CTSA
The Christian Trafficking Shelter Association held their 1st Annual Conference on March 11, 2010.
The Christian Trafficking Shelter Association:
The Christian Trafficking Shelter Association (CTSA) was formed under the Home Foundation for the purpose of creating a best practices model to care for victims of human trafficking found here within the United States. The most common victims of human trafficking within the U.S. are victims of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), or as it’s also known, domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). Even though CSEC is extremely common in the United States, with estimates of up to 300,000 of our youth at risk of being commercially exploited through prostitution, there are currently only a handful of beds within the United States that specialize in the care of these victims. In fact, a study commissioned by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2007 to locate all these beds found that there were a total of 45 beds in the U.S. at that time, and since then, 6 beds have had to close due to lack of funding. There is also a tremendous lack of shelter for international victims of human trafficking who are brought into the United States.
Due to this overwhelming need for shelter beds for these tragic victims, God is raising up groups all across the country to start specialized shelters in their own geographical location. With the help of the Home Foundation, founded in 2005 by singer/songwriter Natalie Grant, these developing shelters are being connected together for the purpose of working toward that best practices model and learning from each other along the way.
Mission statement of the CTSA:
The Christian Trafficking Shelters Association (CTSA) exists to promote the best possible practices for shelters caring for victims of human trafficking in the United States through funding assistance provided to Christ-centered organizations who meet previously established standards of care.
Members of the CTSA:
Gracehaven – Ohio
Home of Hope Texas – Houston, Texas
Traffick911 – Fort Worth, Texas
Mission Hope Project – Michigan
Mercy Ministries - Tennessee, Missouri
Wellspring Living – Atlanta, Georgia
For information, contact Dr. Jeff Barrows at: jbarrows@gracehavenhouse.org