ANNOUNCER: The following program is a production of Ozarks Public Television.

I'm Michelle Skalicky.

Welcome to "Sense of Community."

According to the US State Department, an estimated 27.6 million people are currently victims of trafficking worldwide.

And many of them are often hidden right in front of us.

A Springfield based organization, Stand Against Trafficking, is working to combat human trafficking in the Ozarks.

Today, on "Sense of Community," we're joined by licensed professional counselor Jenifer Sturdivan, who is secretary of the non-profit.

She'll tell us more about the organization, about human trafficking, and about how you can help.

[music playing] ANNOUNCER: Welcome to "Sense of Community."

"Sense of Community" is a public affairs presentation of Ozarks Public Television.

Jennifer, thank you so much for joining us.

You're welcome.

We're talking about a really important topic tonight, and one that affects a lot of people.

Your organization is involved in educating people and trying to prevent human trafficking.

Talk about what your organization is involved in.

Stand Against Trafficking is a coalition that exists to eradicate trafficking in Southwest Missouri.

There is labor trafficking and sex trafficking, but our organization focuses the most on sex trafficking.

And go into a little more detail.

What-- how do you define sex trafficking?

What is someone-- how does someone get involved in that and become a victim of that form of trafficking?

The victims of sex trafficking can be anyone.

A lot of times, we are misinformed or misled by movies that bring entertainment or drama to the issue of sex trafficking.

But honestly, sex trafficking can happen to anyone, anyone who has any vulnerability, anyone who is online and messages someone they don't know, anyone that encounters a stranger of any kind can be a victim.

And we all know in this age of technology, where a lot of people are online, you don't know who's behind the screen.

How common is it for someone to get pulled in through that method?

Especially with minors, it's very, very common.

They believe that they know who they're speaking to or have some kind of evidence, and they will say, well, I saw them.

They videoed themselves at school or they videoed me from school.

I know they're 14.

I know that-- who this person is.

And in their naivete, they trust that 14-year-old person that they're speaking to online is the only one they're speaking to.

When in actuality, there's a hierarchy of people, and maybe someone is paying that 14-year-old to be a friend to another 14-year-old in order to learn their vulnerabilities and develop a relationship that is trusting so that they can exploit them further.

Are there red flags that a teenager should be looking for or their parents?

What can be done to prevent this from happening?

The biggest thing would be online safety.

Any-- any app, any game, anything that has a messaging capability is a red flag.

Anything that somebody-- because that is what the traffickers are targeting, is children and teenagers apps, or games, or something that they can message them on or develop a relationship with.

So the vulnerabilities that exist are what the traffickers are looking for.

And then they work to-- to fix those vulnerabilities so that they don't have them anymore.

And that's how they trap them, even with adults as well.

What are some signs that parents or guardians, trusted adults, can be looking for to step in and, you know, try to break that connection that this person has with a potential human trafficker?

The most important thing would just to be to monitor all your children's social media, their games, their computers, their phones.

Anything that can be used to message or contact people would be something that parents need to keep an eye on.

And at any time, I would recommend getting the child's phone and looking through it.

If the child becomes defensive or overly protective of their phones or devices, then that would be a red flag that there might be something on there that the parents need to see, but they don't want them to see.

And at what point should a parent contact local law enforcement to try to figure out what's going on?

I would say if there's any exchange of sexual information, personal information, that doesn't seem appropriate, then that would be something to contact law enforcement.

If you see something, say something.

It's better to be-- to err in the side of caution than to let something go and think it's no big deal.

Who are the victims of human trafficking?

We've talked about anybody can become a victim.

We've talked about young people.

Talk a little bit more about how people become victims of this crime.

The people who become victims are people who have a need.

And so that's why they exploit their vulnerabilities.

If someone needs housing, then the trafficker, or someone in the trafficking field or ring, will offer them housing.

If they need relationship, or if they seem like they need people in their lives, they'll become friends or they'll maybe start dating.

Traffickers take their time in building relationships with people so that there's trust.

How serious of an issue is this in our area?

I know your organization really works to educate so that people can identify potential cases of human trafficking, but, you know, how common is it to find those-- that going on in our region?

It's really hard to put statistics to it.

A lot of people want numbers.

