LCMC HEALTH AND EDEN CENTERS PARTNER TO OFFER FIRST OF ITS KIND EMERGENCY CENTER IN THE NATION

Eden Emergency Center will provide confidential healthcare and recovery services for human trafficking survivors

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Today, LCMC Health and Eden Centers for Hope and Healing, formerly Eden House, announced the completion of the Eden Emergency Center, a safe environment for labor and sex trafficking survivors to begin recovery. The new emergency center, housed at an undisclosed location for added security, is available for adult survivors of labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and commercial sexual exploitation.

The U.S. Department of State estimates that more than 27.6 million adults and children are subjected to human trafficking around the world, including in the United States. Eden Centers is dedicated to eradicating the trafficking and selling of human beings through education, advocacy, and recovery services. The local organization provides survivors with a safe place to dream and overcome their pasts, while developing substantive skills to become self-sufficient, flourishing members of society.

“Our goal at Eden Centers is to create systemic change through prevention, education, advocacy, and recovery and reentry services for victims,” said Kara Van de Carr, founder of Eden Centers. “This new partnership allows us, for the first time ever, to provide an acute emergency, middle of the night, short-term solution to victims – an option that we currently do not have at our long-term shelters. We are grateful for LCMC Health’s partnership in bringing this to fruition.”

Human trafficking is a serious public health concern that negatively affects the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. President Joe Biden declared January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month to raise awareness of this form of modern-day slavery. The Eden Emergency Center will support human trafficking survivors by providing emergency and stabilization resources needed for care, healing, personal reflection, and recovery. Survivors will be referred from trauma centers, hospitals, law enforcement and community partners.

“As a community-based health system focused on providing compassionate healthcare, LCMC Health is proud to partner with Eden Centers on this first-of-its-kind emergency center,” said Ayame Dinkler, CAO of LCMC Health. “Our collaboration is the first partnership known between an organization like Eden Centers and a hospital that provides multiple services in one site, on an emergency basis. I’m incredibly proud of our work to support this community need.”