SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has partnered with the Illinois State Police (ISP), the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), and others to raise awareness of human trafficking.
January is Human Trafficking Awareness month, which raises awareness of this often under-reported and under-identified. Human trafficking uses force, fraud, or coercion to control individuals for labor or commercial sex purposes. Millions of victims are trafficked worldwide, including in Illinois.
“Human trafficking is a pervasive issue that affects every corner of our nation, from bustling cities to small rural towns, and no community is immune,” said Illinois DCFS Director Heidi E. Mueller.
DCFS is hosting events to raises awareness which include training sessions for DCFS staff, collaboration with Girls Night Out Outreach Events to distribute resources in the Chicago area and provide support to those seeking to leave lives of exploitation, and presentations by the DCFS Statewide Human Trafficking Prevention Program Manager.
DCFS is also partnering with several other groups through the Joint Human Trafficking Working Group. In 2024, these agencies were awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime. The grant supports protocols and training for trauma responses to the youth victims of human trafficking.
To report suspected human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at humantraffickinghotline.org, 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.