If you are a victim of human trafficking and would like to connect to our services, please call (559) 263-1379. Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30AM – 4:30PM.
For emergency services after hours, you may call (559) 263-1379 to be connected with the emergency staff on-call.
You can also contact the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or text ‘HELP’ to 233733
What is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is a crime in which people profit from the control and exploitation of other others. U.S. federal law defines a ‘severe form of trafficking in persons’ as:
- Sex Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act which is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; OR
2. Labor Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion, for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery.
Fact Sheets:
Human Trafficking 101 (PDF)
English | Spanish | Arabic | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese | French | Korean | Portuguese | Russian | Thai | Vietnamese
About CVAHT
Central Valley Against Human Trafficking (CVAHT) was founded in 2009 as a result of staff’s increased awareness of minor girls presenting at Sanctuary Youth Shelter with a history of trafficking. Fresno EOC Sanctuary and Support Services was awarded a federal grant from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create the Central Valley Freedom Coalition, which consists of service providers, law enforcement, attorneys, faith-based partners, and concerned citizens.
CVAHT’s mission is to provide identification, advocacy and case management to victims of human trafficking, resulting in comprehensive care through strategic partnerships and collaboration with other EOC departments and the communities throughout the Central Valley. CVAHT serves a six-county region, including Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern Counties.
Vulnerabilities to human trafficking
Human trafficking can happen in any industry, and to persons of any gender, age, and nationality. Stereotypes seen in media are not always representative of real-life situations. However, there are certain conditions or characteristics that can make a person more vulnerable to trafficking such as:
Common Work and Living Conditions
- Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes
- Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts
- Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager
- Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips
- Works excessively long and/or unusual hours
- Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work
- Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off
- Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work
- High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)
Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior
- Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid
- Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement
- Avoids eye contact
Lack of Control
- Has few or no personal possessions
- Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account
- Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)
- Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)
Poor Physical Health
- Lacks health care
- Appears malnourished
- Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture
Other
- Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
- Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in
- Loss of sense of time
- Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story
Need Help Now?
If you are in need of immediate assistance, or if you can give a credible tip, contact our 24/7 trauma response line: (559) 263-1379 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline: (888) 373-7888 or text “HELP” to “BeFree” (233733).
Frequently Asked Questions
If I think I have encountered a trafficked person, should I attempt to rescue them?
No, these situations can be very dangerous. Contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888 to report the tip or 911 if there is a current crisis.
What else can I do to help with this issue?
Educate yourself. Learn how your choices as a consumer impact trafficked persons around the world. Learn how your perceptions of other social issues impact a trafficked person. Labor rights, immigration rights, women’s rights, child abuse, environmental concerns, and other important issues are all intertwined when it comes to human trafficking.
What should I do if I want to become further involved?
Make sure you are working with or supporting a legitimate anti-trafficking organization. There are many organizations that do good ethical work and those are the ones that need to be supported. Start with the National Human Trafficking Resource Center for further information about those organizations in your area or contact Central Valley Against Human Trafficking.
Are there any other resources regarding human trafficking?
I want to get out of "the life." Can you help me?
Yes. Contact our 24/7 trauma response line: (559) 263-1379 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline: (888) 373-7888 or text “HELP” to “BeFree” (233733).
Contact Us
If you’d like more information on Central Valley Against Human Trafficking and our services, please contact us:
Phone: (559) 263-1379
Fax: (559) 262-1668
Follow Us
How to get involved
- Partner with us
- Follow us on Instagram
- Subscribe to our Email List: cvaht@fresnoeoc.org
- Participate in quarterly coalition meetings and events
Donate
Central Valley Against Human Trafficking (CVAHT) always needs funds to provide emergency hotel vouchers, pre-paid cellular phones, and gift cards to grocery stores, including Wal-Mart, for essential items such as food, diapers, and clothing. To donate, please use the Donate button below.
For more information on getting involved, email cvaht@fresnoeoc.org
