Trafficking Town Hall
Presented by Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas
In an effort to address misconceptions and raise awareness about child sex trafficking, the Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas is hosting a Trafficking Town Hall on August 22. As a notable figure in tackling felony level child abuse in Denton, Jack, and Wise counties, the center aims to provide valuable insights into the local impact of this critical issue.
Kristen Howell, CEO of the Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas and the panel moderator for the event, emphasizes the importance of dispelling myths surrounding child sex trafficking. “There are so many stereotypes and myths about child sex trafficking. We hear people say, ‘trafficking only happens between foreign countries’ or ‘it doesn’t happen in the US.’ A lot of people are under the impression that it requires a kidnapping or a highway like the I35 Corridor. Many believe that kids that live at home and are in school can’t be trafficked kids. Our role is to help educate the community and our partners about the realities of this crisis, how often it happens, how close to home it is, and how we can prevent our community kids from becoming victims,” Howell states.
Since 2019, the Advocacy Center has been actively involved in Governor Abbott’s human trafficking initiative, playing a significant role in providing services for child victims and their families. Through August 2023, the center has coordinated over 100 cases of at-risk children, demonstrating its commitment to ensuring that high-risk youth and trafficking victims receive the necessary support and care from a team of dedicated professionals.
The Trafficking Town Hall is scheduled for Tuesday, August 22, 2023, starting at 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at the North Central Texas College Denton Campus, located at 316 E Mulberry St., Denton, TX 76201. Distinguished panelists, including Texas State Senator Tan Parker, Town of Little Elm Police Chief Rodney Harrison, Denton County District Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit Prosecutor Dustin Gossage, and experts from Traffick911 and the Advocacy Center, will engage in discussions about this pressing issue.
This event is open to the public and admission is free. However, attendees are requested to RSVP for parking through the following link: https://cacnorthtexas.org/trafficking-town-hall.
For any inquiries related to the event or the Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas programming, Suzann Woodard, Director of Development, can be reached at 972-538-9620 or swoodard@cacnorthtexas.org. Additional information is available on the center’s website: cacnorthtexas.org.
Since its establishment in 1997, the Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas has been a beacon of hope and healing for families affected by child abuse in Denton, Wise, and Jack counties. Having overseen more than 26,000 child abuse cases, the center employs a collaborative approach that involves law enforcement, mental health professionals, and family advocates. All services, including mental health treatment and community education training, are provided to families at no cost.
Together, the community’s efforts and the Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas aim to shed light on child sex trafficking and work towards its prevention, education, and support for victims and their families.
