Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced distribution of nearly $3.9 million from the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund to thirteen organizations that helphuman trafficking victims become survivors.
This is the third round of grantsfrom the Fund since the Mississippi Legislature created it in the 2020Legislative Session. This year’s awards bring the total distributed for humantrafficking victims services to $8.5 million."Few crimes rob a person of their humanity, power and dignity like humantrafficking, but we do not have to let it steal their future,”said AttorneyGeneral Lynn Fitch. “Mississippi is blessed with these thirteen organizationscommitted to walking alongside these victims on their journey to find healingand restoration. Working together, we can put an end to the dangerous humantrafficking enterprise. I am grateful for the State Legislature's willingness toensure these organizations have the resources they need to support these braveindividuals working to rebuild their lives. And I am grateful to the members ofthe Fund Committee for the time and thoughtful consideration they offer theState to ensure these funds are spent to fulfill the Legislature’s intent."More information on the application and solicitation, Fund rules, and otherinformation related to this distribution and the Fund in general can be foundon the Attorney General’s Office website. In total, the Fund received 17applications during this funding period, with projects totaling over $6.8million.
Recipients of 2025 Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial
Sexual Exploitation FundChildren’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi (CACM), which received$79,300.00, is a membership organization supporting fifteen Children’sAdvocacy Centers across every county in Mississippi that are dedicated tomeeting the needs of children impacted by human trafficking and other abuse.CACM will utilize the funds to address the professional training gap inMississippi by incorporating a Human Trafficking Education Track at their OneLoud Voice Conference, Mississippi’s premier annual child advocacy trainingevent. Additionally, the funds will be used to integrate its database with Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services’ new case managementsystem.Center for Violence Prevention, which received $932,019.35, will enhance and expand the reach of support services throughout Mississippi and improveoutcomes for human trafficking victims through its Tower residential programand Rapid Response Team of advocates. Specifically, they plan to hire anadditional Rapid Response Team advocate this year and will use funds tocontinue operating the Tower Learning Center for group and individualactivities focusing on goal achievement.Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, which received $419,126.22, will continueproviding comprehensive services to victims of human trafficking as well asoutreach activities in their 11- county service area. They also plan to maintainand improve their quality of service by conducting an external evaluation of theprogram’s efficiency, impact, and sustainability.
Easter Seals Mississippi, which received $64,812.00, operates as a ChildAdvocacy Center serving Lee, Pontotoc, and Union counties. Funds will be usedon a trafficking prevention strategy, including the appointment of a dedicatedChild Trafficking Prevention Coordinator, the development of culturallyrelevant educational materials in English and Spanish, and the prioritization ofoutreach to Hispanic communities.El Pueblo, which received $104,284.21, will enhance culturally andlinguistically appropriate services for victims of human trafficking and continueoutreach to law enforcement, mental health service providers, and communitygroups. They will focus on ensuring victims not only receive immediate supportbut benefit from long-term, consistent services that empower them to regainstability and independence.Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence, which received $560,000.00, willcontinue providing a comprehensive and holistic array of services to familiesand individuals in crisis due to human trafficking and other associated harms.GCCFN is working to establish Mississippi’s first Family Justice Center model,a one-stop shop that houses services provided by Gulf Coast Center forNonviolence, law enforcement, court personnel, and other community serviceagencies to support victims.Hope Village for Children, which received $296,920.00, will operate a newresidential program for the specialized treatment of minor female victims ofhuman trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. They will promote thewellbeing of the victims in care, address the emotional, social, and mentalhealth issues facing foster youth in their care, provide access to education orvocational programs for victims in their care, and prepare themfor successful reintegration into the community.Kids Hub Children’s Advocacy Center, which received $10,000.00,will use funding to partner with the University of Southern Mississippi Centerfor Human Trafficking Research and Training Department to conductadvanced training for all Kids Hub Child Advocacy Center program staff toenhance skills and knowledge related to supporting victims of humantrafficking.
Mississippi Coalition Against Human Trafficking, which received$366,560.00, will continue growing and supporting its Independent LivingAssistance Program (ILA), a program designed to promote sustainableindependent living that has impacted over 80 women in the state in its firstyear. They also aim to hire another program director to oversee and facilitatethe ILA program in South Mississippi, where the need for survivor supportservices continues to rise.On the Road Lending (OTR), which received $200,000.00, was founded in2013 with a mission to eliminate transportation barriers that hinder economicindependence.
They will focus on supporting victims of trafficking seeking tocreate sustainable, independent lives by providing reliable vehicles andindividualized financial coaching. OTR will use the funds to create a long-termsolution for trafficking survivors in Mississippi in collaboration with other service providers to operate as a trusted referral partner for victims with criticaltransportation needs.Southern Christian Services, which received $739,500.00, will continueoperating Mississippi’s safe home exclusively for adolescent survivors of humantrafficking which allows young survivors to receive specialized and evidence-based therapeutic services for up to two years.Southwest Mississippi Children’s Advocacy Center, which received$74,070.00, provides a comprehensive array of services for victims of humantrafficking and others suffering exposure to violence and abuse.
The fundingwill be used for the mental health therapy program to hire a mentalhealth therapist and provide specialized training for working with traffickingvictims, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) training.Sunnybrook Children’s Home, which received $40,000.00, will continuetheir collaboration with Southern Christian Services and the Mississippi Coalition Against Human Trafficking to provide a safe home for adolescentsurvivors of human trafficking.
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