A home will soon be established in St. Louis, Missouri for women and children rescued from sex trafficking, according to a recent report.
International Crisis Aid is well known for establishing homes in foreign countries, such as Cambodia and Ethiopia. Founder Pat Bradley says the approach in St. Louis will be similar.
"It's going to be a holistic program where we get the girls from law enforcement," Bradley says. "That is going to be our primary aim, and it's going to be for American victims. They will receive a holistic program where we deal with the spiritual, emotional, psychological, mental needs, education and get their G.E.D.s if they don't have it.'
The home will work with two groups, girls ages up to 17 and young women 18 to 24. Bradley hopes to educate the public to the fact that the need for the homes in this country is very great.
"I mean, my goal and dream would be to have one in every state. It's going to be one of those things, it's a very difficult thing to raise funds for," he explains. "The work in the states is extremely expensive as compared to overseas, but we're not going to let that stop us."
Most people have believed the trafficking of women and girls is a problem relegated to third world countries, but in the last four years the word has spread that there is a similar problem confronting America, and advocacy groups are responding.
Bradley hopes to have the St. Louis facility in operation by the end of the year.