Hawley’s human trafficking task force will offer assistance to struggling non-profits

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley announced on Thursday that his statewide human trafficking task force will offer assistance to non-profits struggling to find funding for their anti-trafficking efforts.

Hawley said a southeast Missouri group recently halted its work due to lack of funding.

“Not only is finding the funding difficult, but the application process is also extremely burdensome for smaller groups in the state,” Hawley said. “This is why the task force is stepping in to help navigate the complicated application process so that no other group is ever discouraged or forced to shut its doors.”

Hawley’s task force was established in April and includes law enforcement officials, local prosecutors, social-service providers, victims’ advocates and individual human-trafficking survivors.

“This crime is not limited to certain communities or big cities,” Hawley said. “Human trafficking touches every corner of our state, and local non-profit groups play a fundamental role in eradicating it.”

Groups seeking help with funding should contact Emily Russell, executive director of the human trafficking task force at Emily.Russell@ago.mo.gov.