Human Trafficking Awareness Month

CARIBOU, Maine (WAGM) - January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and AMHC’s Sexual Assault Services are working to raise awareness in the community and support those who have been impacted by human trafficking.

For Human Trafficking Awareness Month, AMHC has been providing trainings across the community, including local agencies, organizations, and schools. Wendy Page, Supervisor of AMHC’s Sexual Assault Services said: “Just really giving individuals the foundational information of, what is human trafficking? What are we seeing here in Maine? Some statistics, showing some videos with them, and then going over some scenarios to just really kind of help them see what are potential red flags or risk factors for individuals and just answering any questions that they may have on the topic.”

Page says in Maine it’s estimated between 2 and 3 hundred people each year are impacted by human trafficking. She adds that in Aroostook County, the true scope can be difficult to measure because many cases first appear as other crimes before trafficking is identified. “When we look at Aroostook County data it’s really challenging to get because individuals are not identifying as survivors of human trafficking or sex trafficking. We’re seeing individuals are survivors of sexual assault, maybe domestic violence, stalking, strangulation, and through those specific cases we’re able, or law enforcement’s able, to pinpoint this is more human trafficking/sex trafficking than just sexual assault. There’s more. It’s very complex and the data is very hard to get. A lot of individuals don’t think it happens here. That we’re sheltered. We’re not the big city but it is here. We have borders. The Canadian border borders our state. Interstate 95 ends in Houlton so we are seeing the transportation aspect of it.”

AMHC says these programs are designed to connect people with practical support and resources, including help for those who may need to get to safety quickly. Page: “In the event an individual needs to leave the area we’ve been able to help with bus tickets. We’ve been able to help with lodging at hotels or motels before, food. We help them get connected to law enforcement if they want to make a report. Whether it’s something that happened here locally or maybe something that’s happened out of state. Anyone looking for more information about AMHC’s services during Human Trafficking Awareness Month can contact their helpline at 1-800-871-7741 with questions or visit www.amhcsas.org.