In response to the recent arrests of human traffickers in the Greater Cincinnati area, The Salvation Army announced the involvement of its Anti-Human Trafficking Program in the coordination and provision of services for the identified local survivors. The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Program staff and volunteers partnered with the Cincinnati FBI Office, Cincinnati Police Department and Sharonville Police Department to provide services and support for the survivors during the operation, and to provide aftercare for the survivors upon their identification.
“Supporting and empowering survivors of sex trafficking, labor trafficking and exploitation on the streets is the main goal of the Anti-Human Trafficking Program,” said Erin Meyer, Anti-Human Trafficking Program manager for The Salvation Army. “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity provided by this law enforcement operation to connect our city’s survivors with local resources.”
In addition, The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Program coordinated with the International Association of Forensic Nurses to ensure that medical assessments and care would be available to survivors on location––part of End Slavery Cincinnati.
Through the Anti-Human Trafficking Program, services for shelter, substance abuse treatment, food, clothes, counseling and other longer-term services, such as case management, employment readiness, and education assistance will be available for these survivors to support their recovery.
Though many survivors were rescued or connected with resources as a result of the collaboration with this operation, there are more victims being exploited out on the streets. The staff at The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Program encourage all residents to contact the 24-hour local hotline to report suspicious behavior, to receive crisis intervention, to access referrals and resources for survivors, and to get more information about human trafficking in the area. The hotline number is 513-800-1863.
[button color=”white” size=”normal” alignment=”none” rel=”follow” openin=”samewindow” url=”https://www.endslaverycincinnati.org”]Click here for more information about The Salvation Army’s Anti-Human Trafficking Program.[/button]