Demand Project Inc

Protection and Recovery - The Demand Project's Protection department fights the demand side of trafficking by pursuing civil litigation, and supports survivors by seeking restorative justice and providing access to quality legal services. TDP also facilitates Recovery services for survivors by advocating in crisis situations in collaboration with law enforcement. In 2024, The Demand Project advanced its mission through protection and recovery initiatives that directly impacted survivors and strengthened systemic responses to exploitation. TDP provided legal advocacy support to residential and non-residential clients navigating the justice system for charges stemming from their exploitation, and our headquarters served as a court-ordered safe place for the reunification of a former resident and her child for parental visits. At the policy level, TDP authored and advanced new child sexual abuse material (CSAM) legislation signed into law in 2024, advised Representative Provenzano on proposed 2025 legislation, and continued collaborating with lawmakers to combat human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. On the recovery side, TDP responded to 24 crisis advocacy cases involving minors and 52 crisis calls for placement and resource referrals, coordinating with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Office of Juvenile Affairs, and Child Protection Services to connect survivors to drug rehabilitation programs, mental health services, problematic sexual behavior treatment, and long-term residential care. The Victim Advocate Support Team (VAST) also identified homelessness as a significant risk factor for exploitation, conducting multiple outreach operations in areas with vulnerable families; while no children were identified in danger during these missions, the efforts expanded community trust and reinforced prevention networks.

Restoration - TDP's Journey to Freedom restoration program is a survivor-centered, community driven and trauma informed model that focuses on restoring the whole person. The program offers a tailored team, around each survivor, consisting of but not limited to a therapist, mentor, resource link and life skill coaches to address each layer of trauma. The Journey to Freedom program also offers a family support team when reintegration is possible. In 2024, The Demand Project supported healing and restoration for survivors through its residential and non-residential programs. Twelve new clients joined the Journey to Freedom non-residential program, receiving tailored support to transition out of trafficking and toward stable, independent futures. Across all programs, staff and volunteers invested 215 hours of mentorship and 45 hours of case management, guiding clients in life skills, career readiness, and personal growth. Residents received 259 hours of therapy-including individual, group, family, and equine therapy-helping them process trauma and build resilience. Education remained central, with one resident graduating high school, all residents meeting their grade goals, one resident earning a driver's license, and two others passing their permit test, marking important steps toward independence. Survivors also participated in 14 field trips that fostered experiential learning, growth, and self-confidence. These services reduced vulnerability to exploitation and empowered survivors to pursue safe, self-sufficient futures."