But the reason that's very difficult is because it's hard to prosecute for sex trafficking because part of the definition is that they use force, fraud, or coercion.

And it's really hard to prove that.

A lot of people who are being trafficked, don't even know they're being trafficked.

There are people who are in these relationships, and the traffickers ask them, can you do me a favor, since I've done these favors?

So a lot of times people will come into the ER or have involvement with law enforcement, and not only will they not admit that they have been trafficked or in a trafficking situation, but they may not know.

It's difficult also for them to talk about sex trafficking with anyone because the trafficker or the pimp will be with them a lot of times.

One of the women on our leadership team works in the ER, and it's really hard to get because you can have someone with you.

So it's really hard to get a woman who you may suspect is being sex trafficked alone for her to be able to say something.

And one of the tactics that traffickers use is to tell them that they will be arrested as well for prostitution.

And so there's a big threat and a big risk for anyone to ask for help.

So the traffickers have tactics, but are there tactics that people who, say, work in a setting like that, or other settings, can use to try to find out what's going on?

When people in situations to see traffickers are educated, then there are definitely signs.

Stand Against Trafficking exists to eradicate sex trafficking in Southwest Missouri.

And so we speak and give presentations to anyone who has an interest in learning more about it.

We've done presentations for a foster mom and her kids, sitting at a table.

We've done presentations for a whole staff of surgery at a hospital.

We've been to motels, taxi drivers.

Anyone that may encounter and that wants information, we give free presentations.

You just have to contact us, and we'll-- we'll set something up.

We also tailor our presentations to the audience, age appropriate and whatever we need to do to make that appropriate.

An important topic, and it sounds like something that is available to anyone to learn about.

How can somebody find out more about scheduling one of your free presentations?

There is a contact form on our website.

And if you go to our website and fill out the form, it goes straight to our email.

And then we will contact you and set something up.

And your website is standagainsttrafficking.org.

Correct.

Correct, OK. Tell me a little bit more about your organization.

I know you're a volunteer group.

So you're out there working to let people know how they can maybe see signs of human trafficking and what they can do.

Talk about how that works.

And, you know, kind of walk me through what you do when you go to present to a group.

OK. Our coalition is volunteer.

We have a leadership team of five individuals.

And we use our resources and our knowledge to come together to find ways to spread awareness.

Our coalition exists also of community volunteers.

So anyone is welcome to come to our meetings.

We have monthly coalition meetings, and to volunteer, or just to learn more about it.

We educate.

We have-- we have quarterly community events that help educate.

We are-- currently, we have an educational subcommittee.

And we are working to get into the schools in the area.

We work with the Stop Trafficking Project and Russ Tuttle.

He can come in and do school-wide assemblies for the different ages and grades.

And he does a great job.

We recently had him in Springfield.

And he can-- he presented from kindergarten to grade 12.

And each presentation was appropriate in content and spoke a clear message-- a clear message against trafficking.

And spoke about online safety at each different age level.

And I can see, you know, going into a school, you're able to reach a lot of people, but you're also able to reach some of the vulnerable population and maybe try to prevent this before it gets too far.

I could see a peer, for instance, being able to talk to someone, where maybe an adult couldn't.

Correct.

Is that how-- Correct.

And they know more about their peers than the adults are able to witness.

We also do-- it doesn't have to be a whole school assembly.

Someone from our leadership team or coalition can go to a small group.

I was at the Psychology Club.

We've been on MSU campus, on College of the Ozarks campus.

We are able to spread-- talk to anyone who wants us to talk to them.

How long has your group, Stand Against Trafficking, been in existence?

And tell me a little bit about how it came to be.

I believe Stand Against Trafficking began in 2012, so a little over 10 years.

And how-- how it formed was there were two different groups that were meeting and realized they kind of had the same goals that they were working towards.

So they came together to form the coalition called Stand Against Trafficking.

So it's been around for a little while.

And talk about what ways you work to fulfill your mission.

And what is your mission?

Our mission is to eradicate sex trafficking in Southwest Missouri.

We also speak about labor trafficking.

But what we do is we go to educational conferences.

We use our volunteers for their information.

Everyone in the community has a different viewpoint.

And everyone in the community has ideas that can help support the prevention and spread awareness.

