National Human Trafficking Prevention Month invites us into an important mission—one that requires both awareness and action. It calls us to learn about exploitation happening around us, prevent vulnerable individuals from being lured into dangerous cycles, and join the fight in recovering and supporting survivors.
Human trafficking and child sex trafficking occurrences are tragically far more common than many are aware. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received more than 27,800 reports of possible child sex trafficking in 2024 alone, with an average age of just 15 among missing children identified as likely victims. And among children who ran from child welfare placements, 18% were likely victims of child sex trafficking.
These numbers paint a heartbreaking picture for vulnerable children in the United States, but the reality is likely worse than these numbers even indicate. Human trafficking is notoriously difficult to track due to the difficulty in identifying victims, which creates a challenge for getting accurate data. These numbers likely indicate only a fraction of the survivors in need of help.
One More Child is stepping into these dark places with hope, compassion, and healing. Our Anti-Trafficking Mobile Teams provide direct care to survivors and potential victims through mental health counseling, access to essential resources, advocacy, and mentorship. Last year, we served 1,183 individuals through our Anti-Trafficking program and reached an additional 8,328 people through education, advocacy, and awareness.
We walk alongside survivors––vulnerable children and young adults––as they seek independence, stability, and freedom from exploitation. Survivors like Jade.*
Jade’s Story
Jade’s* life was defined by instability, struggle, and abandonment from day one. Her father died, her mother remained absent, cycling in and out of prison, her grandparents passed away when she was seven, and she was removed from her uncle’s care due to substance abuse at age 11. By the time Jade reached her tween and teenage years, she had no family and no one to rely on as she entered the child welfare system.
Her story progressed down an all-too-familiar path for youth who experience early trauma. Moving through multiple foster homes and running away from several, Jade ended up in sexual exploitation. Her trafficker, a registered sex offender, supplied Jade with food, clothing, nicotine, marijuana, and a hotel room, preying on her vulnerabilities and coercing her into dependence. Jade finally escaped that life through law enforcement intervention and a referral to One More Child.
She was initially hesitant to receiving help, but in the months that followed, Jade started to experience transformation. When she first met our team, she was quiet and empty of joy. However, with consistent support, Jade began to open up, engage in conversations, and trust our team to help her. We walked with Jade in her healing journey, providing services, counseling, and mentorship from a lived experience expert—a fellow survivor of exploitation. Jade was also placed with a caregiver who had known her when she was young.
With a stable home life for the first time ever, and a whole team rallying around her, Jade’s life of suffering and anguish began to turn into a life of joy and hope. Now 17, Jade works as a nanny, cares for her cat, studies hard in school, and is saving for a car, while dreaming of going into cosmetology. She has gained independence, inner peace, and a strong sense of self. Perhaps most importantly, Jade has finally obtained stability in the one area she was long denied: family. Jade has officially been adopted. Finally, after 17 years, she has a forever family that will love her unconditionally and support her through all the trials and struggles of this life.
For many years, Jade thought only pain, exploitation, and suffering awaited her. But now, when she looks ahead, she sees possibility, joy, and healing. She has something every child deserves: a hopeful future.
*Name and photo changed for privacy.
Building Hopeful Futures
Traffickers exert control by persuading victims that fear, dependence, and exploitation are all they will ever know. But we believe, and boldly proclaim, that hopeful futures are possible for survivors.
Every day, we work to build these hopeful futures for every survivor we serve—and we are pressing forward to reach even more.
There are three ways you can join the fight to stop human trafficking today:
1. Understand the problem: One More Child provides two FREE online training courses to help you recognize human trafficking and online exploitation. Awareness matters—because trafficking happens everywhere. When you are equipped, you can learn to SEE it, SAY it, and STOP it in your community.
2. Donate goods for survivors: You can help us build new lives for survivors of trafficking with your donations, including baby items, clothing, food, school supplies, and more. Fill out this form to get started.
3. Give to bring hope to one more: Our ministry is made possible through the faithful generosity of supporters. When you give to One More Child, you help meet urgent needs while also empowering our ministry to expand services and reach more vulnerable children and families. Give today!
Together, we can stop human trafficking and bring hope to survivors.