Unplanned: A Brief Review

This past weekend I had the opportunity to read Unplanned, the recently released autobiography of Abby Johnson.

It is an incredible book and I encourage everyone to find a copy and read it!

For any of you who may be unfamiliar with her, Abby Johnson is a former Planned Parenthood Clinic Director who left her job in 2009 after a dramatic realization (I hesitate to use the word conversion, though many have described it as such).

The clinic she ran just so happened to be the one in Bryan, Texas (near College Station/Texas A&M) - the home of the first 40 Days for Life.

The book is a very fast read. I devoured it in a few hours and my sister did as well. It is gripping, blunt, and speaks right to the heart.

Unplanned traces Abby's path from her college days as a very genuine psychology major who just wanted to help others, to Planned Parenthood volunteer, then staff member, then director and ultimately her escape.

Through the book we see into the heart, not only of Abby, but countless other women and men who fell for the same lies Abby was fed. We see a vivid picture of the pro-life movement and the myriad of tactics used by it - and what hurts and what works. Abby delves into the role of religion and churches in her journey.

Above all, Abby wonderfully shows her readers the complexity of the issues she faced, and asks us -regardless of where we stand - to look at them through the eyes of the other side. Below is her introductory note:

“My story is not a comfortable one to read. I think it’s only fair to warn you of that up front. Not comfortable, but honest and true. As you are about to discover, I’ve spent years on the front lines of the face-off between pro-choice and pro-life advocates. Which side? Both sides. You are about to enter my journey from naïve college girl to director of a Planned Parenthood clinic to advocate for families in crisis, including the unborn members of those families.

“I reveal my story not because I am proud of it. I am not. But my thinking and choices are not unlike those of so many people I have encountered. And until we each set aside our own preferences for how we wish others would think and behave, or how we assume others think and behave, we won’t be able to understand those with whom we differ in order to engage in real dialogue and discover truth.

“To this day I have friends on both sides of this polarizing debate. We all long for a story that shows ‘our’ side is right and good, and ‘their’ side is wrong and bad, don’t we? But I testify that there is good and right and wrong on both sides of the fence. And even more shocking – we have far more in common with the ‘other’ side than we might imagine.

“So what side of the fence are you on? In all likelihood, as you look through the fence, you see faulty thinking and harmful behavior on the other side. Here’s my question for you: are you ready to look through the fence and see goodness, compassion, generosity and self-sacrifice on the other side?

“Did you just feel yourself squirm? If so, welcome to my journey.”

Unplanned is published by Ignatius Press. Visit the book's website here and read the first chapter of the book.

This book is a valuable story for us all. Everyone, pro-life or pro-choice, must read this amazing book.

One more thing for your Thanksgiving weekend to do list

Benedict XVI is calling on all Catholics to join in a Vigil for All Nascent Human Life, to be celebrated in local parishes and dioceses Nov. 27.

The Pope will celebrate the vigil in St. Peter's Basilica on the eve of the First Sunday of Advent, and is requesting "all diocesan bishops (and their equivalent) of every particular church preside in analogous celebrations involving the faithful in their respective parishes, religious communities, associations and movements," a communiqué from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reported.

(Cardinal Daniel DiNardo) said, "I heartily encourage all Catholics, whether at home or traveling over the Thanksgiving holidays, to take part in this special prayer."

Cardinal DiNardo affirmed, "Becoming a voice for the child in the womb, and for the embryonic human being at risk of becoming a mere object of research, and for the neglected sick and elderly is one of many ways we can teach our fellow citizens that 'The Measure of Love is to Love Without Measure.'"

[Full Zenit article]

Image Source: Leonardo da Vinci, "Detail of a Views of a Fetus in the Womb"

And the greatest of these is love

A heart-warming story from the New York Times:
"Open Adoption: Not So Simple Math"

In the months before I gave birth, when my boyfriend and I were just getting to know the couple we had chosen, I was able to comprehend the coming exchange only on the most theoretical of levels, but it seemed like gentle math: Girl with child she can’t keep plus woman who wants but can’t have child; balance the equation, and both parties become whole again.

