Human trafficking: It’s closer than you think

SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) - Law enforcement and Blanket Fort Hope, a local nonprofit, came together Wednesday night to warn parents that human trafficking is occurring in central Alabama and that children as young as 12 are being targeted by traffickers.

Experts at the event said trafficking often begins long before a child is physically taken, with traffickers grooming both the child and the people around them — frequently through online platforms.

Sgt. Robert Rodriguez of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said digital spaces are a primary entry point for predators.

“We see it on chats, video games — and that’s where it starts,” Rodriguez said. “These guys, that’s their hunting grounds. The most vulnerable places.”

Alexa James, CEO and founder of Blanket Fort Hope, said no community is immune — including those that may feel insulated by affluence or reputation.

“We think in Hoover, our kids are safe because we live in Hoover,” James said. “I’ve got a child that teaches at Hoover High School. I’m going to tell you right now — they’re not.”

James added that technology has made children more vulnerable than ever.

“To me, it’s like giving a child a gun to give them an iPhone,” James said. “They’re on the information highway every single day, all day long — and you do not know who is coming to your child.”

Calera Police Chief David Hyche described one case involving a 16-year-old girl stopped in Calera who was traveling to Miami with a 43-year-old convicted felon. The stop was made possible by a license plate reader — technology Hyche said has helped rescue multiple children from predators in the Calera area alone.

“It’s my belief that little girl never would have been seen again,” Hyche said. “And it’s a fate worse than death — because she would have been sold six to eight times a day for the rest of her life.”

Recovery and resources

Officials noted that even after rescue, recovery is a lengthy process. Many victims are runaways who have been conditioned by traffickers to flee again — making long-term, specialized care critical.

Blanket Fort Hope operates a 73-acre campus in Shelby County that provides long-term, trauma-informed care for female survivors ages 12 to 18. The campus was built entirely debt-free and features a 10-bedroom Restoration Home where every girl has her own bedroom and bathroom — a deliberate design choice, James said, because of the unique trauma survivors carry.

“There’s nobody sharing — because we believe with this unique trauma, they don’t need to be sharing rooms,” James said.

The organization’s staff holds master’s and doctoral degrees, with specialties in trauma-informed care, counseling, and drug rehabilitation.

Blanket Fort Hope is also a licensed child-placing agency, meaning it can place both male and female children from birth through age 21 into trauma-informed foster homes across Alabama.

James said the work begins with building trust with survivors who have been conditioned to distrust care.

“They don’t understand that somebody really cares about them,” James said. “So we have to show them the love of Jesus first.”

What’s next for Blanket Fort Hope

Blanket Fort Hope is already planning its next phase of growth. The organization has announced plans to build four new homes on its Shelby County campus — the first step in a larger vision that includes approximately three pods of four homes each.

Future plans for the campus also include:

• Transitional living homes for older survivors
• A Family Services Center
• The Harvest of Hope teaching farm
• A chapel and stable
• Additional spaces designed to support long-term healing and restoration

James said the goal is for every survivor who comes through Blanket Fort Hope to leave with a future — including a path to college, a career, and a life in the community.

“We’re not just an agency, a drop-off place,” James said. “We plan for them to go to school. We plan for them to go to college.”

The organization has been training and advocating across Alabama for 11 years and says it has trained more than 25,000 people to date. Blanket Fort Hope offers free training for churches, schools, law enforcement, and community groups.

How to help

James called on the community to engage with the issue directly.

“Come fight with us,” James said. “Please don’t turn away from the problem.”

Law enforcement encouraged anyone who suspects trafficking to report it immediately.

To learn more about Blanket Fort Hope, request community training, or find out how to support the organization’s work and expansion, click or tap here, or call (205) 840-9411.

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