Amanda Leese, SVP of Operations, Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, and Allison Accettola, Senior Vice President for Government Relations, discussed the Volunteers of America programming fighting human trafficking.
While trafficking can involve forced labor VOA focus on sex trafficking, of women, children and men. Everyone is vulnerable, through fraud and coercion or by threats of violence to the victim and their family. They discussed their close work with local law enforcement to protect the victim, and the reentry programming they offer.
They stress that education and awareness is vital for children and their families about the dangers of human trafficking, its early signs, and what to do if you suspect someone you know is being trafficked.
VOADV has launched the Human Trafficking Awareness and Education program, aimed at educating school-aged youth and their parents about the dangers of human trafficking. The program was made possible by a federal appropriation sponsored by Congressman Donald Norcross. It will initially launch in Pine Hill, Voorhees, Maple Shade, Paulsboro, and Gloucester City in partnership with the towns’ local police departments. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is developing grade-level specific educational materials for the campaign.
VOADV hosts an annual Human Trafficking Summit, held in Atlantic City for the first two years and at Rowan University in 2024. A key point of the summit is to bring stakeholders, law enforcement, service providers, and legislators together to discuss best practices and how to support both victims and law enforcement prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking.
For more information go to VOADV.org