During those months, my son’s mother, Holly, observed that birth mothers have to accomplish in one day the monumental task of letting go that most parents have 18 years to figure out. Days after his birth, when I struggled with letting go, Holly sat with me and cried — for the children she never got to have, for the fact the adoption would bring her joy while causing me pain, and out of fear that she had already grown to love a child I might not give her.

I signed the papers on a hot August day in 2000, sitting at a large conference table with my sister, my son’s adoptive parents and agents from Catholic Social Services. I’d sat there several times before but hadn’t yet been able to say the words to relinquish all rights to my son. Each time I was left alone to think and, hours later, was sent home with him.

My pen rested at the intersection of two vastly different futures, and I struggled to see into the distance of each. It did not seem that a gesture as small as scribbling my name had the power to set me down one path while turning the other, its entire landscape, to dust. It was such a small gesture, but it was the first sketch of my life without a son.

The comfort is seeing my son with his family, whom I can no longer imagine him or myself without. He is an earnest child who seems to kick hard to keep his chin above water in the world, but his mother has a certain lack of sympathy that is good for him. When he wants to retreat into his own head, she pulls him back into the refuge of his family and makes him smile. I am ever astounded that I was able to see in her something that would still feel so right so many years later. [full story]

Happy Earth Day!

CHICAGO – CatholicVote.org says it’s time to use Earth Day to celebrate nature’s greatest gift – human life.

With bus ads starting today in Chicago and next week in San Francisco and Seattle, CatholicVote.org is encouraging Americans to rethink how they celebrate Earth Day, and how we to go about building a culture that respects the environment.

“Our goal is to use Earth Day to get Americans to think more deeply about what it means to truly respect the Earth and creation. Prevailing environmental attitudes too often view humans as the enemy of nature. We believe the human person is God’s greatest creation, and the Earth’s greatest resource. Building up a culture of life is the single most important way to build a culture that respects the environment,” said Brian Burch, President of CatholicVote.org Education Fund.

(I'm pretty sure this is too wide to embed well here, so click on the link above to see it properly. Or perhaps one of my fellow Church Ladies can come to my rescue, technically speaking.)

"The wonders of early human development"

"The Endowment for Human Development (EHD) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health science education and public health. EHD equips educators, clinicians, and governments to help everyone appreciate, apply, and communicate the science of health and human development."

This group takes a "neutral" stand on public policy issues regarding bioethics, but the amazing videos and images speak for themselves.

WARNING - Visiting this site will cause an hour to pass very quickly. You will be entranced by the beauty of the 4D video. You will gain a better appreciation for the use of science at the defense of life. You will be pleasantly surprised by the life-friendly language. A pre-born baby is referred to as a "developing human," we are invited to "study the wonders of early human development," and perhaps the best place to start may be with the 44 second "Morph" video at the top right of this page.

Cloche Tip: Erin Manning

Conference Announcement

Notre Dame Right to Life

announces its

5th Annual
Collegiate Conference
April 9 & 10, 2010

For the last five years, the student prolife organization of the University of Notre Dame has hosted an annual conference discussing topics pertinent to the prolife movement.

This year's speakers include:
George Weigel,
Fr. Thomas Berg
Joan Lewis
Dr. Maureen Condic
and
keynote speaker: Francis Cardinal George


The conference is open to all (university student or not). For non-Notre Dame students, they are asking a small donation of $10 to help defray the cost of the conference.

Notre Dame's an easy drive from Chicago, Milwaukee, Peoria, Indianapolis, Detroit, etc. Regardless of where you are, but especially if you're anywhere nearby, you should consider coming.

If you'd like to attend, registration may be found here.



My personal recommendation:
As a veteran conference chair and NDRTL president, I cannot encourage you enough to attend this conference. There are a number of annual conferences at Notre Dame that are well worth attending - notably the Center For Ethics & Culture's Fall Conference & the Edith Stein Project. The NDRTL conference, however, is often overlooked, and it really shouldn't be. The speakers, frankly, are always of the highest caliber and the attendees are very committed to discussing and pursuing the issues of the conference. I should also mention it's the cheapest. For non-students, the other events mentioned cost over $100; but the NDRTL conference is FREE (unless you want to donate $10). Furthermore instead of listening to undergrads read their papers, you get to listen internationally renowned leaders speak. Please promote this conference and help move it's status from Notre Dame's Best Kept Secret to Notre Dame's Most Popular Event.

