The Formation Project It’s more than a nonprofit organization — it’s a circle of care. Just like elephants protect one another in a formation, we surround survivors of human trafficking with housing, legal advocacy, case management, and community support — so they can heal, thrive, and reclaim their future.
We are building and scaling innovative, survivor-centered models to address human trafficking in South Carolina’s Tri-County region. Through close collaboration with law enforcement and community partners, we collect and analyze data to improve identification and response to trafficking cases.
Our approach includes expanding transitional housing focused on safety, stability, and independence; providing specialized civil legal services through Formation Legal (including victims’ rights, family law, and trafficking-related matters); and implementing proactive screening for human trafficking within county jails to identify victims who might otherwise remain unseen.
We also advance frontline-informed policy advocacy shaped by practitione
INCUBATING MODELS
Building models to operate at scale
1) Data Collection / Analysis with Law Enforcement Partnerships
Structured collaboration with SLED, Homeland Security Investigations, and 8th & 9th Circuits.
2) Transitional Housing
Focused on safety, building community and relationships, and fostering independence.
3) Specialized Legal Services (Formation Legal)
Victims’ Rights, Family Law, Criminal Matters, Trafficking Cases.
4) Screening for Human Trafficking in the County Jails
Identifying victimization in County Jails (42 victims in 25).*
5) Frontline-Informed Policy Advocacy
Policy priorities shaped by professionals working on the frontlines.
6) Data-Driven Case Management
Case management services measured by progress among 10 categories of well-being:
Behavioral Health, Physical Health, Safe Housing, Education, Employment, Financial Health, Life Skills, Legal Services, Parenting, Social & Faith Community.
