Board proclaims January 2025 as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

The Trinity County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 21 voted unanimously to adopt a proclamation designating January 2025 as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and received a briefing from the county’s Health and Human Services director on local prevention and response efforts.

Liz Hamilton, director of Health and Human Services, introduced county Child Welfare Services supervisors and staff working on human-trafficking prevention. Ashley Johnson, the county’s human-trafficking lead, told the board that child-welfare staff routinely screen dependent youth for trafficking risk, provide trauma-informed services, and coordinate multidisciplinary responses when trafficking is identified. Hamilton said the county is committed to collaboration across sectors and to ensuring services are trauma-informed and survivor-centered.

The proclamation text included global and national background language and reaffirmed the county’s commitment to awareness, education and multiagency coordination. After staff remarks, a supervisor said the work “takes its toll” on staff and thanked the child-welfare team for their efforts.

A motion to adopt the proclamation passed on a roll-call vote of 5–0. The board took a photograph with staff and the proclamation presenters at the conclusion of the presentation.