CPS and the Broken System - why rescuing is only a small part of healing

After a victim of human trafficking is rescued, you'd think, "that's great all done", but no. The victims are  often very steeped in a flawed, abusive view of life. They don't know how to care for themselves any more, get a job, drive, or know who to trust. Often they actually trust their abuser more than their rescuers. 

The average age of a trafficking victim is age 12, so when they are rescued they go straight into the childare foster system, which is broken and underfunded. These are children, they have no idea who to actually trust. So suddenly getting a cop car ride to a random foster home, where the parents don't know anything else except to feed and clothe the child, is very confusing to a victim. As awful as their life is, they are children, this is all they have ever known. They don't know what is better or how to not fear everyone. 

Governor Abbott spoke about the childcare system saying “don’t underfund this and expect to not come back and haunt you”. and it is haunting everyone. That is why HOME organizations are SO critical. Home organizations are ones that are providing help for those who get out of trafficking, because these victims are rewired to think that they have no where else to go, except back into the hands of their abusers. It is estimated that it only takes 24-48 hours for a “freed” victim to get picked up or run away back into an abuser’s hands, because they don’t know what is truth or not. We support ten local organizations here, because the more funding they get, the more help they provide. The victims need immediate therapy and a safe place to be monitored and helped so they don't run away and are out on the street again to get picked up by yet another abuser. CPS and the Foster system are not equipped to handle human trafficking victims, they just don't have the funds nor training and knowledge to be successful in this area, it isn't their expertise.

We think that the best part is getting a victim freed, but it is teaching them how to live again, how to actually BE FREE. Giving them freedom, helping them learn how to earn money, apply for jobs, use phones and computers, therapy to relearn how to communicate and trust, how to value their own lives and bodies again. 

That is why here at Saving Pearls we support organizations who cover all the needs of rescuing and helping rescued victims learn to be free. These organizations are local, so with each purchase, 50% of the profits goes directly to eliminating trafficking right here in Texas. 

Click here to shop and find out more about ending trafficking in Texas  https://www.savingpearls.com/shop-1/

Saving Pearls CONTEST TIME!

We will be LIVE on Kens5 tomorrow!

See us on channel 5 (local San Antonio) tomorrow (Thursday) from 9-10am! 

Hopefully you can watch live here!

http://www.kens5.com/news/watch-live-kens-5-breaking-video/97112516

But if not click the graphic and the segment should show up later in the day 

We will be talking about our Kickstarter

SHOWING OFF OUR JEWELRY FROM OUR WEBSTORE

https://www.savingpearls.com/shop-1/

AND TALKING ABOUT THE TRAFFICKING ISSUE!

https://www.savingpearls.com/news/2017/3/29/saving-texas-pearls

Connect with us on social media to stay up to date on what is going on! We will be doing a HUGE giveaway soon!

 https://www.facebook.com/SavingPearls/

https://www.instagram.com/savingpearls/

https://www.facebook.com/SavingPearls/

https://twitter.com/SavingPearls

As always this is a convo! So tell us what you think below!

THE HISTORY OF PEARL JEWELRY

Pearls are unique among gemstones because they don’t arise from the depths of the earth but from the sea. They require no special cutting or polishing to maximize their lustrous beauty, which has been treasured since ancient times and ensures that pearl jewelry is always in style.

THE HISTORY OF PEARL JEWELRY

Pearls were used in jewelry at least as far back as ancient Greece, and until the 20th century pearls were one of the most valued gems, if not the most valuable, in many cultures. The rules of the Byzantine empire dictated that only the emperor was allowed to wear pearls, and other societies had rules about who could and could not wear these little treasures. The sixteenth century in England was known as the Pearl Age, reflecting the prestige carried by pearls at that time.

Pearls became more accessible in the early 1900s once people in Asia discovered how to create cultured pearls. By carefully placing a small nucleus into a living oyster, a pearl forms around the nucleus, allowing pearls to be created in oyster farms.

THE SYMBOLISM OF PEARLS

In ancient societies pearls were representative of the moon. Other cultures have associated them with chastity and modesty. In Victorian England small seed pearls were often used in mourning jewelry to symbolize tears.

