A., LPC, EMDR-Trained, Youth Program Clinical Director, NFNL

In 2022, 48% of the women and youth that we served at New Friends New Life (NFNL) were African American and 21% of the women and youth that we served were members of the LGBTQIA community. As we move through the month of June, it is important to remember that the celebrations of Pride Month (celebrating the LGBTQIA community) and Juneteenth (celebrating the African American Community) both have representatives right here at NFNL.

According to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, “Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control… Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth," by the newly freed people in Texas.”

As stated in the Library of Congress, “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan…The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.”

Part of the way we define “trauma informed care” here at NFNL is seeing our members as individuals and honoring each part of their identities. Our women and girls have many different identities and roles in their life. Each one of those roles have value and worth. These individuals are more than just survivors of sex trafficking. They are African American, Latino, mother, employee, Muslim, student, daughter, heterosexual, Christian, friend, lesbian, aunt, American Indian, bisexual, mentor, survivor.

So, throughout this month, when you see the celebrations of Pride and Juneteenth, think of our women and girls. Remember that people are diverse and fluid and are representative of so many different communities that have value and are worth celebrating. And, when we stand for HER, we don’t only stand for the trafficked part of her, we stand for ALL of her.

Want to learn more about how you can take a stand for her? Get involved in our Circle of Friends, join the Men’s Advocacy Group, volunteer with us, partner with us through in-kind donations or offer financial support.