So we use our volunteers a lot, depending on where they come from, and what their background is, and what they currently see.

So collaboration is important.

Talk about some of the organizations that you work with to-- to do what you do and to work toward your mission.

We work closely with law enforcement.

We work with-- like the domestic violence centers sometimes will-- will help us.

One of the biggest needs that we have for survivors of trafficking is, where do they go?

You know, if they are able to leave the trafficking situation, where can they go?

And that's a big need in our area.

So we work towards finding information about places where they can go for safety.

Because they're-- they become very dependent through force, fraud, and coercion.

I mean, if those are the words that we use to define sex trafficking, then we know that it's very difficult to get out of.

And the traffickers see these-- these victims as very valuable members of the trafficking ring.

It's also the fastest growing criminal industry in the United States.

Because the victims of trafficking can be used over, and over, and over again in a single day.

Where if you're selling guns or drugs, that supply runs out at some point, and you have to go get more.

But when you have someone trapped in trafficking, there's no limit to how many times they can be used without having to-- to find more.

Yeah, I mean, you automatically think, well, if you rescue someone from human trafficking, that's it.

You know, they-- they'll be glad to get away.

But it's a lot more complex than that.

You know, they need a place where they can be safe from their-- their trafficker and other services.

What does it take to-- to get someone away from-- from that trafficker?

It's very difficult.

They will-- oftentimes, the traffickers will take their identity.

They will take their medical insurance.

So they don't really have a way to survive.

They-- it's hard to find a job that's not in the public setting where they might be found.

It's hard to-- it's hard to hide.

And it's hard to get resources, as far as medical attention.

If you don't have availability to insurance, then-- then how do you pay for that?

If you don't have a safe place to go, then what are you going to do?

So if you imagine everything being stripped away from you, and trying to hide with no resources, that's what it takes.

And that's why it's-- it's very difficult to successfully rescue someone from trafficking.

And oftentimes, when they-- when they find their vulnerabilities are still there, they will go back to the trafficking situation.

Do we have enough resources in our community to try to fight this?

I would say, no.

I think, especially the more aware we are, and the more accuracy we have in identifying victims, the domestic violence shelters are full.

And they don't always have a bed available.

And again, we are-- we are working with law enforcement to train them on what to see, what to look for, how to handle those situations.

Stand Against Trafficking has held-- has sponsored law enforcement conferences.

And so we're working to get things as much as we can with education.

But as far as physical and tangible resources, there are some.

And I will say that there are-- there are some good ones in the area.

But they also-- we also need to meet other needs as well.

So I think there could always be more resources for domestic violence, trafficking, those situations.

How do you find the US is doing overall in its efforts to combat human trafficking, to find and rescue victims and prosecute the perpetrators?

We focus on Southwest Missouri, but if I take that and spread it out, trafficking looks very different in the big cities or in different areas of the country.

In the Ozarks, there are very specific things and ways that trafficking exists in the rural communities and in smaller communities.

So I think that, again, people attempt to-- to eradicate trafficking, but I think it's hard to identify.

It's hard to prosecute because it's hard to prove coercion.

It's hard to have the victims testify or to admit anything because they have to face their-- their abusers and traffickers.

And you said it's hard to identify.

What are some things that people can watch for?

And what should they do if they notice some of those signs?

A lot of times you will notice that a strong male or female presence is with the victim.

And they aren't able to answer their own questions.

Those questions are answered for them.

They aren't able to step aside and be in a private conversation with somebody.

Very controlling people in their lives.

Also, if they all of a sudden start having money, or nice clothes, or their hair done, or their nails done, or nice purses, or nice-- you know, then-- then it makes you wonder, where did that come from?

And if they aren't able to explain that, or they don't have a new job or some kind of financial resource, then-- then that would be a red flag as well.

In what ways are human trafficking victims informing what Stand Against Trafficking is doing?

We personally know some trafficking survivors.

And so most of the time the people on the coalition bring that information to the coalition through our-- Stand is a volunteer coalition.

So we-- a lot of us work in an industry or a profession outside of Stand that works directly with survivors.

And so we can bring that information to the coalition and spread it that way.

It's-- we don't have a lot-- again, we don't have a lot of traffickers that want to make themselves known.