PEARLS AS GIFTS

Pearls have always been exchanged as gifts. When 13th century explorer Marco Polo visited Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan he reportedly presented him with the stunning Arco Valley Pearl, which weighs in at 575 carats and is more than three inches long (the pearl was auctioned off in Abu Dhabi in 2007 and its whereabouts are unknown).

Another famous and beautiful pearl called La Peregrina was given by Prince Phillip II of Spain to his bride Mary during the 16th century. La Peregrina, a white, pear-shaped saltwater pearl, had a series of royal owners until the 1960s, when actor Richard Burton gave it to his jewelry-obsessed wife Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor had a necklace of pearls and rubies designed to showcase La Peregina.

Although famous for singing that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” one of Marilyn Monroe’s most treasured pieces of jewelry was a simple sixteen-inch string of pearls given to her by Joe DiMaggio during their honeymoon in Japan.

Pearls were always a favorite accessory of 20th century style icon Grace Kelly, both during her screen star days and once she became Princess Grace of Monaco. Her husband Prince Rainier gave her a luxurious pearl-and-diamond jewelry set that she wore frequently.

PEARL JEWELRY TODAY

Worn by women in all cultures, today Pearls still stand for priceless gifts and class. While saltwater pearls are becoming less popular due to their association with the slave trade in other countries where pearls are harvested; freshwater cultured Pearls are getting into a higher demand because of the fair trade and ethical “culturing” of the pearls.

That is why we use Freshwater Pearls to make our jewelry! 

Shop Here!

PEARLS PARTNER - FOR KING & COUNTRY!

Soaring melodies, driving rhythms, theatrical instrumentation and personal themes are the heartbeat of for KING & COUNTRY. The Australian duo, comprised of brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, raised expectations with the release of 2012’s Crave, winning Billboard’s New Artists to Watch for 2012. Their sophomore effort RUN WILD. LIVE FREE. LOVE STRONG. debuted at #1 on the iTunes Chart and garnered two Grammy Award wins for the band. They received yet another Grammy nomination in 2017 for their song “Priceless,” the title track from their #1 indie film of the same name. This past Spring (2016), for KING & COUNTRY headlined a major 60-city arena tour, and finished the year with their first, headlining Christmas tour, selling out several arenas across the country, including the Honda Center in Los Angeles. With over 150 shows in 2016, the band played for 1 million fans, has sold over 600,000 records and had 150,000,000 streams of their music. They have performed on numerous network television shows including The View, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Today Show, The Tonight Show, FOX and Friends and have songs featured on the Emmys, The Super Bowl, Sunday Night Football, U.S. Open, 7UP and more.

SAVING PEARLS IS EXCITED TO FEATURE FK&C AS ONE OF OUR PARTNERS! 

We love the message of the band, their hit song "Priceless" and their new movie released last year with the same title that focuses on human trafficking! 

I have seen them perform and personally worked Merch for the band when they came into town in my single days, and it was such a blessing to meet the team and see their passion to fight for freedom and justice for those who are enslaved. 

They are such an inspiration!

For a short time every purchase from Saving Pearls will come with a free extra gift from the band! Stock is very limited! Use code "PRICELESS" for the free gift and 10% off at checkout! 

10% off only good until Mother's Day, May 14th. Free Gift while supplies last

“We believe there is a generation out there who doesn’t know their identity, They don’t know how valued they are and it’s become an epidemic. Because we’ve been sharing this for a few years, we’ve been able to see that people need to know they are valued and they are priceless.

— Luke Smallbone

for KING & COUNTRY presents PRICELESS! A movie about the horrors of Human Trafficking

Inspired by true events, PRICELESS is a powerful drama/thriller about James Stevens who was, at one time, a good man with a great life -- but that was then and this is now.

---

COMMENT DOWN BELOW WITH YOUR THOUGHTS, AND SHARE!

Pearls Supports - Traffick911!

Pearls Supports!

We are SO excited about finally being able to launch this!

Every day for the next two weeks we will be featuring each organization that we will be donating 50% of our profits to!

TODAY WE ARE STARTING WITH A TEAM OF LOCALS FROM RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS!

