For Grace Manchala, the fight to prevent sex trafficking is personal.

Speaking at the Lake County Pachyderm Club meeting last week, the Kalispell sociologist shared her story of surviving an abusive childhood in India.

“By the time I was 9 my mind was filled with so much shame and guilt,” she said. “All I thought about was running away.”

While Manchala persevered, eventually finding safety and solace in religion, she considers herself a prime example of the type of person who falls victim to the growing sex trafficking industry.

“Trafficking doesn’t happen just like that,” she said, noting that studies have shown 90 percent of victims have a history of abuse. “People are prone to falling in love with whoever shows more love than they are used to.”

Since coming to Montana with the evangelical organization Youth With A Mission, Manchala has worked to promote awareness on the increasingly pervasive practice. Although many Americans dismiss sex trafficking as a distant problem, Manchala said the use of social media and online posting boards have brought the issue into our backyards. She said between 200,000 and 300,000 children are exploited each year in the U.S. alone, while worldwide estimates top 2 million.

“It’s an invisible crime, people don’t talk about it,” she said. “Unfortunately our society keeps its eyes closed.”

In September, a 22-year-old Polson woman was lured to Missoula by an online job offer and held against her will for 11 days by a man known for promoting prostitution. She was rescued by law enforcement in Billings who tracked her location through a cell phone.

Such outcomes are uncommon, however.

Manchala said only 2 percent of trafficking children are ever heard from again.

While the issue can appear overwhelming, Manchala’s work serves as an example that small steps can make a difference.

“I don’t want you to leave here thinking this is too much of a problem,” she said.

Manchala was influential in promoting two recent pieces of legislation that prevented solicitation at truck stops and reclassified children involved in sex trafficking under the age of 18 as victims rather than prostitutes. The efforts contributed to improving Montana’s sex trafficking prevention score, issued by the nonprofit Shared Hope International, from an F in 2010 to an A in 2017.

Nevertheless, systemic challenges remain.

Manchala said state law enforcement and teacher unions opposed a recent attempt to increase sex trafficking awareness training due to time and budget restraints. But with such sectors often on the front lines of prevention efforts, Manchala said more resources should be made available.

She cites “disinterest and complexity of government” as one of the major obstacles hindering efforts.

Manchala said teachers especially should be made aware. Sudden changes in a student’s appearance or behavior, Manchala said, should warrant help, not discipline.

“These kids are screaming, ‘Look at me, help,’” Manchala said.

While the presentation was Manchala’s first in the Mission Valley, she is organizing a larger-scale program on June 12 featuring local law enforcement officers specializing in the issue. The public presentation will take place from 6-9 p.m. at the Polson High School Auditorium. For more information call (406) 885-0292.