Statements

Mission

Hope for Justice exists to end modern slavery by preventing exploitation, rescuing victims, restoring lives, and reforming society. We have developed global policies to set consistent standards throughout our operations and those most relevant to modern slavery. We believe freedom is worth the fight. We believe justice is non-negotiable. We refuse to abandon the least, the last, and the lost. We challenge apathy with action. We choose to greet cynicism with hope. We are purposeful, passionate, and pioneering. Our vision is to live in a world free from slavery.

Our approach to ending slavery.
Preventing Exploitation - Through education and community empowerment, we help families and vulnerable people protect themselves against traffickers and their deceptive methods to control others.
Rescuing Victims - Our investigators and outreach teams work with police and other agencies to identify victims of human trafficking and modern slavery, build bridges of trust with them, and get them safely out of exploitation.
Restoring Lives - We provide world-class survivor aftercare, both residential and non-residential. Our legal advocacy and support ensure needs are met and give the best chance for justice to be done.
Reforming Society - We train others on the front line - police, healthcare workers, charities, and many more - to spot the signs of modern slavery and to respond effectively. We work with governments and businesses to make change happen.

Background

Hope for Justice has its roots as the Hope Foundation when in 2005, founder Natalie Grant first learned about the plight of women and children around the world and the travesty of sex trafficking. After researching the issue and speaking with devoted anti-human trafficking groups and caregivers, Natalie soon realized the desperate need for quality aftercare for victims. With that vision and the passion to make a difference, Natalie founded The Home Foundation.

Since that time, the Foundation grew and evolved into Abolition International which was recognized as an international leader in the fight to eradicate sex trafficking through our aftercare accreditation, advocacy and education initiatives. In 2014, Abolition International merged with two other non-profits: Hope for Justice and Transitions Global and now operate as one organization dedicated to fight human trafficking.

Impact

We operate The Tennessee Regional Center in Nashville, TN, which was set up in November 2016. The Center's vision is to live in a world free from slavery. Hope for Justice is the only not-for-profit organization in Tennessee equipped to investigate independently or with law enforcement to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking. In 2023, we received 47 referrals in Tennessee alone for our investigator assistance. In 2023, we built out a small survivor services program under a grant from the Department of Justice comprising a Program Lead and an Advocacy and Outreach Specialist. This program is equipped to work for survivors of trafficking, ensuring the survivor's voices are heard and that they are empowered to make informed, meaningful decisions. We build a collaborative relationship with the survivor, clearly explaining relevant legal and technical language. This enables the survivors to make informed decisions as they navigate complex pathways and situations. The Tennessee Program provides specialist advocacy and conducts outreach initiatives that allow us to connect with key regional stakeholders. Since its inception, our survivor services program has served eight clients who are survivors of both sex and labor trafficking.

Needs

We need financial help to fund the work of our Regional Center, Our Investigation services were established with three primary goals: build relationships with law enforcement agencies and non-profit agencies, which work with vulnerable populations, and child welfare as well as other governmental agencies; conduct training programs specifically tailored to law enforcement agencies, non-profit organizations, child welfare, and other governmental agencies; conduct investigations and rescues, independently or in conjunction with law enforcement. Our survivor services model operates on four key principles: Survivor Centered Approach, Trauma Informed Care, Best Practices-Evidence Based and a Holistic Approach to Care

The rise of human trafficking cases in Tennessee, coupled with limited resources and the success of a proven model from our UK colleagues, were all factors contributing to the launch of the Center. Because of the hidden nature of human trafficking, prevalence studies rely upon extrapolated data from other known sources. As a result, the exact magnitude of the problem globally, nationally, and within Tennessee remains unknown. That notwithstanding, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) has conducted prevalence studies and estimated the problem is epidemic.

CEO Statement

Human trafficking is a criminal industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars, and it truly is a form of modern-day slavery, with an estimated 49.6 million people affected globally (Source: ILO). It is thought there are 1,000,000 people in the United States who have been trafficked for labor or sex exploitation and are living in fear (Source: Global Slavery Index).

Hope for Justice works across multiple countries to fight this terrible crime. Within the United States, we are establishing a network of Regional Centers to expand our reach - helping more victims, deepening our impact on survivors, and creating resilient communities where survivors thrive.

Hope for Justice does more than raise awareness. We act. We are investigators with years of law enforcement experience, accredited trainers, legal experts, social workers, clinical therapists, policy specialists, and professionals. We work alongside law enforcement, building cases and handing them over for prosecution, and we are regularly called upon by state and federal agencies and investigators for our holistic anti-trafficking expertise. We also have a presence in Washington, D.C., influencing legislation and policy at the highest level.

Based on our four pillars of preventing exploitation, rescuing victims, restoring lives, and reforming society, we are providing an end-to-end and trauma-informed approach to bring hope and justice to survivors of human trafficking.

The newest part of our model in the U.S. is the RISE Program (Restore, Inspire, Strengthen, and Empower): an integrated suite of services that contributes to the sustainable improvement of the well-being, safety, and self-sufficiency of survivors through trauma-informed care and support, community engagement, and comprehensive case management.

We have already established Regional Centers in Tennessee, Iowa, and North Carolina and have strategic plans to expand our life-changing work further.

Board Chair Statement

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Human Services  - Victims' Services
Secondary Category:	Crime & Legal - Related  - Crime Prevention
Tertiary Category:	Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy  - Civil Rights

Areas Served

Tennessee and surrounding states; Iowa and surrounding states; North Carolina. Globally, Hope for Justice also operates in UK, Norway, Cambodia, Uganda, Ethiopia and Australia.

International

National

TN