Florida Baptist Children’s Homes invited to White House for Victims Law Signing
The staff of Florida Baptist Children’s Homes and One More Child has been grateful to walk through an incredible number of open doors God has provided to help more children and families the past several years, and recently a door that was open was the one to the Oval Office in Washington D.C.
President and CEO Dr. Jerry Haag, along with Christa Hicks, Executive Director of Anti-Trafficking at One More Child, joined President Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on January 9 to celebrate stronger protections for victims of sex trafficking around the world, as he signed into law the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2017. That bill signing is the fourth and final piece of bipartisan legislation authorized to enhance protections for victims, increase resources for advocacy efforts and ensure the prosecution of perpetrators.
“We count it a privilege to bring our expertise to such an important issue for vulnerable children,” Haag said. “Sex trafficking is a gruesome reality in communities across our nation and world. At One More Child, protecting vulnerable children is the cornerstone mission of our organization, and we are grateful for the actions at The White House today that will encourage greater participation from governments, law enforcement and the faith community alike to put an end to this heinous crime.”
Hicks said it gives her hope that more leaders and influencers are beginning to grasp the gravity and enormity of the trauma that children and individuals are experiencing from this heinous crime, and they are stepping up to do something about it.
“We were very excited to be there for this signing because the law was set to expire, which would have been a crushing blow to survivors and victims’ still needing help,” she said.
One More Child demonstrates leadership in the areas of sex trafficking intervention, education and victim restoration, locally and globally. In 2018, One More Child hosted anti-trafficking conferences in the Dominican Republic in partnership with President Danilo Medina. Later this month, One More Child will host a conference in Guatemala at the National Palace in partnership with First Lady Patricia Marroquin de Morales.
One More Child has been providing life-changing services to vulnerable children since 1904. Annually, the organization impacts more than 200,000 children and individuals domestically and globally at more than 50 locations worldwide through efforts in anti-trafficking, foster care, child hunger, family support services and single moms’ programs.
To learn more about how you or your church can get involved in making and immediate and eternal impact for children, visit www.onemorechild.org.
By RJ WALTERS, Director of Communications at FBCH One More Child
