Mission

Prevent

The first and most crucial aspect to ending human trafficking and sexual exploitation is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. In 2022, Mercy Gate Ministries Outreach Program reached hundreds of thousands of individuals locally, nationwide and even internationally.

We have hosted or participated in 67 events this year. We have provided over 50 hours of training for more than 2400 professionals including Law Enforcement, Court Officials and Healthcare Providers.

We are currently working with local and Federal Law Enforcement agencies, speaking regularly at Colleges and Universities, and spreading awareness through TV features and engagements.

Mercy Gate focuses on prevention through two primary means, as detailed below.

Awareness & Outreach

Mercy Gate regularly hosts community awareness events to inform the public. We believe that giving our community the tool of knowledge empowers individuals, leaders, and parents to prevent trafficking. For prevention it is of vital importance to especially reach youth and parents through spreading awareness.
Available Now

Outreach & Equipping

Outreach Presentations are specific for Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation and can be individually structured for schools, churches, small/large groups, communities, direct service providers, airports, task forces, healthcare staff/students and more. 

General

Human Trafficking 101 (Foundational)

This covers basics of all types of human trafficking, trafficking vs smuggling, red flags/indicators, risk and protective factors, myths & realities, sex trafficking vs prostitution, how and where to report.
General

Human Trafficking 201 (Advanced)

This covers the subculture, specifics of sexual exploitation in different forms, how sexual exploitation happens, recruitment methods, and the demand.
General

Trauma Informed Care

This covers victim-centered approach, healthy relationships and boundaries, explanation of the victims mindset, effects of trauma in the brain and trauma bonds, polyvictimization, and barriers to self identification.
Law Enforcement

Specialized Training for Law Enforcement

Trauma Informed Strategies for Rescue & Recovery, Online Chatter and Ads for Undercover Operations, Barriers to Self-Identification, Re-Exploitation of Victims, Distrust in Law Enforcement.
Courtroom

Courtroom Training

HT 101 & 201, trauma informed care and effects of trauma in victims, specific indicators of victims/defendants, tactics to develop or enhance a court-based response to victims/defendants, barriers to services and self identification, strategies to improve outcomes for victims/defendants as well as increase arrests and convictions of perpetrators of commercial sexual exploitation.
Healthcare

HT for Healthcare Professionals & Students

How to recognize human trafficking in a healthcare setting, identify potential victims, practices to assist patients who are/could be victims.
Youth

Community Education Partner for NCMEC

Mercy Gate Ministries has partnered with National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to provide their approved trainings to youth and the community. NCMEC offers appropriate trainings for children of all ages.
Youth

Internet Safety

Covers the gamut of bunny hunting/fishing, online gaming, sexting, pornography, and sextortion.
General

Survivor Testimony

Journey through the experiences and life of a survivor.
    Available Now

    Courtroom Training

    Courtroom training is provided for Law Enforcement, First Responders, Court Officials including Prosecutors, Judges, Jail Personnel, and Administrative Staff, and Community Stakeholders such as Lawyers, Probation Departments, and Nonprofit or Nongovernmental agencies working with victims/defendants.

    Objectives for Courtroom Training:

    Comprehension

    Improve overall comprehension about the challenges faced when working with trafficking victims, their families, and traffickers.

    Strategic Assessment

    Assist courts and communities in assessing their current approaches to human trafficking and prostitution, and develop or enhance a court-based response to victims/defendants.

    Improved Processes

    Reduce barriers to services, improve outcomes for victims/defendants, and promote stakeholder collaboration in and outside of the judicial system.

    Clarification

    Clarify types and dynamics of sex and labor trafficking involving US citizens and foreign nationals present in jurisdictions across the nation.

    Identification

    Identifying how traffickers and victims might appear in different types of state court cases, including criminal, family, juvenile, child protection, ordinance violation and civil cases.

    6 Hour Training:

    6-hour training includes the following.

    Courtroom

    Human Trafficking 101 (Foundational)

    This covers basics of all types of human trafficking, trafficking vs smuggling, red flags/indicators, risk and protective factors, myths & realities, sex trafficking vs prostitution, how and where to report.
    Courtroom

    Human Trafficking 201 (Advanced)

    This covers the subculture, specifics of sexual exploitation in different forms, how sexual exploitation happens, recruitment methods, and the demand.
    Courtroom

    Trauma Informed Care

    This covers victim-centered approach, healthy relationships and boundaries, explanation of the victims mindset, effects of trauma in the brain and trauma bonds, polyvictimization, and barriers to self identification.
    Courtroom

    Supplemental Components

    Specific indicators of victim/defendants, tactics to develop or enhance court-based response to victims/defendants, strategies to improve outcomes for victims/defendants, judicial monitoring, evaluating and measuring success.

      *Trainings are appropriate for youth ages 11+
      **Trainings can be provided and individually structured for schools, churches, youth groups, small/large groups, communities, direct service providers, law enforcement, airports, task forces, NGO’s, ministries, State and County Officials, healthcare staff, sober living communities, and more
      ***Please consider each training may take 30 mins to an hour each, if requesting multiple trainings please provide enough time to cover each topic thoroughly

      Contact Our Outreach Specialist to Request Trainings
      Call Karla(830) 777-9778
      Email Karlakarla@mercygateministries.com
      Explore Partnerships
      Connect with our Team