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Sedgwick County proclaims January Human Trafficking Awareness Month; ICTSOS opens expanded center
Summary
The Sedgwick County commission unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and heard from Jennifer White of ICTSOS about a new expanded location that will increase services and on-site therapy space.
The Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved a proclamation declaring January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Sedgwick County and recognized ICTSOS, a local anti-trafficking nonprofit, as it opens an expanded service location.
Chairman Ryan K. Beatty read the proclamation noting state criminal definitions for aggravated human trafficking and labor trafficking cited from KSA; the board declared that the county “encourage the residents of our community to strongly commit to come together to combat human trafficking.” The motion to approve the proclamation passed by roll call; all five commissioners voted aye.
Jennifer White, executive director of ICTSOS, accepted the proclamation and described the organization’s expanded services and upcoming events. She said ICTSOS provides prevention education in schools and estimates it reached about 5,000 students annually through education programs. White said ICTSOS’ advocacy work assisted roughly 60 adult survivors last year and that the organization moved into a larger location at 126 S. Ida earlier in January. The new space expands from about 5,500 square feet to roughly 13,000 square feet and will include on-site therapy offices and room for expanded education and support groups.
White also announced an upcoming symbolic groundbreaking event scheduled for Jan. 30 and invited the commission and public to attend. She said ICTSOS will sublease a portion of the new building to the Wichita Recovery Hub for the first year to co-locate recovery services and survivor support.
Why it matters: The proclamation formalizes county recognition of trafficking as a local problem requiring multidisciplinary prevention, intervention and restoration services. The expanded ICTSOS facility is intended to increase capacity for therapy and educational programs and to strengthen coordination with law enforcement, medical and social-service partners.
What’s next: Commissioners congratulated ICTSOS and invited staff and board members for a photo. The commission recorded the proclamation in the public record and moved on to other agenda items.
