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Advocate urges Monroe council to boost anti–human-trafficking awareness and services
Summary
Krista Bethke of a local assault-recovery program told the Monroe Common Council that trafficking in rural counties is underreported, described familial and grooming patterns, called out gaps in shelter and services, and asked the council to back an awareness proclamation for January.
Krista Bethke, a survivor-advocate with a regional assault-recovery program, told the City of Monroe Common Council that human trafficking in rural communities is often unseen and underreported and urged local officials to increase awareness and service capacity.
"Human trafficking, basically it's modern day slavery," Bethke said in a presentation to the council, describing how traffickers use force, fraud or coercion and how grooming and social media can make young people especially vulnerable. She told council members that many victims do not recognize themselves as trafficked and that service needs include safe housing, transportation, medical care and legal assistance.
Bethke said her task force works with law enforcement, child-protection and treatment providers to identify suspected trafficking and coordinate supports. She reported working with 15 people in her first full year; of those, a small but growing number were local to Greene County. When asked about convictions, she said local convictions are rare, noting "0" convictions in the county she referenced and that Rock County had recorded one.
The advocate asked the council to support a proclamation designating January as anti–human-trafficking awareness month to broaden community recognition of indicators and reporting pathways. She said the task force maintains a resource flowchart and urged the public to contact law enforcement, CPS, or the program hotline when concerns arise.
