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Informational hearing: sponsors seek $2 million to expand regional navigators for youth affected by trafficking and exploitation
Summary
Representatives discussed expanding Safe Harbor regional navigator services to support victims of trafficking; navigators described increasing referrals for younger children and asked for additional funding to expand crisis lines, shelter access and therapeutic services; committee heard testimony informationally and no vote was recorded.
Representative Keeler presented an informational discussion on a bill to expand the state's Safe Harbor regional navigator program to better serve youth who experience trafficking and exploitation. She described the prevalence of youth involvement in exchange sex and trafficking and said the proposed navigator expansion would provide statewide, trauma-informed first contact and care coordination.
Shannon Fikori, West Metro Regional Navigator with The Link, said she and other navigators operate a statewide referral and crisis line and coordinate services including shelter, housing, mental-health and substance-use care. Fikori said the Link's navigator line received 640 crisis calls in 2024 and the program served nearly 100 people who experienced trafficking; she reported referrals for increasingly younger children and cited urgent needs for prevention, housing and therapy. Fikori requested an additional $2 million to expand regional navigator services across the state.
Esther Jones, who described herself as a survivor and Link program participant, described homelessness and parenting challenges and said navigator services provided critical supports and hope.
The committee treated the item informationally; sponsors emphasized this is a statewide need and asked for additional resources to expand navigators, prevention education, and shelter access.
