Tusc Against Traffic Reps Attend Ohio Human Traffic Summit

Mary Alice Reporting –

The 5^th Annual Human Trafficking Summit occurred last week and hosting a panel was members of Tuscarawas County organizations.

The event brought together groups across the state to talk about human trafficking in their regions and what they are doing to combat it.

Yost even recognized Tusc Against Trafficking for their work in spreading awareness that human trafficking, whether it be labor or sex, is not just a big city problem, it’s rural too.

“Frequently in more rural communities it’s more difficult to raise the resources, more difficult to raise awareness, more difficult to get people to focus on the issue.”

He also noted the groups collaborations which includes local police departments of New Philadelphia and Uhrichsville.

“The county government, including the juvenile court, the health department, even the public library. Other partners include Union Hospital, the FBI, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. That’s what I call strength in numbers and networking builds strength in numbers.”

Attending with Tusc Against Trafficking included COMPASS Executive Director Molly McMath, who noted that she, Mandy Willett with Noah’s Hope, and Susan Monticelli of Claymont School presented on what they are doing for Tuscarawas County.

“We want to meet the needs of our community better than a trafficker can and so, if that means making sure that families have personal hygiene items or hot meals that’s what we’re going to do so that they know they can turn to a safe place for help, and what better way to build those relationships and build the community, and make this a safer place.”

McMath said this is achieved, in part, through school presentations and holding a Community Outreach Night at Park Place Youth Center in New Philadelphia.

Willett, shared that when listening to a survivor’s story, red flags displayed went unnoticed.

“The system kind of failed her of things that we want to strive to not happen. Those kinds of seminars are very important to me because I want to learn and get knowledge to make sure that I am doing everything that I can working with my program partners that they don’t have the experience that they felt left out or let down during the process.”

Willett also stressed the importance of parents and child caretakers to know what their child is doing, especially online, and to have safety conversation early and often, since traffickers are not the stereotype of a man in a van.

For more details, include conversation starters and red flags, go online to www.tuscagainsttrafficking.org or find them on Facebook.

At the summit, Yost also unveiled a hotline number, 844-END-OHHT (844-363-6448), which, once activated, will funnel incoming tips on suspected trafficking directly to law enforcement.