Human Trafficking in Wichita: What Really Happens & What Parents Need to Know

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month – this article was originally published in 2016.

photo copyright Monkey Business Images on Canva

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I struggled with such severe anxiety that I quit watching local and national news. As my kids grew, so did the number of predators and conspiracies I seemingly needed to protect them from.  

Human Trafficking in Wichita

We often have visions of children being plucked from playgrounds and thrown into unmarked vans dancing through our heads – and while that’s not impossible, that’s not really the way trafficking works. I went in search of more information: How does this happen? Who is at risk? And most importantly, What can we do to stop this?

Who Is At Risk?

Your children are more likely to be abused or exploited at the hands of a trusted family member or friend than snatched for the purpose of human trafficking. 

That’s a fact.

Face masks during a pandemic, cabinets for sale on Wayfair, and creepy dudes in the Target parking lot make for sexy viral social media content, but the reality is that human trafficking does not work that way the majority of the time. Movies like Sound of Freedom are so sensationalized that they end up doing more harm than good. So how do we know what’s real and what’s not?

Children who are “invisible” or do not have a secure support system are the ones who can fall through the cracks. The ones who are neglected or abused at home, who think that any form of escape offered is better than the life in which they are trapped are the easiest to exploit (especially during a global pandemic when unsupervised screen time is at a high and regular contact with teachers, social workers, and other professional is at a low). They often end up in shelters or on the streets without any means of supporting themselves, and this is the danger zone.

They are easy prey for traffickers – and they don’t look like those bruised, chained women that you see on social media. Human trafficking victims are not always immigrants. They are not always kidnapped children. They are not always involved in sex trade; sometimes they sell candy and magazines door-to-door. They are male and female. They are minors, and they are adults.

They don’t have the freedom to walk away, and they likely can’t ask for help.

How Can We Help?

It wasn’t long before I was following organizations like ICT S.O.S. on Facebook. They are actively raising community awareness and offering training/education for adults and youth in Wichita and the surrounding areas, and have a wealth of information for parents who are concerned about human trafficking in Wichita and its impact on our city’s children.

So, as parents, grandparents, teachers, friends, and neighbors what can we do?

The answer is simpler than you think!

Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County

Garver House

Rise Up for Youth

Raise My Head Foundation

Wichita Children’s Home

Advice from the Experts

As a mother, I can’t think of two words that horrify me more than “sex trafficking”, and I’m surely not alone. That’s why I asked local experts what they think are the most important things parents need to know when it comes to human trafficking awareness and prevention.

I’ll leave you with their thoughts, as well as some additional resources below:

What is one thing Wichita parents need to know about trafficking and/or the exploitation of children?

“I think the most important thing for parents to know is that it DOES happen here. And in every community. Wichita sits in close proximity to several major highways which makes access easy for traffickers moving victims around the country. We also tend to have a little bit of a false sense of security that, “Well, that only happens in cities like New York, Chicago or Houston… not here in the Midwest.” And because of that, we’re not talking to our kids about it as much as we should. Just like in other forms of abuse, traffickers target people with vulnerabilities that they can exploit. Sometimes that means approaching a homeless or runaway youth on the streets, and sometimes it means reaching out to a teen who is posting on Facebook about how they are lonely or they are fighting with their parents. Capt. Jeff Weible of the Wichita Police Department once made a comment that has always stuck with me, ‘Traffickers are some of the best child psychologists you’ll ever meet.'”

– Jennifer White, ICT S.O.S.

“Parents should know that human trafficking can and does happen to all types of people. Parents must have an open dialogue with their children about all aspects of their life. Talk to them about online safety, healthy relationships, issues with friends, classmates, etc. Remind them that they are loved and valued and can come to you with any issues they might be dealing with. Make them aware of resources like Safe Place and Opportunity Zone in our city that they can use or share with friends in need.” 

Bailey Patton Brackin, WSU Center for Combating Human Trafficking

What is one way parents in Wichita can help fight human trafficking in our city?

“Prevention, prevention, and more prevention. Make sure your kids and the kids around you know they are loved and supported. Youth with a safety net of caring adults are much harder to exploit. Volunteer in your church youth group, be a mentor through Big Brothers/Big Sisters or another mentoring program, volunteer at and donate to organizations serving at-risk youth and families. Wichita has lots of great options! ICT S.O.S. is a great avenue to learn more about the work being done in our community and to connect with local agencies serving trafficked and at-risk youth. “– Jennifer White, ICT S.O.S.

“Invest in young people! Prevention of human trafficking truly begins hereProvide opportunities for youth to grow, develop and recognize their unique gifts and talents. There are a number of reputable youth mentoring organizations in Wichita who are in desperate need of devoted mentors. Check out Hope Ranch, Youth Horizons, YoungLives, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters and begin mentoring a youth who could be at risk.” – Bailey Patton Brackin, WSU Center for Combating Human Trafficking

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

 – Look for the Helpers Podcast by ICT S.O.S. 

– Via Christi Works to End Human Trafficking

Sedgwick County Exploited & Missing Children’s Unit

National Center on Sexual Exploitation

NetSmartz Workshop Online Safety for Kids & Teens

– Recognize the Signs

How to Report Suspected Trafficking

Thorn 

 


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Wichita Mom
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2 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you for this. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. But I want to do more than donate money. Many of these children are sold by their own parents. It’s disgusting. I just don’t know where to go or what to do to actually make a difference.

    • Jenny, I hope you’ll consider joining #TeamWMB on September 12th at the Race4Freedom 5k! http://bit.ly/1J6d5fJ

      Prevention is the key, and this fundraiser provides assistance to local agencies who are on the front lines, not just rescuing traffic victims, but PREVENTING kids from becoming victims in the first place. We’d love to see you!

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