Help is available for victim survivors of predatory crimes. Below are some services within Minnesota that can assist you as you take steps to break the cycle of abuse. 

Sex and labor trafficking victim resources

• Safe Harbor Minnesota connects trafficking victim survivors with support services available in your region. Contact a Safe Harbor Regional Navigator for help locating local resources specific to your needs.
• Youth Services Network (YSN) – A variety of resources for youth victim survivors (mainly serves ages 24 and younger) within the Twin Cities Metro Area. Shelters, basic needs drop-in centers, mental health, health and wellness, pregnant and parenting youth, employment and more. 
• The Day One Crisis Line can assist victim survivors in locating resources across Minnesota. Call 1-866-223-1111 for information on shelters, basic needs and food shelves, legal advocacy, health and wellness, support groups and more.
• The Advocates for Human Rights provides statewide legal assistance for labor and sex trafficking victims.

Child sexual exploitation victim resources 

• The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), 1-800-843-5678 or  CyberTipline – Anyone (including the victim) can make reports of suspected online enticement of children for sexual acts, child sexual molestation, child sexual abuse material, child sex tourism, child sex trafficking, unsolicited obscene materials sent to a child, misleading domain names, and misleading words or digital images on the internet.
• Team HOPE – A group of peer support volunteers who have lived experience with missing and exploited children’s issues. Call 866-305-HOPE (4673) to talk to a Team HOPE member. Team HOPE’s trained volunteers can:
  • Help people in crisis with a missing, sexually exploited, or recovered child as they handle the day-to-day issues of coping and/or searching for their child.
  • Help provide peer and emotional support, compassion, coping tools and empowerment to people who have or were missing, sexually exploited, and recovered or located children.
  • Help instill courage, determination, and hope to those we support.
  • Help alleviate the feelings of isolation soften resulting from fear and frustration.
  • All Team HOPE support is phone-based and offered free of charge.

Removal of online sexual images

• Take It Down – A service through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that can help remove online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit images that were taken before you were 18.
• Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse – Remove non-consensual online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos and videos of adults.

Counseling resources

• Family Advocacy Outreach Network – Therapy services provided for free or on a sliding scale through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. For help locating a therapist near you contact gethelp@ncmec.org or 1-877-446-2632 ext. 6117.
• Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential crisis resources for those in distress and in need of support.

Education resources

• The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) provides information about the crime of sextortion and videos appropriate for different age groups.
• StopSextortion.com – A reference guide provided by Thorn about sextortion and online sexual exploitation of children. This resource includes:
  • Tips and advice for child victims
  • Information on how to help a friend who is being blackmailed with explicit content
  • Tips for adults including caregivers, educators, businesses and policy makers
  • Sextortion victims share their stories
  • A crisis text line to connect with a trained counselor
• NoFiltr – Scenario quizzes, peer advice and videos provided by Thorn to empower and educate youth about online safety.
• NetSmartz – Age-appropriate videos and activities to help children to become more aware of potential online risks and empower them to help prevent victimization by making safer choices both on- and offline. Includes presentations, tips sheets, lesson plans, and other safety resources.
• NetSmartz Kids – A child-oriented program where children can learn about online safety through videos and interactive activities.
• Talk with your kids about sextortion – The FBI provides conversation starters for parents to talk with their children about sextortion.