The Barnaba Institute Education Program raises awareness about domestic human trafficking and provides information on how to identify and aid human trafficking victims. Lectures in Connecticut are State-certified through the Office of Victim Services.
The Barnaba Institute Education Program also provides preventative lectures to students and parents on how to stay safe from predators and traffickers. Presentations are tailored to the specific needs of the audience and age group.
Please contact the Barnaba Institute at 860-447-2060 or send an emailto schedule a lecture.
Testimonials about the Barnaba Institute's Education Program:
"It was the best. I think they [society] should make a march for this. People all over the world need to know this information." Male, East Hartford High, 2008
"This is a very wonderful experience because this is something that should be known for anyone's safety and this is an eye opener to many young women to just be careful about who is your friend." Female, East Hartford High School, 2008
"Very informative seminar. Realistic depiction of human trafficking and tragedy to society. Presenters were knowledgeable and provided direct/candid data. Thank you." Female, Branford Hall Institute, 2008
Looking Deeper: Respecting Oneself
“Looking Deeper: Respecting Oneself” is a new preventative education workshop for girls ages 11-14, designed to inspire youth to look beyond today's “pop-cultural” messages of hyper-sexuality and to educate and enable youth with self-esteem tools to reduce their chances of victimization by community and online sexual predators and exploiters.
This program is currently funded through Unilever Foundation and the Connecticut Episcopal Diocese and is provided at no cost to organizations in Connecticut. If you would like to schedule a workshop, please contact us today.
Outreach and Client Services
The Barnaba Institute's small but caring Outreach Team of staff and volunteers provide hope to at-risk, commercially sexually exploited and trafficked youth and young adults, many of whom have young children. The Team conducts outreach one to three times per week through a soup kitchen in New London, Connecticut. At each visit, the Team passes out health and contact information, hygiene products, packaged snacks, vitamins or clothing.
The program's long-term goal is to transition these youth and young adults out of exploitation and homelessness so that they can begin a healthy and productive life. Realistically, this goal cannot be accomplished in a short period of time since there are multiple factors, such as drug-addiction and psychological or physical needs, that must be addressed simultaneously. Outreach services must be sustained over time, months or years, in order to affect real change and to make a lasting difference in each person's life.
The Barnaba Institute also provides client services to survivors of prostitution who need someone to talk to about their experiences. Staff do not provide professional therapeutic services, but rather a friendly ear and hours of conversation to help the survivor regain her dignity by talking to someone who understands her plight.
Hope to better a person's life depends on you. If you specify your donation today to the Outreach Program, here is an example of what your generous donation can do:
Provide vitamins and healthy granola bars
Provide clean socks and undergarments
Provide hygiene products and clothing
Provide for transportation, identification and health care costs
Individual client services including in-person meetings, phone calls and transportation
We also accept in-kind donations. Please refer to the Outreach Team's Wish List for donations we accept.
The Barnaba Institute Pilot Project (BIPP)
The Barnaba Institute is the recipient a three year grant from the Ittleson Foundation of New York City. This grant allowed us to begin the Barnaba Institute Pilot Project (BIPP) in January 2008 with the creation of an educational program based upon Mr. Barnaba's outreach methodology and vast experience. Included in the program are educational materials and a video on how to identify and assist victims of trafficking with special attention to their unique mental health concerns. The goal of this training program is to create a nationwide network of professionals equipped to identify and aid victims of human trafficking/commercial sexual exploitation, a population this is generally undetected and uncared for. The Barnaba Institute chose the Covenant House as a partner for this pilot project because Covenant House centers are designed to provide support services to homeless, runaway and throwaway youth. Upon completion of the pilot project, the training program will be expanded and made available to other non-profits, churches, health care professionals and law enforcement nationwide.
Affiliations and Networks
New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition
End Internet Trafficking Coalition
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women's Abolitionist Network
Family Advocacy Outreach Network (FAON) through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The Barnaba Institute Education Program raises awareness about domestic human trafficking and provides information on how to identify and aid human trafficking victims
