Two Pinal County organizations helping sex trafficking victims

Two Pinal County organizations are working in cooperation with a national group to help the victims of sex trafficking.

Aug 21, 2015, 5:05 PM Updated: 8:02 pm

In this Oct. 8, 2014 photo, Song, a survivor of sex trafficking who now lives at the faith-based Samaritan Women home, poses outside of the home at dusk in Baltimore. A year ago and less than a mile away, she was working the streets of West Baltimore, trading sex for money. That was before Samaritan Women came into her life, giving her and other women who are survivors of sex-trafficking in the U.S. protection and a long-term plan to change their lives. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

PHOENIX — Two Pinal County organizations are working in cooperation with a national group to help the victims of sex trafficking.

The National Human Trafficking Resource Center, which uses tips and crisis hotlines to help victims, has partnered with the San Tan Valley Family Advocacy Center and the Arizona Public Safety Foundation.

The center is just the second in the nation to serve as a safe place for victims of child abuse and their families. The nation’s other facility is in Eloy. Both seek to give a child-friendly environment while providing services to help investigators.

The Arizona Public Safety Foundation supports the center through various means, including money, health and legal assistance.

The foundation is hoping to expand its reach in Arizona.

“We want to expand and work with other municipalities and other types of first-responder organizations that may need help,” spokesman Jeffery Tramer said.

The NHTRC can be reached at 888-373-7888 or by texting BEFREE to 233733.