The Center for Prevention of Abuse Receives Prestigious Grant to Provide Services to Victims of Human Trafficking
– The
Center for Prevention of Abuse now offers services for victims of human
trafficking in Central Illinois. Heartland Human Care Services (HHCS) is
partnering with The Center for Prevention of Abuse through an award with the
Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) to provide a comprehensive array of services
for all human trafficking victims – both sex and labor – identified within the
Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties.
The grant will also support efforts to increase the capacity
of communities to respond to human trafficking victims through the development
of interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness
activities.
“We are thrilled to be part of this important grant so that
we may expand our services to help victims of human trafficking and better
serve our community,” said Carol Merna, Executive Director of The Center for
Prevention of Abuse. “Human trafficking is a widely misunderstood human rights
issue. It happens right here in Central Illinois, so we are grateful to be
included and to provide the best level of care for all who come through our
doors.”
HHCS and The Center for Prevention of Abuse are committed to
helping survivors retake control of their lives, feel safe, enjoy physical and
emotional health, and realize the human rights to which they are
entitled. Services are available for any survivor of human trafficking
regardless of race, gender identify, sexual orientation, religion,
socioeconomic status, or immigration status. To qualify for services, the
individual must be a victim of human trafficking as defined by the Trafficking
Victims Protection Act (22 U.S.C § 7102 (9).
Indicators of Human Trafficking:
· Being
forced to work against your will;
· Incurred
a debt by using threats or forcing you to work to pay the debt;
· Forced
to work by using threats to harm you and/or your family;
· Forced
or pressured you into prostitution or to do other sexual acts;
· Minor
engaged in commercial sex regardless of force, fraud or coercion;
· Confiscated
your passport, birth certificate, or identification card to intimidate and
control your movements
“This grant allows us to significantly expand our
services and continue to meet the needs of our community,” said Sara Dillefeld,
Director of Domestic Violence Family Centered Services. “Victims of human
trafficking who come to The Center may have access to our two emergency
shelters, specialized counselors, and intensive case management which may
include legal and financial assistance. We take each instance case by
case and will do all we can to stay trauma informed and client-centered.”
When victims escape a trafficking situation, the factors
that made them vulnerable to exploitation are still present and The Center for
Prevention of Abuse can provide services to help with those needs. All
services are free and confidential. Survivors will be assigned a case manager
who will assess his/her needs and provide resources, services, and referrals to
the survivor to meet those needs. All services will be provided in the
language of choice of the survivor. These can include, but are not limited to:
· Transportation
assistance
· Finding
safe, affordable housing
· Legal
assistance
· Medical
and mental health services
· Criminal
justice advocacy
· Linkage
to public benefits
· Education
· Job
training/employment
To learn more about Human Trafficking or to receive training
please contact: Sara Dillefeld at The Center for Prevention of Abuse,
309-691-0551 or sdillefeld@centerforpreventionofabuse.org.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
Camille Yameen
cyameen@centerforpreventionofabuse.org
The Center for Prevention of Abuse / 309.272.2904
cyameen@centerforpreventionofabuse.org
The Center for Prevention of Abuse / 309.272.2904
About The Center for Prevention of Abuse
The Center for Prevention of Abuse is the only agency
authorized by the State of Illinois to provide a combination of domestic
violence, sexual assault and adult protective services. Annually, more than 5,000
women, men and children, affected by violence and abuse are served by The
Center. The Center offers school-based abuse prevention programming to students
pre-K through college age, reaching out to about 30,000 young people each
year. Through these activities, plus community presentations and
trainings, The Center lives out its mission which is to empower everyone –
women, men and children – to live free from violence and abuse. For more
information about The Center, visit www.centerforpreventionofabuse.org
or call 309-691-0551. The crisis line is available 24/7 1-800-559-SAFE (7233).
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