National Human Trafficking Prevention Month is coming to a close, but the work to combat and recognize the indicators of trafficking continues. In honor of this work, the School is spotlighting resources to inform North Carolina’s public officials of the strategies they can leverage to tackle human trafficking.

The following publications, initiatives, and programs across the state are leading the fight against trafficking: 

Publications

Public Management Bulletin #14

Ten Questions about Local Governments: A Primer for Anti–Human Trafficking Advocates

The purpose of this publication is to provide anti–human trafficking advocates basic guidance in navigating city and county governments. The bulletin provides answers to beginning inquiries to help community advocates better understand government roles, functions, or procedures. 

Public Management Bulletin #15

Exploring the Intersections between Local Governments and Human Trafficking: The Local Government Focus Group Project

This bulletin focuses on the business models (or strategies) traffickers use to manage their human trafficking enterprises. It includes reports from focus group discussions with local government officials, which determined how greater awareness of these models and their various signs might be incorporated into their daily work.

Public Management Bulletin #17

Property Tax Officials Can Help Recognize Human-Trafficking Indicators

This article addresses what human trafficking is, what it looks like in our communities, how property tax officials can recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how they should respond if they see those indicators.

Public Management Bulletin #18

Human Trafficking of Minors and Young Adults 

This publication describes the dynamics of sex and labor trafficking, explains North Carolina laws that relate to minors and young adults in terms of human trafficking, and provides resources for low- and no-cost education and training.

Videos

ncIMPACT Season 1 Episode 5: Human Trafficking in the Triad

Watch this episode as host Anita Brown-Graham explores the troubling presence of human trafficking in North Carolina, and what communities like The Triad are doing to combat it. Faculty member Margaret Henderson weighs in on the discussion.

This is Human Trafficking: An Original Series Created by Project No Rest and WRAL

This original video series explores the myths of human trafficking, analyzes who the biggest perpetrators are, how they target victims, and where it happens most often in North Carolina. View this series to learn more about the reality of trafficking in North Carolina and learn strategies to combat it.

Initiatives

North Carolina Coalition Against Human Trafficking

NCAHT members collaborate in knowledge and practice to provide leadership and support across the state to eradicate human trafficking. Through the use of Rapid Response Teams placed across the state, NCAHT hopes to immediately assist victims of trafficking in recovery and rehabilitation process. Membership in the coalition is open to governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and individuals who support its mission.

NC Stop Human Trafficking

ENCSHT empowers communities to stop human trafficking by educating about the reality of trafficking in North Carolina, encouraging legislation to prevent it, and collaborating with and supporting other local, national, and international anti-trafficking and victim-assistance efforts.

Project WEST NC

This program works to provide services and support to trafficking survivors, raise awareness through outreach and education, and assist survivors through Rapid Response Teams in the western portion of the state.

World Relief Triad Anti-Human Trafficking 

This organization helps survivors acquire housing, food, clothing, interpretation, medical and dental services, mental and behavioral health services, legal services, transportation, education, and job development. A recently released toolkit from World Relief AHT assesses the connection between homelessness and trafficking and lists identifiers of labor trafficking.

More Information

To view statistics about trafficking in North Carolina, visit the National Human Trafficking Hotline webpage. For specific questions about how to help combat trafficking, please contact Margaret Henderson at margaret@sog.unc.edu or 919.966.3455.