Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch has announced that nearly $2.5 million will be distributed to nine organizations that help human trafficking victims become survivors. The funding comes from the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund.

“Few crimes robe a person of their very humanity and dignity like human trafficking, but we don’t have to let it steal their future,” Fitch said. “Our community is fortunate to have these nine organizations who work tirelessly with our sisters, daughters and friends as they piece their lives back together. I am grateful for their dedication to help victims transform into survivors, for the Legislature for recognizing this need and authorizing the funding, and for the members of the Victims of Human Trafficking Fund Committee who have put so much time and effort into getting this important new program off the ground. Together, we can create an effective, compassionate end to human trafficking.”

The nine recipients are:

• Canopy Children’s Solutions, $128,197 — for evidence-based clinical services to youth throughout the state of Mississippi through four of their current solutions.

• Center for Violence Prevention, $516,890 — to add three new Rapid Response Team responders to assist with emergency services for adults and minors.

• Christians in Action, $83,000 — for on-site therapeutic services in its Children’s Advocacy Center.

• Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence, $107,063 — for a dedicated counselor for trafficking survivors, and operating expenses.

• Methodist Children’s Homes of Mississippi, $800,000 —  for transitional life skill/workforce training for teens in its care.

• Mississippi Families for Kids, $40,000 — for training.

• Mississippians Against Human Trafficking, $120,000; Southern Christian Services, $650,000; and  Sunnybrook Children’s Home, $27,800 — SCH will collaborate with SCS and MAHT in creating Mississippi’s only Safe Home for adolescent survivors of human trafficking.