HOPE. HEALING. FREEDOM.
Fighting human sex trafficking through prevention, intervention, and empowerment.
What is Human Sex Trafficking?
According to State and Federal laws, human sex trafficking occurs when someone uses force, fraud, or coercion to cause another person to engage in a commercial sex act. When the person being exploited is under the age of 18, force, fraud, or coercion does not have to be present. Any commercial sexual exploitation of a minor is automatically considered human trafficking. A commercial sex act does not always involve an exchange of cash. Anything of value may be exchanged, including food, shelter, clothing, drugs, gifts, transportation, or other items or needs.
Is Human Trafficking Happening in My City?
Yes. Human trafficking is not limited to large cities, international borders, or distant communities. It occurs in communities across the United States, and Madera County is not exempt. Trafficking is a hidden crime, and reported or identified cases represent only those that have been discovered. Many people experiencing exploitation remain unseen or unidentified, making the true scope of human trafficking difficult to measure. Prevention, education, early identification, and access to specialized support are critical in every community—including ours.
OUR RESPONSE:
PREVENT. INTERVENE. EMPOWER.
Preventing Human Sex Trafficking:
Olive equips youth, families, schools, and communities with the knowledge and tools to recognize vulnerabilities, identify warning signs, reduce exploitation, and create safer communities. Our prevention efforts include nationally recognized curricula, internet and social media safety education, youth prevention programs, and community education.
LEARN ABOUT PREVENTION EDUCATION
Intervention Supportive Services:
When exploitation occurs, those who have experienced it need more than awareness—they need meaningful support and a pathway forward. Olive provides specialized advocacy, case management, safety planning, referrals, and safe and transitional housing for individuals impacted by human sex trafficking. We also collaborate with law enforcement, child welfare, probation, behavioral health, service providers, and other community partners to connect those impacted with resources and support.
GET HELP
Empowering Those Impacted:
Freedom from exploitation is only the beginning. Olive walks alongside people who have been impacted by human sex trafficking as they work toward stability and independence, helping them navigate resources and opportunities needed to build a future beyond exploitation.
LEARN ABOUT OUR SERVICES
THE IMPACT ON FAMILIES:
Human trafficking is more than a national issue or a set of statistics. For Olive, this work is deeply personal.
In this local news interview, Olive’s Program Manager shares her family’s experience with human sex trafficking
and discusses how exploitation can happen in communities like ours,
what families need to know, and why education and early intervention matter.