Susquehanna County proclaims January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month; advocacy groups announce New Milford reopening
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Summary
The Susquehanna County Board of Commissioners approved Proclamation 2541 declaring January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month; representatives from WRC and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania thanked the board and said a New Milford office will reopen in January to strengthen local investigative capacity.
The Susquehanna County Board of Commissioners on the record approved Proclamation 2541 declaring January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Susquehanna County. The motion to adopt the proclamation was made by Commissioner Darryl and seconded by Commissioner MacKern; commissioners voiced approval and the proclamation carried.
Matt Fowler, identified in the transcript as representing 'WRC,' thanked the board and urged community vigilance, saying human trafficking victims “often... fall through the cracks,” and that broader awareness helps people identify unsafe situations. Meaghan, speaking for the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, said the organization is reopening its office in New Milford in January and described the agency’s role on the investigative side of child-trafficking and exploitation cases. “Raising awareness is the key to getting them safe,” Meaghan said. Ashley Sakachi, also with the Children’s Advocacy Center, expressed appreciation to the commissioners for the proclamation and the attention to victims’ needs.
The proclamation formalizes the county’s recognition of trafficking as a community issue and signals support for local services and outreach. The board did not announce further county-directed funding tied to the proclamation during the meeting. The children’s advocacy representatives noted the reopening of a New Milford office as a local development intended to restore closer investigative and support services after a prior relocation to Mechanic. The proclamation is intended as an awareness and coordination measure rather than a new regulatory action.
The board moved through the item with a recorded motion and verbal ‘aye’ responses as reflected in the meeting record. No additional formal motions tied to the proclamation (such as funding allocations or staff directives) were recorded in the transcript.
