The training is geared for any local government workers who perform their duties near homes, businesses, public spaces, waiting rooms, or near public transportation. The training will be held at the Western Piedmont Council of Governments office at 1880 2nd Ave NW | Hickory, NC 28601.  Please forward and share this information with your contacts and staff members that may be interested in attending. 

Think broadly when sharing this invitation. We want to reach first responders, inspectors, solid waste management, code enforcers, librarians, public health, and public schools, as well as law enforcement and social services.  Elected officials are also welcome.

Participants will learn the basics about sex and labor human trafficking, as well as the twenty-five business models of trafficking that are common in the United States.  Recent research in North Carolina reveals which local government staff positions are likely to be able to see the indicators of trafficking.

• To quickly understand what this training hopes to accomplish, view this excellent two minute PSA from Michigan State Police on how workers might see the indicators of trafficking, a useful tool for introducing the topic to an audience.  (Search for “MSP Look Again” on YouTube)

·     For background information about the local government focus group project that informed this work, read this SOG bulletin:  

·     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 and reports on focus group discussions with local government officials to determine how greater awareness of these models and their various signs within the community might be incorporated into their daily work.