Into the Light fights child sex trafficking, according to Jo Lisa Bloom.
It launched in 2015. Bloom appeared on KHOZ's "Around The Table" to talk about the non-profit organization. She said it provides service to 16 Arkansas counties and works as the only organization of this kind for the Arkansas Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces.
It also works with the Department of Homeland Security and other partners. There work helps kids long-term.
Bloom said that Into the Light offers advocacy. She gave the example of a child who was trafficked by the mother. Kids in that situation need a lot of support to triumph over the tragedy.
That tragedy doesn't just hit poor children. Bloom explained that while there are definitely risk factors, children in general are easy targets of trafficking.
She gave the example of a trustworthy child lured and groomed by a predator over the phone. Predators also pretend they are peers of victims.
Into the Light is available by phone for calls and texts all of the time at 877-743-7348. The group's website provides more information:
All services provided by Into The Light are designed to foster trauma-informed, long-term relationships with children whose lives have been impacted by the trauma of the sex industry in Arkansas. The vast majority of the children we serve are Arkansans, though we serve any child regardless of where their trafficking occurred. We are committed to seeing an end to the sex trafficking of children, no matter the cost.
The National Human Trafficking hotline is 888-373-7888. More was discussed on the broadcast.
The full interview with Bloom is on the "Around The Table" Facebook Page.
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