T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Belmont County commissioners declare January to be Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Acknowledging the occasion, from left, are Commissioner Vince Gianangeli, Tri-County Help Center Program Facilitator JaQue Galloway, Commissioner J.P. Dutton, Tri-County Community Education Coordinator Megan Talkington and Commissioner Jerry Echemann.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday declared January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

According to the U.S. Department of State’s website, “January has been considered Human Trafficking Awareness Month since 2010. By presidential proclamation, President Obama declared January ‘National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month’ and every year since, each president has followed this tradition.”

The observance aims to raise awareness about human trafficking and to educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime.

Tri-County Help Center Program Facilitator JaQue Galloway and Community Education Coordinator Megan Talkington informed commissioners that in January each year, they spread awareness and educate local residents about human trafficking.

“We take this month to educate the community on what human trafficking looks like here and the three counties that we serve and how we can better support the survivors in the area,” Galloway said. “This year we have served more survivors of human trafficking than we ever have.”

She added that due to the number of survivors served this year, Tri-County Help Center’s 24-hour hotline has been listed on national and statewide registries for survivors to contact.

“We offer things like case management, counseling, a 24-hour hotline and our 24-hour shelter. The survivors of the county have all had access to that as well as our several support groups and any outreach program,” Galloway said.

She said the outreach programs include Tri-County staff going into schools, reaching out to local hotels and to any spaces that might be places for vulnerable individuals or survivors.

“These proclamations really give us a chance to spread awareness to educate the community to help survivors, and we really appreciate you having us,” she added.

Talkington said that during January Tri-County distributed 100 yard signs in Belmont, Harrison and Monroe counties, informing residents that January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month as well as listing the various resources the help center offers. She added that on Jan. 30, Tr-County Help Center’s Harrison County location will host a free self-defense class at 6 p.m. at Vintage Fitness, located in Cadiz.

Commissioner J.P. Dutton thanked Galloway and Talkington for informing the community of the seriousness of human trafficking and asked if they could speak about the working relationship Tri-County has with local law enforcement.

Galloway replied that the organization has a special assault response team as well as a human trafficking coalition that works closely with local hospitals, county sheriff’s offices, police departments, child protection agencies, and each county’s prosecutor’s office. She added that in addition to working with those agencies, Tri-County also works with area school districts in hopes of preventing human trafficking of students who may be at risk.

Dutton responded by applauding Tri-County Help Center for being in the schools to prevent students from falling into human trafficking.

“People don’t know even, if they don’t know someone personally, they don’t realize that this is happening just in their own backyard,” Dutton said. “And you know, a high school senior could be talking to someone online where that could possibly lead to all those types of things. It happens more than people want to acknowledge.”

Commissioner Vince Gianangeli also commended Galloway and Talkington for the work they do, as well as the entire staff of Tri-County Help Center.

“I applaud you, and obviously part of fixing the problem is bringing awareness to it and you guys do that very well,” Gianangeli said.

Dutton added that he believes the county is lucky to have the center as part of the community and said he considers Tri-County to be one of the best area nonprofit organizations.