Interfaith
Collaborative
Against Human
Trafficking
Santa Barbara County
About Us
In response to the alarming increase in sex and labor trafficking within the region, in 2013, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office formed the Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is comprised of state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as non-profit and faith-based organizations, working to assess the scope of the problem locally, offer access to training opportunities, develop protocols and improve law enforcement and victim service response.
The Interfaith Collaborative is a network of faith community members, acting as a branch of this Task Force, coordinating, educating, and empowering the faith-based communities to informed, local action. Together we are dedicated to a victim-centered approach to combat the commercial sexual exploitation and labor trafficking of human beings.
What We Do
Coordinate, Educate, and Empower Faith Communities for Local Action
The Interfaith Collaborative is currently building a network of faith communities dedicated to the abolishment of human trafficking in the Santa Barbara area. By joining this network, faith communities receive access to education about human trafficking by trainers equipped through the District Attorney's office, are alerted to ways they can meet the tangible needs of local survivors, receive updates on local trafficking, and stay in the loop for more action opportunities. Below are ongoing ways you and your faith community can join us!
Interfaith Collaborative Meetings
Currently we keep our meetings and communication online, via zoom and email, communicating opportunities for action as they arise within the community by: checking in with working groups, facilitating awareness events and trainings, hearing updates within the Human Trafficking Task Force, connecting people with new action pieces to fight trafficking, and strategizing new methods in equipping more faith communities for local action. Continue reading for ways to plug into specific areas. Click below to receive regular email updates of how to partner with us.
Meet Tangible Needs of
Survivors
Through our network of faith communities, we raise support and collect items, including basic necessities that survivors will need to begin their new life of freedom. These items are requested from and donated thru the Task Force via the DA's Office. Aiding the Task Force is our group's primary objective.
To donate directly to our Flexible Dollars Fund (funds that specifically go toward meeting the immediate needs of local survivors as needs arise through the Task Force), click here:
In addition to supporting the Task Force we also help to communicate the needs of survivors who are residing in local safe homes: Hope Refuge (youth survivors--short term residential), SAFE House (youth survivors), and Living Arrows (transitioning adults). We keep partners updated for relevant current needs through our communication network. If you would like to see these organizations' current needs lists, check them out here:
Human
Trafficking 101 Trainings
We coordinate human trafficking trainings in faith communities within the Santa Barbara County. Each Human Trafficking 101 Training is presented by a representative trained through the District Attorney's Office. Our hope is that each faith community in the area will receive these trainings, so we are a community that is informed, mobilized and empowered to combat trafficking. All workshops and webinars are currently being offered online, via zoom meetings.
For a larger group (such as an entire faith community or community organization), the following trainings can also be coordinated: CSEC 101 (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children), Panel Discussion, Trace the Case training. If you, your faith community or group are interested in participating in or hosting any of these presentations, please sign up below.
Don't know which training would be best? Email us to find the best fit for you, your faith community or group.
The S.T.A.N.D. Initiative
Others across Santa Barbara have Chosen to S.T.A.N.D. with Us. Will YOU? The Interfaith Collaborative Against Human Trafficking (Santa Barbara County) coordinates, educates, and empowers faith-based communities to informed, local action in the fight against human trafficking. Will you S.T.A.N.D. with us?
Here’s How You Can Become an Official STAND Aligned Partner:
I/We acknowledge that human trafficking (HT) is happening not just abroad, but also in Santa Barbara. We believe that this issue is important, and we are called as people of faith to respond with compassion and action. Therefore, we have decided to S.T.A.N.D. against Human Trafficking and for justice, love, and restoration. We will S.T.A.N.D. with the Interfaith Collaborative Against Human Trafficking (Santa Barbara County) by agreeing to:
See/Say Something - Proper understanding and identification of trafficking is essential in order to combat it. We will let people in our sphere of influence know that human trafficking is happening in Santa Barbara and direct them to local resources. We will notify our faith community about the Collaborative’s upcoming events by promoting it on our website, social media, bulletin, flyer, and/or stage announcement so they can stay informed.
Take Action - We agree to take action against human trafficking by finding practical ways to get involved. We commit to doing at least one activity or action to prevent or combat human trafficking each year as a faith community.
Accept Collective Responsibility - We will stay educated and active on this issue. We will contact authorities or call the National Human Trafficking Hotline when we come across potential HT victims, and let others know about these resources as well. We will provide resources (books, movies, links, Anti-HT Partners) as well as the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888) to our staff, volunteers, and congregants so they are prepared if a situation arises.
Network and Collaborate - We realize that we are not alone in this fight and that we are stronger together. We will both communicate to the Collaborative what our faith community is actively doing and vice versa. We commit to participate in at least one collaborative endorsed activity/event each year.
Designate a Representative - We will designate at least one individual from our faith community to be our Collaborative representative. She/He/They will act as the primary liaison for the Collaborative to sustain the work of the Collaborative together.
The Interfaith Collaborative will equip your faith community with the resources, tools and trainings it needs to make your partnership with the STAND Initiative a reality. If your group is already active in anti-trafficking work, we'd love to be connected to you to strengthen the work being done. Let's make our anti-trafficking community stronger together!
Ready to become a STAND Partner?
Want to know more?
PARTNERS
EVENTS
For a complete and ongoing list of events happening around Santa Barbara County for HT Awareness Month in January 2025, please visit the SAFE-SBC calendar here.
As other events come up for all STAND Partners and interested parties, we will post about them here. Stay tuned!
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