Lighthouse will beam its efforts to turn a spotlight on human trafficking into Louisiana, the organization announced Feb. 22.
The Louisiana Governor’s Office of Human Trafficking Prevention (OHTP) and the Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund awarded a grant to Austin-based Allies Against Slavery to turn Lighthouse on in the Bayou State. It will be deployed as part of Louisiana’s data-driven strategy to prevent human trafficking and address the needs of survivors.
Lighthouse is an “innovative software solution that helps you and your organization understand trends in human trafficking, spot victims of exploitation, and coordinate quality care,” the Allies Against Slavery website noted.
Becky Austen of Lighthouse.
| Photo courtesy of Allies Against Slavery
In Texas, Lighthouse is used as part of a multifaceted approach to combat human trafficking, with more than 130 agencies using it to identify trafficking victims, coordinate their care, and gain insight from data and trends.
“Multidisciplinary partners in Louisiana will use Lighthouse to screen youth for trafficking, connect them to the right services, and visualize aggregate data to see and respond to trafficking across the state,” according to a release.
Allies Against Slavery, formed in Austin in 2010, has set a goal of eradicating human trafficking and protecting freedom and dignity.
First deployed in Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Child Sex Trafficking Team, Lighthouse demonstrates how states can use data and technology at scale to combat human trafficking, according to its website. Lighthouse is used by more than 130 organizations and more than 1,500 field professionals.
“We applaud the leadership of Gov. John Bel Edwards, and we are honored to partner with the OHTP to bring Lighthouse to Louisiana,” John Nehme, president and CEO of Allies Against Slavery, said in a release. “Traffickers use technology to exploit the vulnerable, but Louisiana is using data and technology to save lives. Together we can shine a light that guides people to freedom.”
Lighthouse director Becky Austen told Austin Journal that her organization will not have a location in Louisiana but will be connected to people who are there.
“No physical office, we’re able to do the Lighthouse project remotely,” Austen said. “We’re working with the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Human Trafficking Prevention and other partners in the state who have local offices and staff.”
She declined to reveal the dollar figures involved, including if the grant would cover all costs.
“We don’t share budget information publicly,” Austen said.
Louisiana officials hailed the announcement.
“Louisiana is taking a lead in the fight against human trafficking,” Louisiana First Lady Donna Edwards said in a release from the state. “The people of Louisiana deserve it and our children deserve it. As we work together using innovative solutions like Lighthouse, I know that we will drastically reduce the numbers of children and families exposed to this heinous crime.”
Edwards formed a national coalition for the prevention of human sex trafficking that includes six spouses of governors. These are Cecilia Abbott of Texas, Susan Hutchinson of Arkansas, Marty Kemp of Georgia, Tracey Quillen-Carney of Delaware, Elee Reeves of Mississippi and Britainy Beshear of Kentucky.
Gov. Edwards signed a bill into law creating the OHTP in 2021. It utilizes a survivor-informed and trauma-informed approach to guide its work, providing leadership and oversight of the Louisiana Human Trafficking Prevention Commission and Advisory Board and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force.
“The journey of eradicating human trafficking is incumbent on survivors’ voices and supporting the organizations dedicated to this mission,” Sophia Strother, a survivor and CEO of L2E Industries, said in the release. “As a board member of Allies Against Slavery and survivor of human trafficking, this collaboration with Allies through Lighthouse is a wonderful way to bridge the gap.”
“Human trafficking will not be tolerated in the state of Louisiana,” OHTP executive director Dr. Dana Hunter said in a release from the state. “Lighthouse is an important part of our statewide data-driven strategy to identify victims, coordinate care for survivors and evaluate trends to prevent exploitation. This partnership enables us to leverage data and technology in exciting new ways to keep our children and citizens safe.”
Lighthouse was featured at the Mid-South Anti-Human Trafficking Summit in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Feb. 16.
People who work in law enforcement, as well as prosecutors, judges, service providers, policymakers, and leaders from Texas, Louisiana and other Southern states came together to develop solutions and share best practices to combat exploitation and support the healing of survivors. Allies Managing Director Torey Tipton noted how Lighthouse leverages data and uses technology at scale to combat trafficking.
Lighthouse is making a difference in the ongoing battle against human trafficking, according to partnership manager Tally Jorn. He said it has changed how organizations across Texas screen for trafficking and provide care for youth and young adults.
“We’ve seen how this data empowers real-time responses to crises, like a person sitting in a shelter at 3 a.m. while also providing critical insights and understanding that empower how the trafficking field as a whole builds response plans and ongoing care,” Jorn said in an email to supporters last fall. “Our field has never had access to this kind of data, which empowers both appropriate instant responses and long-term planning.”
Austen told Austin Journal that it’s unclear if human trafficking is becoming worse in Texas and Louisiana. Lighthouse, however, can help detect trends.
“We partnered with the University of Texas to do a prevalence study in 2016, which estimated the scope and impact of human trafficking in Texas at that time,” she said. “There isn’t a current study or measurement to see whether the scope of the problem has changed. Our Lighthouse data platform is giving us further insight into human trafficking in Texas, and we are expanding this platform into Louisiana.”