FORT PAYNE- January 2024 will mark the 14th National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and the third annual “Go Blue Day” in Fort Payne and at Riverview Hospital in Gadsden, observed on January 11th to raise awareness about human trafficking. Community members will be seen wearing t-shirts in recognition of the day, which will feature a “Blackout Human Trafficking” event at Fort Payne High School’s basketball game.
Sherrie Hiett, executive director of Family Services of North Alabama, understands that human trafficking “is not an easy thing to talk about.” A worship leader and minister, Hiett was brought on to work with Family Services of North Alabama in 2016 as their Victim Services Director for DeKalb County and became the organization’s executive director in 2018. FSNA provides education and intervention services to families and individuals in Marshall, Cherokee, DeKalb, and Etowah Counties. Their services include 24/7 response to sexual assault, counseling and coaching, parenting classes, workforce development, and more.
In 2019, Hiett was invited by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office to undergo training on human trafficking. The experience was transformative, as Hiett became aware that she had been serving victims of human trafficking without realizing it. She promptly implemented the Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force, which upholds the following mission statement: “To combat human trafficking through awareness and education and empower communities to respond to and prevent trafficking.”
Many readers will likely be aware of what has been referred to as a border crisis, marked by large numbers of unaccompanied children entering the United States. The U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement, in partnership with various agencies, has placed thousands of child refugees with sponsors throughout the country. Hiett shared that one region of Northeast Alabama has seen a 194% increase in the number of unaccompanied children placed with sponsors, with Jefferson and Marshall counties accounting for the highest numbers. Only a small percentage of these placements involved a home study to establish the suitability of the living environment. Tragically, agency follow-ups of the well-being of child refugees are rare, spelling concerns for child outcomes. FSNA director Sherrie Hiett is less concerned with the politics surrounding immigration and more so with the implications and outcomes for children. “A lot of people are making it a red or a blue issue, but it’s a child issue.”
Having been up close and personal with the realities of human trafficking in Alabama, Hiett is equipped to shed light on some common misunderstandings. “Human trafficking cases can be some of the most difficult to put together,” she said. In her team’s experience, victims typically do not fall into simple categories of trafficking – for example, labor trafficking and sex trafficking often go hand-in-hand. Though sexual assault does not always involve labor trafficking, the reverse is often true. Human trafficking cases in our region are commonly familial in nature and intertwined with substance abuse.
Making a difference begins with understanding the problem. Prevention educator and task force coordinator Jesse Smith, a member of the FSNA team with a background in human trafficking investigation, is something of a “myth-buster.” Smith teaches members of the public about what human trafficking really is, how to recognize it, and how to protect oneself. Smith spoke about the crucial role of trained volunteer advocates who are on call to connect human trafficking victims to services when they are ready. A unique challenge to human trafficking advocacy is helping the victim understand that their current situation is not their only option for survival. FSNA offers job skills training as a step in the complicated rehabilitation process.
Trained volunteer advocates may also serve by providing emotional support to victims of sexual assault, by operating a crisis hotline, or by setting up tables to raise awareness at community events. “We desperately need volunteer advocates,” said Hiett. Volunteers work with administrators to see where they fit best. If you are interested in being a volunteer advocate, you can contact Hiett at gro.ansecivresylimafobfsctd@ofni or call 256-878-9159. It’s not too late to place an order for “Go Blue Day” shirts for yourself or your business by contacting FSNA.
Among the FSNA team’s goals is to work themselves out of a job, with the hope that communities will be vigilant and advocate for the rights of victims to help put an end to modern slavery in our state and nation.