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A news conference at the Pan-African Association in Chicago
kicked off the observance.
"Human trafficking is often a hidden problem, so reaching out to
trafficking victims is important because the victims do not often
know that help is available," said Illinois Department of Human
Services Secretary Carol L. Adams, Ph.D. "Wherever they can be
found, we want to be there with hot line information and support for
victims of this terrible crime."
As part of Human Trafficking Outreach Day, posters were displayed
across the state through various partners, including the Illinois
Department of Transportation, Metra, Chicago Police Department,
Illinois State Police, and many local community and faith-based
social service agencies. Volunteers targeted locations where a
potential victim of trafficking or a first responder might see the
message, such as at highway rest stops, libraries, gas stations,
health clinics, restaurants, laundromats, Chicago Transit Authority
trains and retail stores. Various types of posters have been
produced in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean and
Vietnamese.
The Illinois Rescue and Restore campaign, launched last year by
Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, is a coalition comprised of local agencies, state
agencies, law enforcement and the faith community to raise awareness
of the problem.
Outreach is one of the five statewide goals for the Illinois
Rescue and Restore coalition, along with training first responders,
prosecuting offenders, coordinating services for victims and
collecting data on human trafficking.
Illinois is the first state to form this unique and cutting-edge
collaboration with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
lending its extensive network to form a comprehensive response that
is seen as a model for other states. As part of the Rescue and
Restore initiative involving one statewide and 17 city
organizations, the federal agency provided the fact sheets and color
posters used in the Human Trafficking Outreach Day.
"The Illinois Rescue and Restore coalition's diligent work to
educate their community through this outreach effort serves as a
shining example in the battle against human trafficking," said Wade
F. Horn, Ph.D., assistant secretary for children and families, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. "We hope today's event
[April 22] and others like it will lead to the identification and
assistance of many more human trafficking victims across the
country."
Last year, Blagojevich signed
House Bill 1469, the Trafficking of Persons and Involuntary
Servitude Act, making it easier to prosecute human trafficking
offenders and to assist victims.
The legislation established penalties for the offenses of
involuntary servitude, sexual servitude of a minor and trafficking
of people for forced labor and services. Forcing a person into
servitude ranges from a Class 4 felony to a Class X if kidnapping or
injury is involved. The bill also allows for restitution to pay back
a victim for forced labor. Further, the law allows the Illinois
Department of Human Services, subject to availability of funds, to
provide emergency services to victims.
The U.S. government estimates that 14,000-17,500 people are
trafficked into the United States annually. Victims are trafficked
across international borders from such regions as Southeast Asia,
Latin America, the former Soviet Union and Africa to work in labor
and sex trades. After drug dealing, human trafficking is tied with
the illegal arms industry as the second-largest criminal industry in
the world today, and it is the fastest growing.
Arrests made in Chicago and Rockford have underscored the
prevalence of human trafficking in Illinois and the overwhelming
need to reach out and assist trafficking victims.
The toll-free Trafficking Information and Referral Hotline, 1
(888) 3737-888, is designated to provide assistance to organizations
and victims of trafficking. The line helps organizations and victims
of trafficking by providing instant referrals to pre-screened aid
organizations in their city. Calls are referred to local service
agencies equipped to provide initial services to trafficking
victims.
"The hot line is currently averaging 10 calls a month in
Illinois," said Adams. "We expect this outreach effort will multiply
that number greatly by increasing awareness of the problem and
helping to identify victims."
To learn more about the campaign, visit
www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking for information and resources. The
Illinois Rescue and Restore website is at
www.dhs.state.il.us/projectsinitiatives/trafficking.
Illinois Rescue and Restore partners include the following
(listed by county):
Alexander
-
Cairo Women's Shelter
-
Delta Center
Bureau
Cass
Champaign
-
A Woman's Fund
-
Human Service Council
Clark
Clinton
-
DHS Community Service
-
SAFE
Coles
Cook
-
Beautiful Zion Church
-
Calvary Baptist
Church
-
Chicago Crime
Commission
-
Chicago Police
Department
-
Chicago Public
Schools
-
Chicago Workers'
Collaborative
-
Chicago Youth Centers
-
Chinese Mutual Aid
Association
-
DHS Bureau of
Domestic Violence Services
-
DHS Division of
Rehabilitation
-
Dolton Police
Department
-
Dominican University
-
Genesis House
-
Healthcare
Alternative Systems, also known as HAS
-
Heartland Alliance
-
Holy Cross-Immaculate
Heart of Mary Food Pantry, Casa Catalina
-
Humboldt Park Family
and Community Resource Center -- Greenhouse Shelter
-
Illinois Association
of Hispanic State Employees
-
Illinois Center for
Violence Prevention
-
Illinois
Collaboration on Youth
-
Illinois Violence
Prevention Authority
-
Institute of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as IBVM
-
Interfaith Refugee
and Immigration Ministries
-
Latino Social Workers
Organization
-
Life Span
-
Malia Artisan Imports
-
Meadows Community
Center
-
Mujeres Latinos en
Accion
-
New Covenant Baptist
Church
-
Palatine Township
-
Pan-African
Association
-
Rape Victim Advocates
-
Sargent Shriver
National Center on Poverty Law
-
Shades of Ebony
-
Sisters of Mercy --
Justice Committee
-
Sojourner Covenant
Church
-
The Illinois
Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
-
The Salvation Army
-
University of Chicago
School of Social Service Administration
-
Uptown Center
[to top of second column] |
 Crawford
Cumberland
DeKalb
Douglas
DuPage
Edgar
-
Embarras River Basin
Agency
-
HOPE Coalition
Against Violence
-
REACH Sexual Assault
Crisis Services
Effingham
Fayette
Fulton
Henry
-
Freedom House
-
Salvation Army
-
St. Malachy's Church
Iroquois
Jackson
Jasper
Jefferson
Jo Daviess
Kane
-
Community Crisis
Center
-
Counseling on the Fox
-
Elgin Police
Department
-
Friendly Hand
Donation
-
Lazarus House
Kankakee
Knox
Lake
Lawrence
Macon
Madison
Marshall
Marion
Mason
McDonough
-
Graceland Covenant
-
WIU faculty
McLean
Montgomery
Moultrie
Peoria
Pulaski
-
Pulaski County
Circuit Clerk's Office
-
Pulaski County
Sheriff's Office
-
Pulaski County
Treasurer's Office
-
Southern Illinois
Delta Empowerment Zone
Putnam
Richland
Rock Island
Sangamon
St. Clair
Stark
Stephenson
Union
Vermillion
Warren
Washington
Will, Kendall
Winnebago
[Illinois
Department of Human Services news release]
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