South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Chair of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force, announced the launch of a statewide certification program for service providers working with human trafficking victims. The new program is in partnership with Safe House Project, a national non-profit providing certification, survivor support, and safe housing options for those that have been trafficked.
“South Carolina’s efforts to better protect human trafficking victims began with the 2019 launch of a Victim Service Provider Certification for Human Trafficking Professionals, the first of its kind in the nation,” said Wilson. “The State will now require Safe House certification for residential and community-based programs, another first in the nation.”
Up to 20 programs in South Carolina will receive certification services each year. Eight non-profits will be invited for the first cycle of the process. The State Task Force will include those who receive certification in its online resource directory. Certified programs will also be included in the National Human Trafficking Hotline victim services referral list.
Kristi Wells, CEO of Safe House Project, said, “South Carolina will become the first state to require Safe House Certification for both residential and community-based services supporting survivors of trafficking.”
“As we work to expand Safe House Certification across the country, partnerships like South Carolina’s will serve as a model for other states,” said Brittany Dunn, COO of Safe House Project. “Our goal is to strengthen survivor care nationwide by ensuring every program has the tools, training, and resources to provide the highest level of trauma-informed, survivor-centered support.”
For more information about anti-human trafficking efforts in South Carolina, please visit the State Task Force website at humantrafficking.scag.gov. To report an incident or seek victim services, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. The Hotline is confidential and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.