Human trafficking event educates, provides insight
A group passionate about spreading awareness about a nationwide problem: human trafficking, met in Diamond Park on Wednesday afternoon.
The newly established Human Trafficking Task Force launched the informational event to express that it recognizes the problem and hopes to combat it in the county.
Danielle Schmidt, executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center, said she is hopeful people would stop by on their lunch break and learn about the cause.
“We recognize human trafficking happens here, and we want to address it,” she said. “We really want a strong presence in the county in general.”
In addition to the coffee and doughnuts handed out to passersby, Schmidt and her team talked about the origin of the task force, how to spot people who may be caught in human trafficking, and much more. Fliers, bracelets, and business cards were exchanged for community benefit.
“We try to have (resources) that will grab the community’s attention in businesses,” she said.
Some warning signs of human trafficking and questions to ask if you’re concerned someone may be a victim of trafficking were highlighted at the event. Resources distributed at the event said to watch for older adults who are controlling the speech, actions and documents of adolescents and for adolescents who exhibit paranoid, submissive behavior.
The county has been working to establish the Human Trafficking Task Force for more than a year and hired a task force coordinator in July 2022.
Dozens of local agencies are involved in the group, including the advocacy center, VOICe, Butler County courts and district attorney offices, Children and Youth Services, local law enforcement, and juvenile and adult probation, among others.
County involvement in the event even extended to Butler County commissioners Kim Geyer and Kevin Boozel, who recognized Human Trafficking Awareness Day with a proclamation.
Boozel said the commissioners are supporting the task force for the potential training it could provide the community and law enforcement agencies.
“Human trafficking is hard to recognize and harder to prove,” he said. “Sometimes it goes hand-in-hand with drug trafficking. It’s important if you think about the social services the county provides, (that) we have as much occasion to come across this as others.”
He said the county is working with Schmidt and the task force to obtain grant funds for educational seminars and training.
Schmidt added that an event in late January is scheduled to help garner funds for the same purpose.
“The biggest thing we need to do is get education and training for the county,” she said.
Donna Glamison said curiosity drew her to the event. As executive director of NAMI, she thought it could help in her line of work.
“I’m for anything that’s for the kids,” she said. “It’s more information we can use to help the community.”
The fact there is a need for a county human trafficking task force was troubling to Glamison.
“It makes me very sad,” she said. “We can get the information out there and help in any way we can.”
Boozel said receiving information on the warning signs of human trafficking should make people acutely aware of them, and help combat the issue.
“These people are scared, it’s all about control. ... It’s such a hidden problem and could be a lifetime of suffering for someone,” he said.
