San Rafael, CA – The County of Marin has been working for years to increase awareness about human trafficking, not only on a national scale but locally. The Marin Coalition to End Human Trafficking was established to end modern slavery in the form of sexual exploitation and forced labor, and the Marin County District Attorney’s Office co-chairs the coalition.
Two speakers will be featured at the coalition’s next quarterly meeting at 10 a.m. Friday, January 17, in the Marin County Civic Center’s Board of Supervisors chamber. Seats are available for the free event.
Dr. Michael Grogan is Project Director at the nonprofit Jeannette Prandi Children’s Center in San Rafael, a safe haven where trained specialists deal with cases of child sexual molestation and human trafficking. Grogan plans to speak about the training of forensic interviewers.
Lindsy Carpenter of the YWCA of San Francisco, Marin & Silicon Valley plans to talk about the success of the YWCA’s Valor and Hope programs in the South Bay. Valor is an early intervention prostitution prevention program that helps participants leave the life of sex work; Hope is led by therapists who assist commercially exploited girls with self-esteem, trust, and acceptance.
“The Bay Area is one of the largest hubs for human trafficking in the country, and the exploitation is happening right here in Marin under the radar,” said Marin County District Attorney Lori Frugoli. “We have a shared responsibility to raise awareness and teach people to recognize it so our most vulnerable residents are no longer being victimized.”
Frugoli said investigators in other cities and counties have encountered human trafficking victims from Marin and that Marin residents, like many crime victims, are afraid or reluctant to disclose that they're being trafficked.
The Marin County Coalition to End Human Trafficking, a public/private partnership created in 2014, has hosted community forums at local libraries, trained law enforcement personnel, supported human trafficking education in local schools, and distributed posters with hotline information to help encourage the reporting of possible instances of human trafficking. The DA’s Office works closely with the coalition on public education and makes sure businesses follow the law and post human trafficking prevention material in their workplaces.
At the January 17 meeting, first-time visitors will get to watch a video about the coalition and how residents can get involved. The Marin County Civic Center is at 3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 330, San Rafael.
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