Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc. Sexual Assault Services takes time each January to observe Human Trafficking Awareness Month. It is an important time to reflect on the work being done to educate our communities and support those who have been impacted by human trafficking. We call on residents of Aroostook, Hancock and Washington counties to join the fight against human trafficking by being educated on warning signs and helping support local efforts.
Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit individuals for commercial sex acts or forced labor. It is a global issue affecting all ages, genders, and backgrounds; however, many victims/survivors of Human Trafficking do not identify as such, making data hard to track. According to the Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services, it is estimated that at least 300 to 400 survivors of human trafficking live in Maine.
Each January, agencies and organizations in Maine and across the country participate in Wear Blue Day on Jan. 11 to show support and raise awareness.
AMHC’s Sexual Assault Services remain committed to educating our communities and supporting those who have been impacted by human trafficking. SAS is available year-round to provide free training on this topic including videos, conversations, statistics and scenarios. Training can occur in person as well or virtually according to an organization’s needs.
To report concerns of human trafficking, call 911 for immediate risk or call the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888. This is a confidential service that can help get those connected to resources such as AMHC SAS for support and services, information, and accompaniment for reporting or medical care.
For support, AMHC SAS has a 24/7 helpline 1-800-871-7741 that is part of the Statewide Helpline through the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Our services are free and confidential.
To learn more about the human trafficking training or to schedule the training, please contact us by email at sas-info@amhcsas.org.To learn more about AMHC SAS, please visit our website at www.amhcsas.org. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram by searching AMHCSAS.
