SC Human Trafficking Task Force discusses new programs, resources available for victims

WEST COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Additional services and resources will soon be available for victims of human trafficking across South Carolina.

The SC Human Trafficking Task Force held a quarterly meeting Friday morning to discuss its ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking.

Included in the discussion is a new $6.5 million grant — aimed at creating new residential programs that will provide a safe space to live and mental and physical health support to children who have been sex or labor trafficked.

Director of the task force, Kathryn Moorehead, says the programs that will develop from this grant are greatly needed.

“In South Carolina, we have one residential program for minor females sex trafficking survivors. We have no programs for boys who have been sex trafficked or programs for boys who have been labor trafficked. In fact, in SC we have no specific specialized services for labor trafficking victims at all,” says Moorehead.

Existing initiatives include:

• Traffick Proof SC — a program that provides middle and high school students with an age appropriate understanding of trafficking, and how to keep themselves and others safe
• The Debt Bondage Repair Act which helps victims recover their credit scores after traffickers damaged it
• Statewide Spanish Speaking Initiatives
• Unhoused and Runaway Shelters Initiatives
• TravelWatch SC — aimed at stopping trafficking in airports and on highways
• Lighthouse for Life — a group dedicated to empowering survivors

Survivors like Heather Pagan who works with Lighthouse for Life and says she was a victim of trafficking from 14 to 32-years-old.

She believes residential programs are critical to help lessen the trauma, saying, “A lot of times we take on the mentality like I chose this, this is my fault, and so helping them understand where this started and how this started and what they can do from there is so vitally important.”

According to Moorehead, organizations interested in developing or expanding a program for child victims will be able to apply for grant funds beginning in January 2025.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1-888-373-7888.