Helping your PRC: Prayer

Today marks the 37th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision.

Over 50,600,000 children have been killed through legal, surgical abortion since that day.

Above all else: pray

Eternal Father, You are the Creator and Source of all life. Bless and protect all children threatened by abortion. Open the hearts of their parents and those who would seek to destroy their lives.

Strengthen all fathers. Make them mirrors of Your boundless love and protection so that they may defend and provide for their children.

Comfort all mothers. Reveal Your unmeasurable goodness to them so that they may place their trust in You and nourish the lives which You have entrusted to them.

Enlighten all lawmakers, doctors, and healthcare providers so that they may come to a deeper understanding and reverence for all human life, from the very moment of conception until natural death.

We ask these things in the name of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your beloved and only Son, Whom You sent to deliver us from the bonds of sin, and Who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.

March for Life 2010

The folks at AUL (Americans United for Life) have created something that deserves a prize. I'm just not sure which prize it deserves.

Now you have the opportunity to march online, alongside your fellow pro-lifers - even if you can't be in Washington. AUL Action is proud to host the first Virtual March for Life.

It will only take seconds, sign up, select your own "avatar" and then invite your pro-life friends and family to participate as well. It's the best way to "be there" even if you can't be there.

You can also check out the avatars of Leaders Marching for Life.

I think my favorite is Joe the Plumber:



I'm not sure what they were going for, but last time I checked, Our Man Joe didn't have yellow eyebrows:




For whatever it's worth, though, feel free to head on over there and join the throngs. When you're done you can find yourself on the Mall.



It's nice, and all that, but in a couple hours, I'm going to be boarding a bus along with many, many other Domers and making the 12 hour trek down there so I can be at the March in person!

By the way, in case you were wondering, Notre Dame is sponsoring 8 buses with a total of over 370 students (a record breaking year!) In addition, over 30 faculty and staff members will join them in D.C. along with numerous alumni and friends.

Go Irish, Save Babies!

Please keep us, and all marchers, mothers, fathers, babies, and lawmakers in your prayers.

Thank you.

Helping your PRC: Bottle Drive

A great and relatively easy way to help out your local pregnancy resource center is to organize a bottle drive.

5 Super-Easy Steps for a Great Bottle Drive


1) Collect or buy a large quantity of baby bottles.

2) Pass out a bottle to each person in your target group. It could be your church, school/homeschool group, sodality, family & friends. You can appeal to one group of people or multiple groups. Of course, be sure to ask the permission of the proper authorities if needed: i.e. your pastor at church.

3) Encourge everyone to take a bottles home and fill them with spare change over a designated period of time. (A couple weeks is usually a good period of time)

4) Collect the filled bottles on a designated day.

5) Count money, take it to the bank, and exchange it for bills (or use a service like coinstar). Then give the money to your PRC!

Easy!

Photo Credit

Helping your PRC: Donate

Donations keep pregnancy resource centers running - both monetary and material. Consider helping your PRC by giving a little.

A Brief Guide to Donating

Monetary Donations
$5 or $5000 will help. No donation is ever too small. Make space in your family budget to give to your PRC. Some families choose to give monthly, others yearly, and some give when they can. Whatever your case may be, anything and everything will be appreciated. Thank you!

Material Donations
Most PRCs accept used and new baby items. Some accept maternity clothes. Only a select few accept non-pregnancy or baby related items (such as regular women's clothing and household items) Before giving, it's usually a good idea to call and check to see what kinds of donations your PRC accepts/prefers. Chances are if your PRC can't use the items you give, they'll turn around and give it to St. Vincent's.

Awesome Donations

• New or clean, gently used baby clothes
• Packages of Diapers
• New baby items including furniture, car seats and toiletries
• New or clean, gently used maternity clothes
• Hand knit or crocheted baby hats, booties, blankets, etc - a church lady special! Knit away, ladies!
  

Start them out right with something like these adorable baby MaryJanes to the right knitted by Therese! The pattern is sold on Ravelry.

