SHAWANO, WI – The executive director of Safe Haven, Mindy Lohff, is shining a light on one of the most common and troubling forms of exploitation, sex trafficking.
Lohff explains that sex trafficking occurs when individuals are forced, defrauded, or coerced into performing commercial sex acts. She emphasized that trafficking is not a distant or rare issue, noting it can happen in everyday situations within local communities.
As an example, Lohff described scenarios in which victims may be controlled by a parent, sponsor, or guardian who restricts their contact with others, making it difficult for victims to seek help or be identified. She says these situations often go unnoticed because they can appear normal from the outside.
Lohff is also encouraging residents to take an active role in prevention and response efforts. She says community awareness and involvement are critical when it comes to identifying and addressing trafficking situations.
To strengthen local support, Lohff noted that the Shawano County Human Trafficking Response Protocol Team is looking to train additional community groups this year to better recognize trafficking and support victims.
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