Let’s Make Human Trafficking Prevention Month Really Count.
This January, let’s go beyond the hashtags and make real change for survivors.
Kedrick Nettleton, Community Engagement Manager
If you follow The Spring and other service providers on social media, you probably know that January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
This isn’t something that service providers created on their own to drum up interest — President Obama first declared this observance in 2010, and every president since has continued to do so. It’s billed by the US State Department as a time to “raise awareness about human trafficking and to educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime,” and we at The Spring are always happy for anything that helps draw attention to the prevalence of human trafficking here in the United States.
But this year, we've been asking ourselves: how can we make this month really count?
It’s easy to post online, spread a hashtag, or wear a blue shirt. But it can be much more difficult to know how to make a genuine impact for survivors. When the problem feels so vast, what can one individual do?
The three steps we’re listing below aren’t groundbreaking, but they are tangible, and they’re actions you can take today. Right now, even. Let’s make this January count. Here’s how:
Educate Yourself
You can’t take action against a problem until you learn more about it, so the first step that we advise each of our supporters to take is to educate themselves. That might look like gathering statistics from Polaris Project about trafficking in your country, state, and community. It might mean learning what resources are available in your community for victims. It might look like attending a training session from a local service provider — as a reminder, The Spring can provide these education resources to your place of work, church, or community group.
Education might also look like reexamining some of the preconceived notions you have about trafficking. We’ve written before about how trafficking often looks very different from its portrayal in the media or in Hollywood films, but it’s worth refreshing your memory. While many people think about organized trafficking “rings” and heart-pounding abductions, the reality that we see in Oklahoma is often very different. The vast majority of traffickers are exploiting vulnerabilities in people that they know — traffickers often victimize their own family members or intimate partners.
Start by doing the research. If you need help knowing where to start, reach out to us.
Get Personally Involved
While Oklahoma has made positive strides in funding and resourcing human trafficking service providers, the fact remains that many organizations desperately need help — volunteers, staffing help, or aid in raising awareness about the work they do. We encourage you to find an organization you’re passionate about and reach out to them. You matter; you bring a unique perspective, skill set, and passions that you can bring to bear in the fight to end trafficking.
If you’re interested in learning more about volunteering with The Spring, click here.
Give
It’s simple: we need your generosity to take our mission to the next level. We depend on the giving of individuals, corporations, and ministries to help victims of trafficking. Whether you’re interested in a one-time donation or ongoing help, we’d love to connect and show you how your money makes a difference. Learn more here.
Like we wrote above — these steps aren’t revolutionary. You probably already knew the kinds of actions we’d advise to begin making a difference for survivors. But the simple reality is that small, consistent, and even boring actions are the ones that make the biggest difference. God bless you for your support during this Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
If you or someone you know needs help escaping domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, or stalking, please dial 911 or call our 24/7 hotline at 918-245-4075. You can also consider joining the fight against abuse in Oklahoma by donating or exploring volunteer opportunities.