Shared Hope International

Shared Hope International
Name	Shared Hope International
Type	Nonprofit organization
Founded	1998
Founder	Linda Smith
Headquarters	Vancouver, Washington
Focus	Anti-trafficking, victim services, prevention, research, policy reform

Shared Hope International

Shared Hope International is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization founded in 1998 that focuses on the prevention of human trafficking, restoration of trafficking survivors, and prosecution of traffickers. The organization operates programs for victim services, legislative reform, research, and training, and has engaged with institutions such as the United States Department of Justice, United States Congress, and multiple state legislatures. Shared Hope International has collaborated with international bodies, non-governmental organizations, and law enforcement agencies including the United Nations, Interpol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

History

Founded in 1998 by former United States Congresswoman Linda Smith after work on policy issues and humanitarian missions, the organization emerged amid growing public attention to trafficking highlighted by events such as the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and conferences like the World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. In the 2000s the group expanded research initiatives contemporaneously with NGOs including Polaris Project and ECPAT International, contributing to the discourse that informed amendments to federal statutes and state reforms. Shared Hope International participated in high-profile efforts aligned with global campaigns led by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and engaged in domestic partnerships with agencies such as the Office for Victims of Crime.

Mission and Programs

The organization articulates a mission to prevent trafficking, restore survivors, and bring traffickers to justice, connecting programmatic efforts with legislative advocacy similar to approaches used by groups like International Justice Mission and Heartland Alliance. Programs have included prevention curricula for schools and communities, training for service providers and prosecutors, and survivor restoration services modeled in part on best practices from institutions such as Covenant House and Salvation Army. Shared Hope International's training initiatives have targeted audiences ranging from social workers and probation officers to hotelier associations and transportation industry partners, and its prevention materials have been distributed in settings tied to organizations like Catholic Charities USA and World Vision.

Research and Advocacy

Research outputs have included state-level assessments and national reports aimed at evaluating anti-trafficking laws and victim services, produced in a manner comparable to publications by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The organization’s advocacy work has sought adoption of model legislation and enforcement practices, engaging with policymakers in venues such as hearings before the United States Senate and briefings with the Department of Homeland Security. Shared Hope International’s analyses have been cited in policy debates alongside reports by National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and academic centers including the Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia University research programs on human trafficking. Its legal advocacy has intersected with statutes like the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and with state codes revised after model bills drafted by coalitions involving groups such as Polaris Project.

International and Domestic Operations

Domestically, the organization has implemented projects across multiple U.S. states collaborating with local law enforcement, state attorneys general, and service providers, often operating in concert with agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Health and Human Services. Internationally, Shared Hope International has conducted assessments, training, and pilot programs in countries in the Americas, Africa, and Asia, engaging with foreign ministries, municipal authorities, and local NGOs, and coordinating with multilateral actors such as the International Labour Organization and United Nations Children's Fund. Field operations have sometimes mirrored partnerships seen in transnational initiatives with organizations like CARE International and Mercy Corps.

Organizational Structure and Funding

The organization is structured with an executive leadership team reporting to a board of directors; the founder served in leadership roles and maintained ties to networks including former members of the United States Congress and advocacy coalitions. Funding has historically derived from a mix of private donations, foundation grants, and contract awards, comparable to revenue models of nonprofits such as Human Rights Watch and Freedom House. Major philanthropic supporters and institutional funders have included family foundations, corporate philanthropy channels, and grant-making bodies similar to the Ford Foundation and MacArthur Foundation, with occasional program-specific awards from government agencies like the United States Agency for International Development.

Criticism and Controversy

Shared Hope International has faced critique in public discourse and scholarly review over methodological approaches in research, advocacy strategies, and the implications of policy recommendations, with commentators from academic institutions such as Rutgers University and organizations like Human Rights Watch scrutinizing metrics used to estimate trafficking prevalence. Debates have emerged comparing the organization’s prioritization of criminal justice responses to survivor-centered service models promoted by groups including National Survivor Network and Sanctuary for Families. In some jurisdictions, stakeholders in criminal justice reform and civil liberties—from organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union—have questioned potential unintended consequences of legislation supported by advocacy coalitions that include the organization.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington (state) Category:Organizations established in 1998