Not-Awesome Donations

• Stained, soiled, or otherwise damaged baby clothes
• Stained, soiled, or otherwise damaged maternity clothes
• Opened/expired baby food or formula
• Used cribs and used car seats
• Used baby furniture, swings, bouncers, etc

Unfortunately, due to the wonderful world of legal liability all of the stuff in the "not-awesome" category can't - or shouldn't- be used by PRCs, particularly the used furniture and carseats. Some PRCs will risk giving them to needy mothers, but for the PRCs sake, don't encourage them! The last thing they need is a lawsuit over a failed crib or carseat while Planned Parenthood and NARAL's minons dance about chanting "baby killers!" If you do plan on donating such items, make sure you can provide the PRC with the user manuals, model name and year, and ideally the original packaging. That way the PRC can check for recalls on the item.

Helping your PRC: Baby Shower Part 2

(Continued from yesterday's post)

Now that you've planned the essentials of the baby shower, there are a few more details you might want to consider.

3 Ways to Make your PRC Baby Shower a Success

1.) Food & Decorations
Don't forget the food! Pull out your Church Lady Book of Recipes and make something nice. A cake is a must. It will be a particular hit if it's cute and baby themed. Make sure there are a lot of healthy snacks too, as most pregnancy resource centers try to encourage good eating and prenatal care. Think veggie and fruit trays, pretzels, and other fun, healthy snacks.

Don't forget to make the venue look festive too. Streamers and balloons - make it look nice, but at the same time don't blow your budget on it.



2.) Icebreakers
Chances are that no one at your baby shower knows each other. Although I can tell you a horrible story about a time when two women did, but we won't go there. It's important to remember sensitivity to these women, their situations, etc. But, at the same time, to have fun, you'll all want to get to know each other a bit. The goal then is to break the ice as much as possible without disclosing too much info they might not want to share.

Icebreakers alone are a touchy subject - right? How many of you rolled your eyes when you saw: 2) Icebreakers? Probably a lot. So be wise. Definitely avoid icebreakers that require physical contact, even if it's just shaking hands.

Go with something like "Marooned." It's easy, flexible and you can add whatever twist you'd like. The basic is you're stuck on an island what _____(3 things, 2 movies, 5 foods, etc. - maybe put a baby twist on and ask for baby items) would you have with you?
Example: Hi, I'm ___. If I were marooned I'd be sure to have my favorite hat, my knitting needles, and ...don't laugh...my old stuffed bear.

Or whatever. You might want to have the ladies add when their baby's due. You can also ask if they know the sex of the baby and the name they've picked out or are considering - but you might want to save those questions for a game later on.

If you have a younger crowd who looks like they might not be too introverted, there's the animal icebreaker that's great for helping to remember names. Each person associates their name with an animal that shares the same first letter and then concludes by imitating that animal in sound and gesture.
Example: Hi I'm Beth and my animal's a bluebird! Chirp, chirp (flap arms)

Or whatever.

Name tags can be a good idea. But some people find it makes the environment feel more like a meeting and less like a party.

3.)Fun and Games
Games are part of practically every baby shower - whether for a crisis pregnancy center or not. However, in selecting games for your PRC shower, be use to use extra special sensitivity to the women for whom the shower is being held.
Important rule: Avoid games that make reference to the father of the baby. It's often a sore subject. Also, stay away from baby food tasting and other food-related games.

This website offers a number of baby games - not all of which are PRC suitable. Some of them can also make great icebreakers.

I highly recommend fill in the blank nursery rhymes. Here's one you can print off and pass around. Give people a time limit, and the one who fills in the most correctly wins.

As with all parties, make sure you have a lot of games on hand, but don't force anyone to play or make the games drag out for too long.

For that matter, don't make the party drag on too long.

Have fun!

Photo Credit: Flickr

Helping your PRC: Baby Shower Part 1

The excitement and near-giddiness that cute baby items bring a woman is priceless. It's even more priceless when such items are given to a mother who has nothing.

Most women who are driven to consider abortion are motivated by dire - or at least seemingly dire - financial situations.

Offer to host baby showers for your local Pregnancy Resource Center! It's a great activity for your local group of church ladies, but don't be afraid to fly solo if you're organized, have the resources or are good at getting what you need. You will bring more joy that you can imagine. Not only will you give a mother comfort in knowing that she has supplies (and adorable ones at that!) for the baby, but you will help her see that little thing in her belly as a the precious child that he or she is.


