Belen Casillas, Region 4 Director of Community Relations, sits attentively during the "Let’s Stand Against Human Trafficking" event. (Katecey Harrell/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Several dozen people gathered Thursday in prayer, lifting hopeful words and wishes for the protection and freedom of human trafficking victims in East Texas and around the world.

“January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It is a month dedicated to exposing the darkness human trafficking can cast so that we can bring it to light and expose it,” said Maria Villareal, East Texas CSEY (commercially sexually exploited youth) advocacy coordinator.

4Kids4Families, in partnership with Unbound Now, hosted the “Let’s Stand Against Human Trafficking” prayer event, which was moved from the downtown Tyler square to indoors in the fifth floor of the Smith County Courthouse Annex due to rain. Multiple organizations attended, representing the unified efforts of local entities to combat the realities of human trafficking in the community.

4Kids4Families provides comprehensive foster care services and supports relative and kinship caregivers. Unbound Now is a national nonprofit dedicated to mobilizing communities to identify and combat human trafficking in their cities.

According to the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, an estimated 60% of child sex trafficking victims have a history in the foster care system.

Traffickers target vulnerable children, preying on factors such as unstable housing, a history of homelessness and past abuse. Many foster children experience loneliness, a lack of support and a deep need for belonging, making them more susceptible to exploitation by those who offer false promises of care and stability.

“We must pray more than ever that they have the right person in their life they can rely on,” Villareal said. “The purpose of this event is to pray for the children who are being trafficked in the foster care system. Pray they may be heard and pray they may be seen. Pray they may encounter someone that will love them like Jesus loves us.”

City of Tyler councilmember Stuart Hene read a proclamation recognizing Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and encouraged all citizens to support this effort — not just today, but throughout the year.

Prayers were led by James Cook of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, Jeff Bice of Bethel Bible Church and Patty Carrillo of Tyler Tabernacle. Remarks were made by Becky Derringon of 4Kids4Families.

Cook prayed for the children and the organizations in East Texas, asking for blessings and encouragement. Bice asked God to remind people affected by human trafficking that He is their light in darkness, their hope in times of despair and their strength when they feel powerless.

The Tyler Police Department, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County, the Juvenile Justice Center, Azelway, Hope Haven and many other organizations were present at the event.

“Look to your left and right, these are your companions. These are our people, our village. This is who you lean on, but there’s a bigger group out there that couldn’t be here,” Villareal said. “This is a small portion of our village. These cases are hard, they’re complicated. We all know that, but what we must all remember is that we have each other.”