COVID-19

At Unbound, we have a responsibility to the survivors we have the privilege to serve. During the pandemic, traffickers haven’t slowed down. In fact, we served more survivors than ever in 2020. COVID has impacted many of our referral partners, so we have continued to get creative to recover new victims. While we are doing everything we can to keep our staff and clients safe, we are committed to running toward places of pain and that often presents dangers. Our staff is trained with safety protocols, both for infectious disease reduction and trauma-informed care. At our office and drop-in center, visitors, staff, and clients have their temperature checked, sanitize, and wear a mask.

Support survivors through subscription giving

Click the button to get started:

WHAT IS HUMAN
TRAFFICKING?

Federal law defines human trafficking as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, (and in the case of sex trafficking, patronizing, soliciting, or advertising) of a person through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation or subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

Simply put, human trafficking happens when a person is forced or manipulated into providing labor or sexual service for someone else’s financial gain.

There is no such thing as child prostitution. Anytime a minor (age 17 and under) is involved in the commercial sex industry, it is human trafficking.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE
ELEMENTS OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING

YOUTH AND MINOR
SEX TRAFFICKING

Unbound advocates work with kids who have been trafficked by their parents in exchange for meth, by gangs as a form of revenue, by pimps on the street, and sometimes simply by buyers with no third-party traffickers involved. All of that falls under the legal definition of sex trafficking. These kids are in our schools, and they are coming into our hospitals - child sex trafficking is hiding in plain sight. A Thorn survey found that most kids were enrolled and participating in school when they were being trafficked, at least initially.

WHY DON’T THEY
ASK FOR HELP?

• Traffickers target vulnerable individuals. Some victims have no relational network or support system to note their absence, making them easy targets for trafficking. Common vulnerabilities include lack of legal documentation, limited economic opportunity, low levels of formal education, homelessness, history of abuse, involvement in the commercial sex industry, and substance abuse. For child sex trafficking, other common vulnerabilities include low self-esteem, familial strife, running away, and involvement in child welfare.

• Many who have been forced into the commercial sex industry do not self-identify as victims. Traffickers manipulate and lie, making it difficult for victims to reach out for help. Fear of retaliation and lack of awareness prevent a victim from seeking rescue.

While this is certainly not the case for all survivors, many of these kids have never known anything in their short lives but trauma. This is called complex trauma, and it means there is no “normal” to go back to - mentally, emotionally, or psychologically. It would not be atypical for one of these kids being commercially sexually exploited to have known trauma - sexual/physical/emotional abuse or neglect - from the earliest days of their life.

A history of abuse/neglect sets a child up for trafficking and exploitation. There are people who prey on these vulnerabilities. If a child needs a place to stay or a meal, they provide that; if they are desperate for affection, they offer “love”, which turns out to be anything but. If they are looking for a sense of belonging, they offer “family”. That’s why traffickers are called “Daddy”. It’s an evil perversion of the love and affection these children deserve.

These kids are drawn in, then are they shamed to the depths of their beings. They pick up a criminal record and substance abuse issues, and the last thing they are going to do is reach out for help.

That's where our community can step in. We recognize that with support, these brave individuals have the potential to overcome past trauma and achieve the lives of freedom and hope they deserve.

WHY DOES HUMAN
TRAFFICKING HAPPEN?

Trafficking is a supply and demand business. Supporting the commercial sex industry, whether by viewing pornography or purchasing sex, creates profit for traffickers. End the demand, and we end trafficking.

HOW DOES
UNBOUND HELP?

Supporting Survivors

Unbound provides 24/7 crisis response and ongoing case management. Our advocates walk alongside survivors helping meet their immediate needs, offering support to families and caregivers, being a liaison between local law enforcement and other partner agencies, and connecting survivors with aftercare programs. Since June 2018, our advocates have served nearly 250 survivors of human trafficking.

drop-in Center

Unbound’s Underground drop-in center for trafficked and exploited youth, is the first of its kind in Tarrant County. Housed in One Safe Place, Fort Worth’s family justice center, the drop-in center provides a place to rest, light meals, shower facilities, safety, and referral for services for youth up through age 22. Open 24/7 and with a street reputation such that youth on the street take a chance on visiting, the drop-in center provides an open door for a population who has historically been difficult to reach. It is also available as a much needed short-term resting place for survivors recovered from trafficking. Assured of their safety, youth can sleep, get a meal, unwind through recreational activity, and have an opportunity to receive services as they plan their next steps, whether that is returning home, rehab, shelter, or other long term residential option.

Prevention Education

Unbound works with schools, youth organizations, and shelters to empower youth to stay safe from trafficking and exploitation. We coordinate citywide outreaches to increase awareness and present on human trafficking to community groups and organizations. Presentations available in Spanish.

Professional Training

Unbound offers profession-specific trainings for medical professionals, educators, and social service providers to equip them to use their skills to identify and respond to victims of human trafficking in their professional settings. We offer CNE for nurses and CEUs for social workers. All of our trainings are offered at no charge.