United Against Human Trafficking

Our goal at United Against Human Trafficking is to end trafficking by unifying the movement and strategically creating programs that fill in the gaps of services for victims and survivors.

We fight both sex and labor trafficking in three ways: prevention, client services, and collaboration.

Prevention: We train frontline professionals such as social service providers, educators, and hospitality workers how to recognize the signs of exploitation and respond safely. We teach students how to spot trafficker grooming tactics and equip at-risk children with the healthy life skills they need to avoid falling into exploitation. We reach out to vulnerable communities such as the homeless, immigrants, substance-dependent, and others to direct them to community resources and identify overlooked victims. We disrupt demand for trafficking through peer support groups for men convicted of buying sex.

Client Services: We provide wrap-around case management for survivors of sex and/or labor trafficking as they journey to full, holistic recovery. We facilitate trauma-healing support and other alternative therapy groups for victims and families affected by trafficking. We assist clients with housing payments to ensure they remain safe and sheltered from traffickers.

Collaboration: Our 55+-member Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition (HRRC) collectively strategizes for local efforts against exploitation. We share resources, provide mentorship, and uphold a united response to human trafficking. Our service referral network The Pathway allows victim assistance agencies and their clients to access diverse care across the Greater Houston Area from a single platform.

UAHT is led by Timeka Walker, a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with over 17 years of experience in nonprofit management and operations. As the CEO, Ms. Walker ensures the overall operation of the organization in order to achieve its mission. Her leadership role in the Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition with 50+ other Executive Directors /CEOs allows her to be on the pulse of survivor needs in Houston. She leads a strong and experienced team of social workers, project managers, and development professionals.

UAHT is governed by an active Board of Directors that meets 12 times a year and holds special meetings as needed. The Board is made up of professional and entrepreneurial leaders in the community, all passionate about UAHT's mission. Board committees (Executive, Finance, Development, and Strategic Planning) review finances; review, initiate, and support fund development activities; initiate, implement, and review long-range planning goals; review and update/revise organizational policies; provide general oversight; address governance issues; plan special events; and other tasks as needed.

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1. Appointed by the Attorney General of Texas in 2010 to serve on the state-wide Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force.
2. Developed a comprehensive health care training program on human trafficking called Human Trafficking and the Health Care Professional: Look Beneath the Surface and H.E.A.R. Your Patient in 2010. This program educates health professionals on identifying victims in the clinic setting.
3. Launched the first prevention training program in Texas for at-risk youth in 2011. The program aims to prevent youth from falling victim to labor and sexual exploitation. It is the first program of its kind in Texas.
4. Appointed by the Mayor of Houston in 2012 to serve on the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Immigration and Refugee Affairs and to Chair the Sub- Committee on Human Trafficking, which transitioned in 2015 to the Houston Area Council on Human Trafficking. UAHT chaired the Prevention Sub- Committee.
5. The Department of State designated UAHT as a key organization for international delegations to consult with while looking to improve anti-trafficking efforts. UAHT has met with 12 delegations from countries all over the globe. As a result of this work, the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus invited UAHT to work in collaboration with the government of Cyprus and provide additional training on human trafficking, building coalitions/partnerships, and technical training to government officials, law enforcement, and health care providers in 2013.
6. Produces effective annual media campaigns since 2008, including multi-lingual billboards, taxi cab signs, airport shuttle signs, and mall signs.
7. Recipient of the 2014 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award due to our many years of service to the community and, most notably, our 2014 Media Campaign entitled “Let Them Be Heard,” which spanned 17 cities across the state of Texas.
8. Became a member of the Texas Governor's Office of Continuum Care for Child Sex Trafficking Victims, allowing UAHT to advocate for children in the juvenile justice system.
9. Developed the country's first referral database specifically for survivors of human trafficking and their service providers.