Bettendorf mayor proclaims January 2025 Human Trafficking Awareness Month; advocates urge $1 million state survivor fund

Mayor Robert Gallagher proclaimed January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month for Bettendorf and presented the proclamation during the Jan. 7 council meeting.

The proclamation, requested by Maggie Tinsman, chair of the Breaking Traffic advisory effort associated with anti‑trafficking work and a leader with the Network Against Human Trafficking, recognizes human trafficking as “modern day slavery” and urges residents to report suspicious activity to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Tinsman used the proclamation presentation to ask residents to press Iowa legislators to create an initial $1,000,000 survivor-services fund in the attorney general’s office to support nine organizations that serve survivors, including Family Resources.

“As I am asking you to do is to talk to your your 1 house member and your 1 senator and ask them to legislate $1,000,000 for human trafficking survivor services fund,” Tinsman said. She described the statewide need for designated funding to expand services and juvenile restoration facilities and said Family Resources needs additional staff to continue survivor services.

Police Chief Keith Kimbell, who was present, thanked Tinsman and said law enforcement’s involvement has increased investigations locally. “We currently have an active investigation going on here. It's a federal case,” Kimbell said, adding that survivors need stability and support to aid both recovery and prosecution.

The mayor and presenters emphasized community education, reporting, and legislative advocacy as tools to support survivors and reduce future victimization. The presentation included an invitation to contact Iowa legislators ahead of the 2025 session and distribution of the Network’s 2025 legislative agenda materials.