We want our children, all children, to be safe and protected. It’s hard for most of us to imagine that many children are human trafficked. Primarily, they are coerced into lives to provide labor or commercial sex. We may think that only happens in third-world countries or in the worst part of a sprawling city far away from Thurston County. Are we ready to believe that human trafficking happens right here? Because it does. Dr. Amanda Montgomery, an ordained pastor and licensed marriage and family therapist in Thurston County, provides educational trainings for people who are interested to grow their own knowledge about the devastation of trafficking.
“My desire is to raise community awareness in myriad pockets around Thurston County,” she says. “If members from a wide variety of local community settings become educated on how trafficking happens locally, then we can make a significant impact in reducing buyer demand and increasing survivor support services.” She devotes her work to educating churches and community members to engage in anti-trafficking work from a survivor-honoring perspective.
Human Trafficking Myths
During her doctoral work, Amanda learned how trafficking occurs, which is not like the Hollywood version. “I realized there is a huge gap,” she notes. The myth is that human trafficking involves kidnapping or physical force when the reality is most traffickers use psychological methods such as tricking, threatening or defrauding victims.
The news may be covering this topic more frequently, and we are hearing more about it. However, are people really seeing it? When we have laws that punish the victim, when we look past people in need or keep trafficking activities under the radar by blaming, then we are not dealing with it. Most of us could use some educating.
Parents Can Play a Prevention Role in Halting Trafficking
“Parents have no idea how big the problem is,” suggests Amanda. Children on phones may not be looking for problems, but they can be found by perpetrators. Sexting by school-aged children may start innocently enough, but it can turn to bullying and blackmail. Algorithms favor perpetrators who may have dozens of profiles. They are pretending to be peers. It is a pathway for grooming. “It’s so easy,” she continues. “People don’t have to go to an ‘adult’ store or read a magazine. The phone is right in their hand. It’s so easy to blackmail.”
Parents are not always the first people children turn to for help. Not all parents talk openly with their children about sex. This taboo topic engenders shame or guilt. Children don’t want to get into more trouble and don’t know where to turn. “Perpetrators bank on this lack of communication,” says Amanda.
The situation can get worse quickly. Amanda supports new legislation regarding the way algorithms are determined. Parents may want to check in on their child’s social media usage. Then they can practice listening to their children.
“Youth who are 12, 14 or 16 are not on the street by choice,” emphasizes Amanda. Abusive home life, youth being forced away because of gender identity, incarcerated parents, drug abuse and all the pressures within social media contribute to the problem of vulnerable youth being used. Many are looking for counseling or mental health support, which is in significant shortage and often unavailable.
Parents who are informed, aware and open can become a safe person for their own and other children to talk with. Being a safe person means you can understand how trafficking happens and can identify red flags. “You may be the person who is available at a critical moment,” emphasizes Amanda.
Thurston County Resources for Trafficked Survivors and Others
Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative (Innovations HTC) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to supporting survivors of labor and sex trafficking. It offers a comprehensive range of services to empower and assist clients in rebuilding their lives. These services include safety planning; substance abuse and mental health referrals; housing referrals; and basic needs like food and clothing. Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative also facilitates in relocating clients who want to be closer to family and support networks in other cities or states.
The Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative also empowers survivors through employment referrals, recognizing that sustainable livelihoods foster independence and long-term well-being. By addressing the needs of survivors, the organization provides practical support in the fight against human trafficking and advocates for holistic healing that empowers survivors to reclaim agency over their lives.
For more information about Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative and its services, please contact Reynor Padilla at 360-790-1625 or reynor@innovationshtc.org.
All Kids Win
People who live with food insecurity and insufficient food, especially children, face many challenges. These circumstances can get in the way of school success, normal development, and physical and mental focus. Hungry youth can be lured with food. All Kids Win provides for 1,122 students in 48 schools in our community each week of the school year. The nonprofit runs on donations and help from many volunteers. Children who are well fed have better chances in life.
ASHHO
ASHHO is a cultural community and job training center in Tumwater. Ashho is a Bengali word meaning to call or invite someone to come join. Founded by Khurshida Begum, the center is a place for people of color to unite through soul food, education, and gatherings. The mission is to advocate for survivors, people of color, under-served, under-resourced, and marginalized people. ASHHO supports people to understand, recognize, respond and report. Volunteers provide comfort catering both on and off-site, the organization also has facility rental, trainings and Ruina’s Soul Café. Visit the website for more information and the calendar for upcoming events.
28 million people are trafficked worldwide. If you are interested in training for a group or want more information, you can contact Amanda at 360-870-9080 or amandamontgomery@olympiapastoral.com
Important Human Trafficking Help Numbers
Crisis Clinic: 360.586.2800
Child Protective Services: 360.725.6700
Lacey Police Department: 360.459.4333
Olympia Police Department: 360.759.4333
Providence St. Peter’s Hospital Sexual Assault Clinic: 360.493.7469
Rainier Police Department: 360.704.2740
Safeplace: 360.786.8754
Tenino Police Department: 360.264.2626
Thurston County Prosecutor: 360.786.5540
Thurston County Sheriff: 360.786.5530
Tumwater Police Department: 360.754.4200
Yelm Police Department: 360.458.5701
The Polaris Project is a national resource.
NCOSE – National Center on Sexual Exploitation – Legislative information
