Signs of HOPE Seeking Volunteers to Apply for Upcoming Advocacy Training as Organization Prepares for F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix and Busy Fall Destination Schedule

LAS VEGAS (July 23, 2024) –Signs of HOPE (Healing, Options, Prevention and Education), a nonprofit dedicated to offering hope, help and healing to those affected by sexual violence and exploitation, is seeking volunteers from the Southern Nevada community as the organization prepares for the busy fall season and the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. In 2023, Signs of HOPE and its Resources and Integration for Survivor Empowerment or RISE human trafficking program were selected by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force as the lead human trafficking nonprofit for the inaugural F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, a role that continues for this year’s race in November.

While the organization relies on trained volunteers year-round, the need is greater leading up to and during F1 and other fall events that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the destination. Applications for the upcoming 50-hour advocacy training program are due August 10. Applicants must be 18 years or older, residents of Southern Nevada and must pass a background check and drug screen. For more information and the online application, please visit sohlv.org/become-a-volunteer.

Signs of HOPE and its RISE human trafficking program offer a variety of volunteer roles for advocates who complete the training including staffing outreach events; assisting in the office; staffing the 24/7 Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline and accompanying clients at the hospital as they go through the forensic sexual assault exam; and staffing the 24/7 Human Trafficking Crisis Hotline.

In addition, the RISE human trafficking team is seeking bi- or multi-lingual volunteers to accompany them in the field to provide translation services. According to Kim Small, CEO of Signs of HOPE, the greatest language needs are for Spanish, Tagalog and Mandarin.

“Our dedicated, trained volunteers are a vital component to the work of Signs of HOPE and our RISE program,” said Small. “We encourage everyone who is interested to apply by August 10 for this next session, as those who complete the course will be trained and prepared in time to help during F1 and other fall destination events when our staff is in high demand.”

As the lead human trafficking nonprofit for F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Signs of HOPE advocates embed in the field with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) to provide on-scene response, train event staff and volunteers prior to the race, and serve as the main point of contact for all resources, support and referrals.

In 2023 during the inaugural F1 race, LVMPD reported encountering 215 people believed to be victims of sex trafficking, making over 70 arrests for pandering, attempting to purchase sex for money and for luring a child or soliciting a minor.

According to Small, the need for services is great in Clark County year-round. In 2023 Signs of HOPE:

Provided more than 3,600 counseling sessions
Encountered more than 1,200 human trafficking victims in the field
Served more than 580 human trafficking survivors, including 107 juveniles
Staffed over 4,000 hotline calls

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About Signs of HOPE

Signs of HOPE – Healing, Options, Prevention and Education – is a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering hope, help and healing to those affected by sexual violence and exploitation. The organization was founded in 1974 by Florence McClure and Sandra Petta as the Community Action Against Rape (CAAR) and operated as The Rape Crisis Center from 2004-2021. Today, Signs of HOPE operates two 24/7 crisis hotlines and provides hospital response for sexual assault victims. In addition, the organization provides counseling, advocacy and support to help victims throughout the healing process, for as long as it takes. Through its Resources and Integration for Survivor Empowerment or RISE program, the organization provides crisis response and long-term case management services to victims of all forms of human trafficking. Signs of HOPE is committed to raising awareness of sexual assault and exploitation by engaging in prevention efforts, educational programs and community outreach, particularly to youth. The Signs of HOPE 24-hour hotline number is 702-366-1640. The RISE human trafficking 24/7 hotline is 702-936-4004. For more information, visit sohlv.org.