2018 County Budget Includes Funding to Combat Sex Trafficking
"The epidemic of sex trafficking is present in all 72 Wisconsin counties and affects us all..."
MILWAUKEE – The 2018 Adopted Budget includes an amendment by Supervisor Nicholson that allocates $10,000 to combat the problem of sex trafficking by funding a public education campaign about the issue, and promoting the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
“Today the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors took a major step forward in tackling the problem of human sex trafficking in Milwaukee County. Milwaukee is known as a hub of sex trafficking, which disproportionately affects women of color and homeless children. The epidemic of sex trafficking is present in all 72 Wisconsin counties and affects us all, especially right here in Milwaukee County. By raising awareness and engaging with community partners we will educate our community and save the lives of many who are trapped in the grasp of human sex trafficking and subjected to the horrors of this epidemic,” said Supervisor Nicholson.
“The problem of human sex trafficking has devastating impacts on our community. Instead of ignoring this problem and allowing human sex trafficking to continue in the shadows, it’s time to have a public conversation,” said Supervisor Dimitrijevic, who co-sponsored the amendment.
“We intend to start a public conversation about the problem of sex human trafficking with a public education and awareness campaign, and I’m proud of my colleagues on the County Board for taking action to address this urgent issue,” said Supervisor Michael Mayo, Sr., who co-sponsored the amendment.
The public education campaign will include billboards, signage at Milwaukee County bus shelters, and posters to be distributed to community organizations to be developed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
To increase the effectiveness of the National Human Trafficking Hotline in Milwaukee County, DHHS will ensure that the Hotline receives and updated list of and regular updates on service providers working with trafficking survivors throughout Milwaukee County, and will assist providers in completing the Hotline’s national referral directory application.
Nicholson’s amendment was adopted on a vote of 16-2.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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