5 Steps to Plan a PRC Baby Shower:

1.) Get to know your PRC and find out if they have baby shower guidelines established, and what their other needs may be.

2.) Determine for whom the shower will be held
You could host a shower for one woman, or a group. You could host it for women who originally planned to abort or for women who are simply suffering financially - or for whomever you or your PRC see fit.

3.) Identify the woman's needs
I'd recommend putting together a substantial layette for the baby's first months. Focus on the basics - don't get carried away with frivolous things that are cute but not vital to baby's care.

Bigger items like bassinets, cribs, car seats are undoubtedly the best thing you can give a woman. But they are very costly. If you can raise the money to give them: awesome! But if not, don't feel bad. Hospitals, fire and police stations often offer infant car seats for free or for a nominal donation. Check to see if there are other organizations in the area that can help with cribs (maybe St. Vincent's or the Christ Child Society).

Here's a good rule that I've used for past showers:

• 1 pack of infant gowns (usually found in packs of 2)
• 1-2 packs of onezies/bodysuits (usually found in packs of 5)
• 1-2 packs of sleepers (usually found in packs of 3)
• 1 pack of hats (usually sold 2-3 together)
• 1 pack of booties (usually sold with 4 pairs)
• 1 pack of bibs (usually 5-7 together)
• 1 pack of washcloths (usually in packs of 5)
• 1 pack baby towels (usually in packs of 2-3)
• 1 pack receiving blankets (usually in packs of 3-5)
• 1 heavier blanket
  
• 1-2 baby toys - something that baby can use to teeth is a good idea
• A package of diapers - size 1 is good. If you have the resources, feel free to go all out and give multiple packages of different sizes.
  
• A nice gift for mom! Maybe a bath kit, a mug with a box tea (make sure it's appropriate for pregnancy), or anything along those lines.

*Note: For all clothes, go with size 0-3 months.

All of this can then neatly be packaged into

• 1 baby bath tub AND/OR
  
• 1 laundry basket
  

4.) Set the time, date, and location
Many PRCs are able to accommodate a little party - but for smaller centers you might have to look for another venue like your parish hall. For safety and privacy reasons I strongly advise against hosting these baby showers in your own home.

5.) Determine who's invited
Make sure the baby shower isn't just you and the woman - even if it's for a group of women! Get the PRC's counselors to attend, let the woman/women invite guests. If you're throwing a shower for a group of women, limit the guest number reasonably - maybe she can bring 2 or 3 friends/family members plus any children she already has.
Note: Never, ever exclude children she already has! If you're working with a group shower, it's a good idea to find a volunteer who can help keep the children entertained so mom can relax and have fun, and also not worry about feeling like she should have found a babysitter.


Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow....

Helping your PRC: Be a Good Volunteer

If you feel inspired to volunteer your time and service in a needed area for your local pregnancy resource center, be sure that you're not just a volunteer, but a good volunteer.

5 Tips for being a good volunteer:
(And note, these apply to any type of volunteering!)

1) Know your limits
Volunteering 20 hours a week answering phones, maintaining the office, and helping with the landscaping at your PRC might sound good, but be honest with yourself. Do not bite off more than you can chew. Don't volunteer to do something you know you is more than you can handle. Even if you think you can handle it, it's far better to ease into the jobs and gradually build up to your goal.

2) Don't be drafted
The converse of the above. You might know your limits, but you cave when the PRC director begs you to take on 8 jobs all at once because they desperately need to be done. Be honest, be upfront: if you know you can't handle it, tell her now. Offer a reasonable alternative. E.g.: Offer to do the 2 most important jobs instead of all 8. Then offer to help recruit another volunteer.

3) Avoid burnout
Please do Numbers 1 and 2 for this very reason! Volunteers who don't follow those burnout quick. Volunteers who stick to their limits, however, are able to accomplish more work over a longer period of time. And that's really what means the most to a PRC! PRCs (and other non-profits) need dedicated, long-term volunteers.

4) Put your heart in it!
Love volunteering! Make sure that what you do brings you some sort of happiness, fulfillment or satisfaction. Be aware: PRCs are very emotionally challenging and draining places to work. If you find the task you've been given is too stressful, ask to change to something you can really love. We all need to be pulled up, not dragged down! A cheery volunteer is one of the best things you can find.

