The U.S. Justice Department has granted $1 million to the Salvation Army to curb child prostitution.
The Army will launch initiatives in Denver, Chicago, San Diego, Atlantic City, N.J., and Washington, D.C., to free young women from captivity.
Robert Flores, the administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, said the Salvation Army has the right connections to get the job done.
"Because they are plugged into the faith-based communities and small organizations," he said, they "are in a position to really engage local community engines."
Adam Freer, director of the Army's Partnership to Rescue Our Minors From Sexual Exploitation, said his group will partner with groups including the Polaris Project and the Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS) to train social workers and community leaders to spot and stop the sexual exploitation of girls.
"Prostitution is not a victimless crime," he told Family News in Focus. "When it comes to child prostitution, it's a horrific, devastating, life-ruining crime."
He said the church is an ideal starting point.
"This is clearly a moral issue," he added. "Faith-based organizations have wonderful networks based on preaching and message and teaching. This message needs to get out."
Rachel Lloyd of GEMS is a survivor of the exploitation. She said everyone has some young woman in their lives, whether a daughter, a niece or a neighbor.
"When we think about her being bought and sold by grown men, that should be enough to make us feel outraged," she said.
