If you’ve followed us for long, you know our organization takes serious issue with misconceptions about human trafficking. But why? Why don’t we jump on the “Taken” bandwagon or sell the terrifying urban legend of a young woman being snatched at the local shopping mall? It would certainly draw in the crowds – entertaining while giving the audience a healthy distance from this social problem. It’s uncomfortable for us to learn that anyone with a vulnerability is at risk for being trafficked and that he or she is most likely to be trafficked by someone they know.
So why should we all work hard to make sure we discuss human trafficking accurately when raising awareness in our community? Why should we ground our messaging in research and experience, rooting our training in data and facts from studies relating to human trafficking?
Because we all know the damage that misconceptions can cause.
Perpetuating myths around human trafficking keeps our community from seeing the problem, facilitates an easy path for traffickers to do business in our community, and prevents children (and adults) from recognizing themselves as victims. The damage is great and it is real, which is one of the reasons CCAHT is expanding our trainings to provide our community with additional in-depth knowledge about this very serious issue.
Enter: Human Trafficking 201.
HT 201 is a new presentation for those who have already completed HT 101 and have a general understanding of the issue in our community. HT 201 focuses on the realities of an individual who has been trafficked and reviews the various paths into trafficking, including the “Romeo” route and, a prevalent cause of trafficking in rural communities, the familial route. HT 201 also reviews the specific type of trauma trafficked individuals experience and how this trauma affects future relationships. Ultimately, this training helps humanize those affected by trafficking, putting a face and a story to individuals who are often lumped into a single category of “victim.”
Human Trafficking 201 isn’t the only new training we’ve added to our curriculum at CCAHT – check out our new training catalog here. You’ll find presentations that focus on buyers of commercial sex and in-depth training for specific professionals like substance abuse counselors, educators, medical providers, and more. Part of our agency’s mission is to educate and train our community, and we are taking that responsibility seriously!
At CCAHT, we are armed with interesting and informative presentations and are eager to spread the word. All we need is YOU.
Shift gears for a night at book club, talk to HR about the benefits these trainings may bring you and your coworkers, share this message with your faith group, and then, sign up! Tell us where and when to come with our convenient online registration, and we will bring the counter-trafficking movement straight to you.
This post was written by Natalie Ivey, the Director of Advocacy and Outreach at CCAHT. Natalie creates and organizes all our trainings like the one mentioned above. To learn more about her check out her bio.