April 18, 2023 (DES MOINES) – Optimae LifeServices is pleased to announce it has joined a statewide coalition to end human trafficking in Iowa. The Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) initiative is spearheaded by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.
Businesses that join IBAT are asked to complete two tasks each year: “Learn Something” and “Do Something.” Optimae, like other businesses across the state, will commit to “Learn Something” by educating employees, customers and industry partners on the signs and impact of human trafficking in Iowa. The “Do Something” task will be lived out by empowering more people to take action to prevent human trafficking in Iowa.
“Optimae is so thrilled to be a member of this fantastic initiative,” said Holly Stevenson, Optimae’s Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “Optimae’s core values of choice, respect, teamwork and education synergize perfectly with IBAT’s commitment to ‘do something, learn something and make a difference.’ As human trafficking is often perceived as a distant problem, this alliance reminds us all that human trafficking is impacting the communities in which we live, work and serve.”
Optimae joins more than 630 IBAT businesses and nonprofits statewide, committing to promoting awareness of human trafficking and the Iowa Safe at Home program, which allows survivors of violent crime to withhold their home address from public records.
IBAT was launched by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate in January 2022. The initiative was recently named one of three finalists for the National Association of Secretaries of State’s (NASS) 2023 IDEAS Award. The Iowa program is being replicated across the nation, with Mississippi recently launching MBAT and other states following.
“I’m very pleased to have Optimae LifeServices join the army we are building to combat human trafficking,” Pate said. “By joining IBAT, they’ve shown a commitment to their community and helping others. Together, we can make a huge difference and become a model for the rest of the nation.”
“At Optimae, our programs aim to reduce stigma, reintegrate individuals back into society and empower those we serve,” Stevenson added. “Both Optimae and IBAT, at their core, are committed to the removal of barriers for an already vulnerable and marginalized population. We therefore couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of an initiative which, above all, recognizes that every individual is of inherent value and deserves to be empowered to reach their full potential.”