FUNDING PRIORITIES
KEY PROJECTS
Survivor Flexible Funding - provides for survivor’s basic needs
Grants Given to Community Organizations: $12,000
These flexible grants allow Santa Barbara organizations to purchase items a survivor might need when they are seeking help, such as clothing, hygiene products, and food.
Providing the “front-line” service teams with access to flexible funding allows for relationship-building, a key aspect of a survivor’s journey of healing.
This funding priority supports SAFE’s focus on accessible, timely flexible funds for survivor needs. This falls under the Strategic Plan Focus Category 1: Sex Trafficking Tools and Protocols.
Continued Funding for Lompoc Prevention Education
Funding: $20,000
SAFE SB County funds a Lompoc-based service provider dedicated to providing prevention education in Lompoc schools. One piece of this project’s focus is to equip young people with the skills and strength to understand their own resilience, build confidence in healthy relationships, and provide support and care to their peers.
The other element of the project focuses on educating school-based professionals, such as social workers and counselors, to better identify risk factors in students, and provide care to those youth while referring them to community-based support.
This funding priority supports the achievement of the SAFE’s Strategic Plan, Focus Category 2: Prevention, Early Intervention, and Identification of Sexual Exploitation in K-12 Schools.
Continued Funding for Lompoc Care and Coordination Day
Funding: $25,000
SAFE SB County funded a Lompoc-based service provider to develop and launch a “Care and Coordination Day” to provide a caring environment and service support to women experiencing homelessness and housing instability in the Lompoc region.
This Care and Coordination Day is focused on providing care by women, for women, in a safe, non-judgmental space to support them and provide referrals to additional services, such as case management, housing, and medical care.
This funding priority supports the achievement of SAFE’s Strategic Plan, Focus Category 1: Sex Trafficking Tools and Protocols (Dedicated child & adult outreach and engagement efforts)
Case Management Support for Local Youth
Maximum Funding Available: $30,000
(matching effort with local foundations - $60,000 total)
A “Single Point of Contact” caseworker dedicated to supporting youth who are experiencing Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) plays a crucial role in our community. This person offers trauma-informed outreach, educational and psycho-social support, and access to vital resources like transportation, legal assistance, and safety planning.
They ensure comprehensive, tailored care, advocating for the youth's needs across education, law enforcement, and healthcare. This role provides holistic, ongoing support, safety and long-term recovery for affected families.
This caseworker is also crucial for building trust through sustained relationship, rather than re-traumatizing youth through sharing their story with numerous people. This person supports youth primarily in South Santa Barbara County, and is funded over three years to ensure the best outcomes
This funding priority supports the achievement of the SAFE’s Strategic Plan, Focus Category 2: Prevention, Early Intervention, and Identification of Sexual Exploitation in K-12 Schools
Multi-Agency Collaborative (MAC) Coordination
Maximum Funding Available: $30,000
(matching effort - $60,000)
The MAC Coordinator is an administrative role that provides vital support to case management staff working on human trafficking and exploitation cases.
This role facilitates collaboration, manages data collection, and improves communication between agencies. By handling funding, grants, and resources, the MAC Coordinator supports those providing “on-the-ground” services, and helps improve outcomes for survivors and victims.
Transcend Documentary Part 2: Prevention and Early Intervention
Maximum Funding Available: $15,000
This short documentary – the second in our series of five short films, delves into local efforts to prevent and intervene earlier in the lives of those at risk of human trafficking and exploitation. Through this documentary series, we aim to raise awareness in Santa Barbara County by sharing real stories and educating viewers on how to understand the root causes of human trafficking.
This installment in the series focuses on proactive measures like youth education and community engagement to stop trafficking before it starts, including the importance of love, belonging, and purpose for young people at risk. The film also illustrates the much-needed collaboration between local organizations, so those at risk in our community receive the support they need.