UPDATES FROM OUR PROGRAMS

*Angelica was 7 years old when she was removed from a situation of online sexual exploitation and physical abuse, which were exposed when the foreign perpetrator was caught abroad. When pressed by law enforcement, she didn’t feel she could talk about what happened to her. It was when Love146 engaged Angelica in supportive counseling in the context of holistic care at The Round Home that she shared the extent of abuse and exploitation she had suffered.

She later said that coming to Love146 was her first experience of being happy and not being hurt.

Today, Angelica is studying ballet and violin.

“On the way to my youth visit this afternoon, I passed a few kids on a sidewalk, blowing bubbles. Something about that glimpse was so perfect. When I arrived at my visit, I had other plans detailed on my agenda for the visit, but shared the idea of blowing bubbles, and she excitedly agreed! She said she hadn’t played with bubbles since she was little. We stopped at the store and got one of those kits for making gigantic bubbles! (You know, the kind with the strings and sticks?) Then went to a nearby park to try it out! We had a great time laughing and running around the muddy field, working together to make the biggest bubble we could and watching it morph and float. After we got back to the car, she shared that the experience felt “freeing” and allowed her to feel like a kid again.

Many of the youth we serve in Survivor Care have had expectations, pressures, and blame that no child should have to carry. And so, moments when they’re free to simply enjoy being kids can be profoundly healing.

I left that visit feeling so impacted by my youth’s reflections and honored to have shared the experience with her. This role has allowed me to truly recognize the value of spontaneity and the trusting relationships we build. Sometimes it’s okay to put agendas and structure on the back burner to allow joy to shine.”

- A reflection from a US Survivor Care Social Worker

Peer-reviewed research now affirms the impact of Love146's prevention work. A newly published study involving a control group shows that trafficking prevention education can do more than raise awareness—it can give young people real tools to stay safe.

In a newly published study, students in two Houston high schools who participated in Love146’s Not a Number program were compared to a control group of their peers who didn’t receive the curriculum. The difference was clear: students who went through Not a Number were more likely to recognize warning signs, reject victim-blaming, and know how to get help. Read more about the study right here.

Very few anti-trafficking programs have ever been evaluated this rigorously—especially with a control group. This research raises the bar for what prevention can and should look like. And it was made possible thanks to donors who believe that good intentions aren’t enough—we have to prove it works.

Within the sector at large, there’s a lot of “prevention” work that’s mostly just awareness-raising. But research indicates that knowledge alone doesn’t change behavior. Awareness of trafficking doesn’t address the root causes of vulnerability—or help a young person know how to get out of a dangerous situation. That’s where Not a Number’s methods stand out.

Your support is helping bring real safety within reach for more young people.

In our Survivor Care, we’ve seen it again and again: trafficked children being forced to commit crimes as part of their exploitation—whether that’s recruiting other youth, shoplifting, drug possession, or trespassing. The law should be able to recognize that these acts are committed as part of their victimization.

That’s why Love146 has been advocating for what’s known as an affirmative defense—a legal safeguard that allows survivors to explain if crimes they’re charged with were a direct result of their victimization. It’s a crucial step toward justice that sees children not as criminals, but as victims in need of protection and support.

And we’re seeing progress. In Connecticut, a new law was just signed that strengthens protections for youth who’ve experienced trafficking or sexual violence. The new law includes:

• An expanded affirmative defense for child trafficking survivors that covers misdemeanors

• Explicit protections under anti-discrimination law

• Improved training for frontline professionals

Love146 helped shape this law and mobilized advocates to make their voices heard. While this progress happened in one state, it contributes to a growing national shift: one where legal systems recognize exploited children as victims, not criminals.

Each step like this sets a precedent—and moves us closer to a future where every survivor has the chance to be seen, heard, and protected.