January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month

By Kailah Weaver, Intern

The United States Homeland Security describes human trafficking as “the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act”. Some indicators that human trafficking is occurring can include:

• poor living conditions

• living with employer

• inability to speak to people alone

• signs of physical abuse

• unpaid or paid very little

• seeing multiple people crammed into a space, under 18 and in prostitution.

  If you suspect human trafficking there are multiple places to call. You can call 911 in an urgent situation and explain what you have seen or call 1-88-373-788 The National Human Trafficking Hotline to report a tip or ask for more information.