You've talked about who you work with to educate.

You work with schools, law enforcement.

You know, there's so many different organizations that sounds like that could benefit from hearing from someone with your organization.

Yes.

And again, somebody-- if somebody wants to schedule a free presentation they just go to standagainsttrafficking.org.

I want to know how-- how the public can get involved.

Because I know you rely on volunteers.

Are there volunteer positions that someone who's listening, that just is really passionate about helping, can get involved in?

Sure.

One of the biggest events that we have in the year is our Walk for Freedom.

It's a global event that's sponsored by A21.

And that is coming up on October 14.

We will be at Jordan Valley Park at 10:00 AM to have a little presentation, a speaker.

And then we do a silent walk that represents the silence of-- of our victims.

And so that's-- that's a big way to get involved.

We'll have vendor booths where you can learn more about organizations that support the eradication of-- of trafficking and some that work directly with trafficking survivors.

So that's on October 14.

And we could use volunteers for that.

We could also use participants who would like to join.

It's a-- it's a free, unregistered event.

You can just show up and-- and participate.

And we would like a big-- a big group to represent so that we can get more volunteers and just stand up and show a big presence for traffickers.

And, again, that's October 14, 10:00 AM, Jordan Valley Park, if anybody wants to go to that.

I'm curious if someone does notice a potential sign of human trafficking, can they contact their local law enforcement?

What do they need to do?

That's the number one thing.

Contact law enforcement, yes.

OK, all right.

I want to know more about you and why you got involved.

You're a licensed professional counselor.

I am.

And just a little side note, you're also an equine therapist-- JENIFER STURDIVAN: I am.

--which is interesting.

How did you get involved with fighting human trafficking?

I've been a therapist for 20 years and had private practice here in-- here in Springfield.

And my good friend was the chairperson of Stand Against Trafficking four years ago.

And she invited me to come and participate.

So I went to my first meeting and found out that they had a position open on the leadership team.

So I joined the leadership team my second meeting.

And so I've been-- I've been very involved since then.

I work a lot with trauma.

As an equine therapist and a private practice clinician, there's a lot of need for trauma.

So I've been to a lot of trauma trainings and things like that.

And since then, I've done a lot of sex trafficking trainings.

And so I have a specialty in working with-- with survivors.

How long have you been involved?

Four years.

For four years, OK.

Yes.

And how do you-- I mean, because I know that you have to process a lot when you're dealing with a topic like this.

How do you deal with-- you know, when you go home at night and how do you process the information that you've had to share with others all day or maybe heard from a victim?

That would seem to be very, very difficult to do.

It is.

And I feel like God's given me ability to contain those-- those things, the information that I gain from other people.

So I'm able to contain it.

And when I have an opportunity to do a consultation, I don't speak directly about my clients.

And so it can be a very lonely thing because it's so confidential.

But when I have a strong support community around me, and also, the leadership team of Stand are also my very good friends.

And so we're able to go out and-- and just say, I had a hard day, just need to talk.

So we don't-- we don't-- as therapists, we're not able to talk specifically about our things, but just knowing that there's-- there's a support.

And knowing that the people that we're talking to are actually the ones getting help.

I think the hardest thing for me is not the things I hear every day, but the-- the unknowns, of people out there who are unable to get help.

That's the hardest for me.

And again, if somebody wants to find out more about your organization, Stand Against Trafficking, if they want to learn about how they can have a-- have someone come and talk to them or their group about this topic, or if they want to volunteer, how can they do that?

Where can they find out more information?

Is there a number?

I know you have your website.

Our website is the best place.

We're-- the coalition is completely volunteer, so we don't have a number for the coalition.

But you can find us on our website.

You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.

OK, and when they go to Facebook, just search-- JENIFER STURDIVAN: Stand Against Trafficking.

OK, and also on Instagram.

JENIFER STURDIVAN: Yes.

Well, it's a really important topic.

I'm glad that you're out there working to educate people about it.

And I appreciate you coming in to talk to us tonight-- JENIFER STURDIVAN: You're welcome.

--about it.

Sure.

So thank you, again.

Here is where you can find more information about human trafficking and Stand Against Trafficking here in Springfield.

ANNOUNCER: Here is where you can find more information about the topics covered in this program.

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