The development, implementation, and evaluation of a stable and effective coalition is a multiyear project. In 2019, CATE began to increase its reach throughout the state. The goal of CATE is to prevent and respond to all forms of human trafficking and exploitation in Missouri. CATE is a resource for organizations statewide, working to increase collaboration and community engagement as well as knowledge and skills.
One of CATE’s Collaborative Partner organizations, Healing Action, serves as the coalition’s home and fiscal sponsor. CATE currently receives support from local foundations and corporations.
Currently, the CATE is housed at the Healing Action office. The address is provided as necessary.
The CATE leadership is made up of executive leaders within the Collaborative Partner organizations and the Coalition Director, Linda McQuary.
Collaborative Partner organizations are considered equal partners in the leadership of CATE and are made up of organizations that have made anti-trafficking interventions an organizational priority, adhere to shared values, and share responsibility and resources.
CATE is currently based in St. Louis, but is a statewide coalition.
History
In 2005, the St. Louis Rescue and Restore Coalition was created by local organizations to be led by the International Institute of St. Louis (IISTL). This was the first coalition to fight trafficking in the St. Louis area and its main goal was to provide a space for professionals to collaborate on efforts regarding awareness, training, and victim service provision. In 2014, grant funding added stipulations to focus direct outreach efforts on foreign-born victims therefore leading the coalition to focus on labor trafficking. Due to these changes, the portion of the coalition that served primarily victims of domestic sex trafficking supported the creation of the Coalition Against Trafficking and Exploitation (CATE). At the time, CATE’s focus was education, awareness, and community outreach focusing on issues of domestic sex trafficking.
In 2018, due to a loss of funding for the coalition coordinator position, Healing Action Network stepped in to resume responsibilities of the coalition with the help of leading coalition members. Since March 2018, coalition staff and volunteers have conducted meetings with key coalition stakeholders, developed an updated vision, mission, and values, received approval from current membership, and began soliciting funding.