5) Little things and consistency
That's the key right there.
Little things
Sometimes you might not feel that your volunteer task is all that special or important, but it is. For example, we often ask volunteers to decorate white paper lunch bags with an assortment of baby themed rubber stamps. It seems menial, but we use those bags to give our clients brouchures, prenatal vitamins, and other items. Those cute little stamps add a special touch that further emphasizes "this is a baby!"
Consistency
Don't be a fair weather volunteer. By volunteering you made a committment and people depend on you. Stick to it! We really don't want to hear you call in the morning with some lame excuse that clearly means you just feel like sleeping in. Sure you don't get a paycheck, but to most non-profits, especially PRCs volunteers are just as essential to the daily opperations as are the paid staff.

Volunteers matter!

Helping Your PRC: Getting to Know You

Before you jump to do anything for your local pregnancy resource center (PRC), please, please, please get a chance to know them!

Find out:
What is the center's background? -Besides being prolife, obviously.
What services do they offer? To whom?
How many women do they see a year?
Are they religiously based/affiliated? If so, do they openly evangelize?

These questions and others will help you better understand the organization so that you can then ask and meet the most important questions:
What do they need? How can you help?

Every PRC has a different personality, and that personality defines its needs.

The PRC I work at it is essentially Catholic in its founding and operation, but practically non-denominational. We do not openly evangelize. That being said, there's another PRC not too far away that is proudly Christian and offers Bibles and Bible study to every person who walks through the door. They could probably use another person to teach Bible study, or donate a book of Bibles, whereas if either of those offers were made to my center, we'd have to turn them down.

On the other hand, the one PRC is a very small office, whereas we have 4 centers in this county alone. We could use a pious woman to answer our phones, even for a couple hours a week, whereas they probably wouldn't need help in that area.

So go ahead, and take the first step: get to know your PRC. Give them a call, or drop by for a visit. Ask how they would like you to get involved.

Working in the Prolife Field

A week from today will mark the 37th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision.

Pious women everywhere have distinguished themselves serving in the prolife field, speaking for the voiceless unborn and supporting their mothers and fathers.

Across the country pregnancy resource centers (PRCs -often referred to as crisis pregnancy centers) enable this work to be done on a large and effective scale.

Currently PRCs are facing a cruel wave of attack. Recently in my hometown, Baltimore, Maryland, PRCs were labeled "false clinics," sued and subsequently ordered by court to prominently display signs declaring that the centers do not provide abortion or birth control. Without a doubt, this was a national test case. According to friends who were in the court room, the case was a sham, the "evidence" of farcical and there were more NARAL and Planned Parenthood reps than you could imagine.

Despite these attacks, PRCs continue to serve numerous women and guide them to choose life.

As a couselor working for the largest independent PRC in the nation, in the days leading up to the anniversary, I'd like to offer 7 ways you can better help your local PRC and in turn help numerous moms and babies.

Human Trafficking Awareness Day

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

[Jn 10, 10]

Trafficking victims -- called "survivors" by advocates -- are considered modern-day slaves by law enforcement officials and outreach workers alike. For the traffickers, the motivating factor is money. For the trafficked, the dream is a better life, but it never becomes so.

Worldwide trafficking networks involve systems where individuals are recruited for an honest wage for an honest day's work as they pursue financial independence and freedom. Once in place, usually outside their home country, victims end up under the control of one individual, with their freedom restricted and their safety usually threatened.

98 nonprofits across the U.S. and its territories ... have been subcontracted by Migration and Refugee Services of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to provide vital services to foreign-born trafficking victims once they are identified. [CNS]

From the USCCB:

What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is:

• the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor;
• a modern-day form of slavery;
• the fastest growing criminal industry in the world and is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest, after the drug-trade.

What is the extent of the problem?
The U.S. State Department estimates that 600,000 - 800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders each year and approximately 14,500 – 17,500 of them are trafficked into the U.S. annually. Based on estimates by the U.S. government of the numbers of all trafficking victims and comparing those figures with widely cited figures of foreign-born children in the sex trade in the United States, USCCB/MRS estimates conservatively about one-third of foreign born victims trafficked into the country are children.

USCCB Response to Human Trafficking

Image source