TRAFFICK911

Traffick911 exists to free youth from sex trafficking with a three-prong strategy of prevention, identification and empowerment. We have identified and/or assisted 694 (and counting) victims and our work - in close partnership with law enforcement - has led to multiple state and federal felony arrests and convictions. We also have a youth prevention program called Traps, which teaches youth how to #BeSmartStayFree from traffickers by understanding their tricks, traps and lures. In 2016, we piloted a new presentation, Hooked: Porn's Hold on the Brain, which is an educational session on the neuroscience of pornography and how it drives sex trafficking.

Traffick911 was named the 2013 Outstanding Organization of the Year by the Fort Worth Commission for Women with commendations by the Fort Worth City Council, mayor and a State Senator. We have also been recognized by Homeland Security Investigations as a most-valued partner in this battle to save our American children from sex trafficking.

Our team has trained thousands of first responders and professionals across the country, including Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Police, Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety, local law enforcement, educators, medical personnel, juvenile justice staffs at the county and state level, CPS regional supervisors and caseworkers, DAs, etc. Not only do we receive the highest evaluations, we have documented identifications and rescues out of the trainings. For instance, before we trained Cook Children’s Hospital, the hospital had identified zero victims of trafficking. Within 8 months, they had identified 11 victims.

In close collaboration with local, state and federal law enforcement, our team is identifying domestic minor sex trafficking victims in the juvenile justice system through our Juvenile Detention Outreach, High Risk Youth Outreach and finding them online through our Internet Surveillance Team. The training of first responders - those who are in jobs to identify and rescue victims - has also proven to be a powerful tool in identifying and rescuing victims.

Where we work

We currently have outreach teams in the following Texas counties: Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin, Hood, Bell, Williamson, Brazos, Fort Bend, Travis, Tom Green and Bexar. We also have a team that brings our program into the state prison facility for youth (TJJD/TYC) in Brownwood, TX on a regular basis. In addition, we now have affiliate organizations bringing our youth program across Arkansas, Corpus Christi, Texas, El Paso, Texas, and Orlando, Florida juvenile detention centers.

We will continue to expand across Texas and partner with other affiliate organizations in other states, working to reach as many youth as possible with a prevention message, identify victims through outreaches and trainings and empowering survivors on their journey to freedom.

Oppressed humanity is a worthy fight.

I WORK WITH MY HUSBAND AND 7 MONTH OLD BABY, AND WE WANT YOUR HELP TO SHOW VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT THEY CAN BE RESCUED AND THAT LIFE IS WORTH LIVING AGAIN.

Why Texas? Well this is our home state, we want to start here and then grow all over the nation! We will be supporting local organizations as well as national with each purchase from our store. 50% of ALL our profits goes right to those organizations.

In an article by Fox7Austin reporting on a study done by The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work, “There are an estimated 313,000 victims of human trafficking in Texas. Close to 79,000 of those are minors and youth victims of sex trafficking. About 234,00 are victims of labor trafficking”

That is ONE city! Just one! SXSW just took place last month, and like ACL, while it is a fun time for many, according to APD Cmdr. Steve Deaton, it only gets worse for those who have no choice.

That is why even though we are just a small family with a small idea in Texas, we’re going to do what we can to help. Our son's name is Joshua Texas Pirch, nope that's not a joke. That's his real name. This is home, we love our state, and that's why we are going to try and kick traffickers butts out of Texas!

Slavery is despicable, and if you share that belief, then this just might be your cause too.

Check Out Our Kickstarter! 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/992103392/292214950?token=df3203f7

SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING US, PLEASE SHARE OUR VIDEO AND OUR WEBSITE WHEREVER YOU CAN. YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, AND FACEBOOK. THAT DOESN’T COST A DIME.

AND IF YOU’D LIKE TO SUPPORT OUR KICKSTARTER THEN HEAD ON OVER THERE, WE HAVE SEVERAL LEVELS OF SUPPORT FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM.

IT IS VERY EXCITING FOR US TO FINALLY START THIS DREAM VENTURE OF MINE, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WATCH OUR VIDEO AND CONSIDER JOINING OUR CAUSE.

Learn more about us and see our family in this video explaining why we do what we do! 

Saving Pearls Video

Let us know what you think, any ideas or tips you have, or anything at all in the comments below!