Violence Prevention Grey Bruce has published two new resources to help both parents and youth, and service providers identify and respond to human trafficking. Electronic copies of the resources are available at www.violencepreventiongreybruce.com and physical copies are available through Victim Services Bruce Grey Perth as well as the municipality of Kincardine.

Human trafficking can take many forms but the new resource manuals focus on sexual exploitation. The resources were produced as part of a two-year grant that culminated last autumn with a virtual community forum to raise awareness about human trafficking in Grey Bruce. A recording of that forum is available on the Violence Prevention Grey Bruce website.

The manuals are designed for different audiences with one geared to youth and their parents and the other for service providers. Together, they aim to introduce the issue of human trafficking, empower young people and parents to have conversations about healthy relationships, and give service providers the tools they need to support at-risk clients. Publication of the manuals was delayed after the forum to incorporate information about newly funded local resources.

The Violence Prevention Grey Bruce grant was the first of several anti-human trafficking grants awarded to Grey Bruce organizations over recent years. The Kincardine Police Services Board received a three year grant to raise awareness and improve responses in 2019, Owen Sound Police Services received a 2020 grant to coordinate responses among local police services, and The Women’s Centre Grey Bruce received funding in late 2020 to develop housing and support services to survivors of human trafficking under the age of 16.

The manual was developed in collaboration between several community organizations and input from the anti-human trafficking committee of Violence Prevention Grey Bruce. The development team are hopeful that parents and service providers across Grey and Bruce will access the resource to increase their own knowledge and feel more comfortable talking about the issue. Supporting young people and empowering them with the perspectives and skills for healthy relationships is the best way to prevent exploitation and abuse.

For more information about human trafficking, visit www.violencepreventiongreybruce.com. Free physical copies of the manuals can be requested by contacting Victim Services Bruce Grey Perth and the municipality of Kincardine.
Source:Press  Release