UNDATED, (WTAQ) – Many people may not be aware that January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month but that hasn’t kept area organizations from doing their part to crack down on the heartbreaking reality that’s happening in our own backyards.
Outagamie County Human Trafficking Steering Committee says progress is being made with the help of law enforcement and the Sexual Assault Crisis Center in Appleton.
Alaina Vallafsky is the care coordinator at the center and deals one on one with girls who are victims of trafficking.
She says help from Grand Chute and Appleton police stings, have helped cracked down on the problem.
“They will lure these guys in and think that they’re going to meet a teenage girl or some type of prostitution and they are taken into custody,” Vallafsky said.
Girls are being recruited at a very young age.
“We’re looking at between the ages of 12 and 16. These girls are being recruited by other girls that have already been involved in the trafficking,” said Vallafsky.
Vulnerable girls are targeted who may be in foster care or have no family support system. There’s a vetting process the victims go through.
“There’s conversation, there’s a dinner, there’s stuff being offered to them, something they’ve never had before. It takes just a couple of hours and they’re really invested.”
To learn more about Wisconsin’s Anti-Human Trafficking Program, go to www.dcf.wisconsin.gov/aht.
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/aht
