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SANDPOINT — Human trafficking isn’t what most people think it is, said Erin Weme, a licensed clinical social worker and practicing therapist.

Weme has led Sandpoint’s July 30th World Day Against Human Trafficking, an educational event and prayer walk, for two years.

Weme was introduced to human trafficking 10 years ago when attending a concert that donated tickets sales to human trafficking survivors. She already wanted to help clients overcome trauma and, after the concert, she attended multiple trainings and meetings on anti-trafficking.

While human trafficking can involve kidnapping, it more commonly involves vulnerable individuals being coerced into labor or sex acts, said Weme.

The International Labour Organization defines human trafficking as a crime that exploits men, women and children for sex and or forced labor. The ILO estimates that 21 million people globally are victims of forced labor.

Finding concrete data on human trafficking in the U.S. is difficult due to the definition of the term. What may constitute as human trafficking could be reported to police as prostitution, sexual assault, molestation, harassment or a drug-related crime, said Weme.

Not all trafficking is drug-related and it is not what the media has made it out to be, said Peggy Frye, director of the LillyBrooke Family Justice Center and a forensic interviewer at the center.

“We are seeing [human trafficking] in a lot of different factors. The media mostly shows [kidnapped] kids from a mall piled into a van,” said Frye.

Trafficking is usually on a smaller scale. Traffickers may kidnap youths, but the real and present danger is online.

“Grooming is coming from apps and social media,” said Frye.

Weme agreed.

“People who traffic others know who to pick and who to groom,” she said.

An individual will even groom parents, with the person ingratiating themselves with parents in order to gain access to kids and teenagers, Frye said. Once access is given it will be exploited.

In some trafficking situations, a person in “active addiction” will do sexual acts in exchange for controlled substances. In other cases, victims believe that their trafficker is in love with them.

Frye said this kind of trafficking is going on locally.

“Trafficking [in Bonner County] has been going on for some time now. Especially drugs in exchange for pictures, sexual acts or the promise of sexual acts,” said Frye.

In response to claims that the lockdowns due to the pandemic and students spending more time online has caused more human trafficking and grooming situations, Frye had this to say.

“Parents are more aware due to staying home with their children and more media attention is bridging awareness to the topic. COVID and the shutdowns got the conversions going.”

Weme, who said trafficking is psychological enslavement, said she has engaged with many clients that did not know that they had been trafficked until they had sought out help.

“Awareness is undervalued,” she said. “There is a quote by D.H. Lawrence ‘What the eye doesn't see and the mind doesn't know, doesn't exist.’ If we can’t see what is happening how can we stop it?”

It all comes down to education on human trafficking and the warning signs. Then teaching your knowledge to others, Frye and Weme said. If you see something, say something, and report it to the local police and LillyBrooke Family Justice Center.

“[To parents] I can’t stress this enough, monitor your children’s contacts and social media, who they are talking to, who they are with,” said Frye.

Parents need more interaction with kids and need to know that people with bad intentions are using these sites to access kids and traffic them. For kids: if it seems too good to be true it probably is. It is OK to say ‘no,’’ said Frye.

An online resource for families is www.NetSmartz.org and www.savvycyberkids.org. Both sites are age appropriate where kids, parents and educators can engage in videos that teach about online safety and cyber awareness.

Weme created Sandpoint’s World Day Against Human Trafficking last year as it was the first year she had heard of July 31 being an awareness day for human trafficking. This year, the heat and smoke prevented a large turnout, but four families did come and it was a sweet intimate time of education and prayer, she said.

Future goals for the local event is to have a larger event in partnership with other community organizations, educators, counselors, and law enforcement.

The LillyBrooke Family Justice Center provides free services to victims of child abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, elder abuse, legal services, and partner social services agencies all at one secure location. Contact them at (208)265-3588 or www.lillybrookefjc.org.

If you would like to partner with Erin Weme you can contact her at [email protected].

For advocacy with Priest River Ministries Advocates for Women visit www.prmafw.org or call 208-448-2800.

For outreaching and training with Idaho Anti-Trafficking Coalition or visit website www.idahgoatc.org

For online safety training for kids visit www.NetSmartz.org and www.savvycyberkids.org

Below is a list created by Erin Weme on risk factors, protective factors, and warning sighs to look out for in regards to human trafficking.

Risk factors:

_ Living in a single-parent household

_ Unmonitored phone/screen access

_ History of abuse or neglect

_ Living in a home with domestic violence

_ Living in a group home or homeless shelter

_ In the foster care system

_ Being a run-away or homeless

_ Past sexual abuse

Protective factors:

_ At least one involved, caring adult

_ Limited and monitored phone usage/screen time

_ Involvement in recreational activities

_ Education on what trafficking and grooming are

_ Spending quality time and knowing about your kids' lives

_ Maintaining appointments with doctors and other providers

_ Faith and involvement in church

_ Clear rules, boundaries, and structure in the home

Signs to look for:

_ Presence of an older "boyfriend"

_ An increase in phone time

_ Acting withdrawn or irritable

_ New tattoos or general change in appearance

_ Suspected or confirmed drug use

_ Sexualized behavior

_ A change in academic performance and/or attendance

_ new expensive clothes, accessories, other items w/o a reasonable explanation

_ A sudden and drastic change in mood

Practical ways to combat trafficking in your community:

_ Become or support a foster parent

_ Volunteer with students, homeless youth, or kids in foster care (North Summit Church has an after school program, Kinderhaven is a local group home for youth)

_ Donate to an organization that combats trafficking or an organization that supports kids in the community.