What You Can Do

Steps YOU Can Take Right Now to Combat Human Trafficking

“People want to help.

Many people would offer to help, one way or the other, but don’t know how. Our philosophy is to work hard, keep it simple and pure, and people will want to help us.” – Patrick Atkinson

By learning about the dynamics of contemporary slavery, YOU are now becoming part of the solution. Take steps to educate yourself and your family and to keep yourself and family safe:

family holding hands close up

  • Care for your children. Teach them personal safety, to avoid strangers, and the importance of a quality education. Teach your children to take personal safety seriously.
  • ITEMP offers downloadable age-appropriate resources for families as well as our “Human Trafficking 101” page.
  • Communicate with your family and friends.
  • Realize there may be dangers in your community or at your travel destination.
  • When older children are traveling, emphasize the need to stay together.
  • If you or loved ones are traveling far from home, research where you are going and with whom you are traveling. If possible, contact people who have made the same trip before.
  • NEVER give anyone your passport or travel documents!
  • Regardless of any threats, if you find yourself in trouble, get help immediately.


Step 2: Educate Others in Your Community, School, or Church Group

Community education about trafficking wordcloudPrevent Human Trafficking –

Now it is time for YOU to raise awareness with your friends, community groups and your school.

Teach others about the prevalence of contemporary slavery in our global world as well as in our home communities.

Keep your communication with your family, friends and community open and accepting.

Just as you care for your children, encourage others to care for their children as well, and be aware of the possibility that there could be problems in your community.

Invite a Human Trafficking speaker from the “Institute for Trafficked, Exploited & Missing Persons” to address your group.

Invite ITEMP to present at your event, church group, or school…

The Institute for Trafficked, Exploited & Missing Persons has an active, international speakers bureau that presents age-appropriate educational programs to school children of all ages, universities, and concerned social, community, service, and professional groups. These presentations and workshops range in length from 12 minute overviews for service club luncheons to 4 day professional certification programs.

ITEMP Presentations


Step 3: Care About Your Community. Watch for and REPORT Suspected Trafficking

View modern day victims of human slavery for what they are: unwillingly forced, exploited and tortured men, women, and children in need of immediate help, and not criminals, hustlers, or deviates.

Boys on the street and smoking

Boy… Girl… Man… Woman… Infant… Elderly…

Trafficked persons can be of any socio-economic status and nationality. Human trafficking exists in every state and major city in the U.S. No community is “immune” from human traficking.

Report and Prosecute –

  • If you believe an adult or child is being held or forced to work against their will, contact the proper authorities immediately.
  • If you believe a child is being exploited, contact the proper authorities immediately.
  • If you witness or learn of an incident of forced labor or sexual exploitation, report it immediately to your local police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, or the FBI. You could save a life!
  • Gather as much information about the incident as you can, but do NOT place yourself at risk and do NOT directly intervene. These situations are often very dangerous, and you place yourself and the victim at further risk.
  • If you report a suspected human trafficking crime, please consider making yourself available to testify. Your participation may make the difference.

If you believe someone is working against their will, or if you believe a minor is being exploited sexually (or otherwise), contact the proper authorities:

  • Outside the United States, contact:

  • The local US Embassy
National Human Trafficking Resource Center

Toll Free Human Trafficking Hotline:

1-888-3737-888


Step 4: Support ITEMP in Prevention, Rescue, Rebuilding the Lives of Victims, Prosecution of Offenders, and Governmental Advocacy

Patrick Atkinson being interviewed

The Institute for Trafficked, Exploited & Missing Persons (ITEMP) is a borderless sub-program of The GOD’S CHILD Project, a non-denominational, non-political international charity.

ITEMP operates in conjunction with national governments and international law enforcement agencies to prevent, interdict, rescue, and recover victims of human trafficking.

Volunteer for GOD's CHILD ProjectIt can take only a moment to destroy a life, but it can take years to put it back together again. ITEMP’s greatest gift to the victims of modern day slavery is the help they need to put their lives back together again. This is the long, hard slog, but it is the area ITEMP is best at.

Please consider supporting ITEMP’s mission and the GOD’S CHILD Project as a volunteer, advocate, and/or as a donor.

For more information about volunteer oppportunities with ITEMP and The GOD’S CHILD Project, please visit www.GODSCHILD.org/volunteer/.

Your Support is Vital — Donate TODAY

Q: What else can I do?

A: Be a force for good in your community. Support local organizations and community needs…

Act: Volunteer at a local runaway, abuse or homeless shelter.

Act: Work in a mentoring program, or help with after school programs for disadvantaged youth.

Remember: Your local support multiplies into a world of difference for many individual lives.

Pray: Finally, remember to pray for the victims of modern slavery. Pray for human trafficking victims so they return home soon.

The victims need to be seen as real people. We need to see them as someone’s son, daughter, wife or mother. We need to love them, so that we lose our fear to help them. – Patrick Atkinson



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