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Orange County supervisors mark National Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month
Summary
Board members and county partners highlighted local efforts to identify victims, described increases in child‑exploitation investigations and called for school‑based prevention and more coordination among courts, social services and law enforcement.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28 formally recognized January as National Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month and heard presentations from county agencies and nonprofit partners about prevention, prosecution and victim services.
Supervisor Doug Chaffee, the board chair, opened the presentation by describing human trafficking as “a heinous crime” that deprives people of liberty through force, fraud or coercion and by listing members of the county’s Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes local law enforcement agencies, the district attorney’s office and nonprofit service providers.
“Katrina and I want people to be aware of the resources available and to report tips,” Chaffee said as he urged residents not to attempt rescues and to call the national hotline when appropriate.
Supervisor Katrina Foley (5th District) told the board the county’s victim advocacy program has served more than 1,490 victims over the last decade and said identifying victims early — including through school prevention programs — is a priority. “Young victims are often groomed online through social media and gaming,” she said, and urged parents to talk with children and to report tips to the national hotline.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer described the prosecutorial difficulties in trafficking cases, saying victims are often branded and tightly controlled and therefore uncooperative as witnesses. “When you break it down like that, you understand how difficult these cases are and why we need the resources to prosecute,” Spitzer said, and he warned that major events and travel to the region could increase trafficking risks and require heightened vigilance.
Josie Alturi, division director for Children and Family Services in the county’s Social Services Agency, said last year the agency investigated 135 allegations of child exploitation, up from 87 the prior year — a 55% increase — and described prevention events for middle‑ and high‑school students and parent trainings planned for February.
Rima Nausashibi, founder and president of Global Hope 365, described school‑based prevention work and said health‑care training is important because trafficking survivors often seek medical care multiple times before they exit exploitative situations.
Why it matters: County officials said trafficking occurs locally and that improving early identification, boosting survivor services and funding investigative and prosecutorial capacity are central to reducing harm and holding perpetrators accountable.
The board also invited members of the task force and nonprofit partners to the dais for a group photo after the presentations. The meeting then moved on to other items on the agenda, including public comment on homelessness and a separate recognition of Lunar New Year.
