About Us

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Who We Are

Our Agency

We are a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization located in California’s Central San Joaquin Valley. We work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to Provide Hope, Healing, and Restoration to lives impacted by Human Trafficking.

The BTC campuses are a remarkable example of our community’s dedication to helping juvenile and adult victims exit re-occurring systems of exploitation. BTC operates a beautiful, safe house that provides long term shelter to lives impacted by human trafficking, a trauma treatment center that is equipped with an executive office, reception area, counseling offices, a large classroom/recreation area, childcare center, and a gym; law enforcement focused impact center, ER shelter, mobile command unit, and newly opened rural community offices. Our stellar trauma-informed services and evidence-based curriculums are operated by an army of volunteers and 12 paid staff members. This allows us to offer trauma-informed services regularly to an average of 75 survivors and their family’s every day. It has been amazing to see the vision launched just seven years prior come to life in such a short period. Please know that community support has been and continues to be essential to all that we do, and we believe that together we can break the chains of human trafficking in the lives of these precious survivors forever.

Our Founders

Debra Rush

Co-Founder / Chief Executive Officer

Debra Rush is the Founder and CEO of Breaking the Chains. Her insight and experience into this daunting industry are the driving force behind Breaking the Chains’ founding. Debra, too, is a survivor of human trafficking, lured out and violently trafficked in 1999 for several months. Following her daring escape she was taken to a confidential location, which isolated her from the region where she had been victimized. Unfortunately, at that time, no avenues or efforts were in place to expose human trafficking, and there were limited resources available to help her cope with the specific trauma she had endured. In 2008, after years of guilt and shame, she found the courage and strength to begin her healing journey. This spurred her quest to help individuals trapped in human trafficking and who may believe there is no way out. Debra, who holds degrees in Human Services and in Business, works closely with the Fresno Police Department’s Trafficking Task Force. She is an alcohol and drug counselor and a Certified Trauma Professional. Debra has gained notoriety as a passionate community leader, a proud alumnus of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Fresno Class XXXIII (33). She humbly holds the 2018 title of California State Assembly Woman of the Year and has just become a published author. Although she has accomplished much since her transformation, Debra’s most cherished achievement is being the proud wife of Mark Rush and the doting mother of seven beautiful children and one incredible grandchild.

Tiffany Apodaca

Co–Founder / Chief Operational Officer

Tiffany Apodaca is the Co-Founder and Chief Operational Officer for Breaking the Chains. Tiffany uses her 20 years of management to oversee the business operations at Breaking the Chains. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership, from Grand Canyon University. She sits on a few boards and committees to assist other Non-profits in the Central Valley. She is in the Leadership Fresno Class of 37. Her passion stems from the subjection to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse that she experienced as a child – abuse that started at the young age of four and continued into her late teens. Her perseverance to overcome these issues gave her the passion to want to be a leader that leads by example while helping others see their potential. Tiffany is married to Tony Apodaca, they have 6 daughters and lots of grandchildren. She enjoys spending as much time as possible with family by feeding them and creating memories.

Our Team