January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month: Empower Yourself and Others to Prevent It

Dear Corrie's House Community,

I hope this new year has filled you with renewed hope and emboldened determination to bring restoration for minors in Minnesota who’ve been sexually exploited or trafficked.

January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

At Corrie's House, we understand the critical importance of not only supporting victims who’ve been sex trafficked but also the equally important need for education to prevent others from falling prey to the fastest growing criminal enterprise. 

It is with great enthusiasm that I share the launch of our education campaign across our website and social media platforms.

Our team has worked extensively to curate trusted and respected content to empower our community and to spark meaningful conversations surrounding this issue. The campaign includes important facts that shed light on the depth of the problem as well as tools to use with youth, neighbors, and families. The better educated we are, the more empowered we are to stop sexual exploitation and trafficking.

To support this effort, I am excited to announce that we’ve created a comprehensive resource page on our Corrie’s House website. This page serves as a valuable hub, offering support and guidance tailored to parents, adults, youth, and victims/survivors. You’ll find resources on important topics such as:

• Tactics used to target and lure minors  into sexual exploitation and trafficking

• Tactics used to manipulate youth into sextortion, how to prevent it, and what to do if it happens

• Significant increased risks from Only Fans 

• Social media targeting methods through Instagram and gaming apps as well as prevention actions

• Opportunities for in person education tailored to youth as well as adults

If you’re asking yourself whether these things could actually happen to someone you love or to someone in your own neighborhood, know this:

• Research specifically done in Minnesota shows that 14% of men in Minnesota have purchased sex at least once in their lifetime

•  Approximately 26,000 men purchased sex in the past year.

• 83% of sex trafficking victims know their trafficker

• The average age they are first trafficked is 13

• More than 5,000 Minnesota 9th and 11th graders indicated they’ve traded something of value for sex

These statistics underscore the growing complexity and prevalence of this issue right in our backyard,l as well as the need for continued awareness and advocacy. By sharing this information, we aim to dispel myths, challenge stereotypes, and empower our community to stand against sexual exploitation and trafficking as well as to stop it before it starts. 

As we dive through this awareness campaign, I urge you to follow us on social media and actively participate by sharing our posts. Your support amplifies our message and extends our reach, making a meaningful impact on a broader audience.

Thank you for being an integral part of the Corrie's House mission. Together, we prevent trafficking from happening and provide restorative care to those who’ve fallen victim. 

In unity and advocacy,

Renée

Executive Director, Corrie's House