Fighting Exploitation in Our Valley
It’s a hard truth to say out loud: in Our Valley, children are being bought and sold. Trafficking isn’t a distant problem; it’s happening here at home. The average age of entry into sex trafficking is just 12 to 14 years old, and in California, more kids are trafficked than anywhere else in the nation. Nearly 60% of these victims have spent time in foster care.
Exploitation preys on vulnerability—on youth who’ve already lost safety, family, or belonging. But when Our Valley unites, traffickers lose their power. Through the Collaborative Impact Model, local nonprofits, law enforcement, churches, and community advocates are linking arms to identify at-risk youth, rescue victims, and walk with survivors through healing.
Safe houses, trauma-informed counseling, mentorship, and long-term care are restoring hope. They’re transforming stories of abuse into stories of redemption. When we come together, a child doesn’t have to stay hidden. They don’t have to stay broken. They can move from chains to freedom, from shame to dignity, from exploitation to empowerment.