Explaining new grant to fight human trafficking in our area

Children's Advocacy Center gets funding to improve their investigations

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County has landed a national grant to help them deal with human trafficking.

The grant comes from the National Children’s Alliance.

The money will go to updating the local staff that investigate child sexual exploitation in our area on national procedures.

The Children’s Advocacy Center sees victims of sexual and physical abuse.

Last year they saw more than 1,200 children.

“We have seen these cases for the last several years and know they are complex,” said CAC Executive Director Kristen Pavlik McCallie. “The CAC model is one with a team approach, it is vital that our policies and procedures for each kind of case, including trafficking cases, have strong protocol, this grant will help us to ensure that.”

Many of these cases stretch across several jurisdictions.

And FBI officials say it is a growing problem.

Joseph E. Carrico of the Knoxville office says, “The abuse of vulnerable youth through either trafficking or sexual exploitation is, unfortunately, a very real concern in our country. Children’s advocacy centers are an integral resource for law enforcement, as they serve as a safe place for children to be interviewed and for families to seek resources during their time of need. We are grateful for the work they do in advancing law enforcement investigations and combatting the exploitation of children.”

District Attorney General Coty Samp is the head of the investigative team.

“The value of the CAC in our community cannot be understated. Their work is unparalleled, and without it, children and families would be underserved. In criminal justice we must prioritize– prioritizing means protecting children and families at all costs.”