Shared Hope International (SHI) ranked the state of Tennessee as the top in the nation for its efforts in curbing sex trafficking within the past year.

Tennessee was the first and only state graded a ‘B’ with all other states trailing with either ‘C’, ‘D’, or ‘F’ grades in the 2022 SHI report cards. SHI is an agency “committed to bring healing and hope to those exploited and victimized by sex trafficking,”

Tennessee’s newest “B” grade is significantly higher than its “D” grade last year.

According to a press release by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the state’s accomplishments in curbing sex trafficking “can be credited to the extensive efforts of Governor Bill Lee’s administration and the Tennessee General Assembly to provide increased funding and support to the coordination of efforts to investigate and provide comprehensive services and resources to victims of sex trafficking.”

Tennessee’s high score on the SHI report card was made possible by partnered efforts by agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS), TBI, the Tennessee District Attorney Generals Conference, various non-governmental organizations, and Child Advocacy Centers.

“I look forward to bringing my passion for victims and expertise on child sex trafficking to my new role in child welfare. There is still much work to do to ensure children are protected but DCS will partner with other agencies as we improve our collective response to sex trafficking,” DCS Commissioner Margie Quin said in a statement. “The improvements could not have happened without the collaboration of many agencies, and the support of our legislators and Governor Lee. Tennessee is poised to remain as the top-ranking state.”

SHI cites its largest reason for releasing its report card as a way to “challenge states to take the next step in the fight against sex trafficking by focusing on the area where the largest gaps remain—victim protections.”

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Building” by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.