GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – CHI Health St. Francis and Willow Rising are spreading awareness of human trafficking during Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
According to Nebraska Human Trafficking Hotline, 548 cases have been identified for human trafficking in Nebraska; 1,053 victims were identified in those cases.
Deena Schaeffer, forensic examiner and RN nurse for CHI Health St. Francis, said they want to anyone who’s been a victim of human trafficking.
“At St. Francis we have designated area called our serenity suite,” Schaeffer said. “We can take victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assaults into a private and more comfortable related and relaxed space that we are able to do the interview and medical exam all in one confidential area.“
Chelsea Schweitzer, nurse manager for CHI Health St. Francis, said each victim who is in the suite goes under a step-by-step process, but their goal is to provide a safe space for the victim.
“Deena created a resource guide that has indices of clothing, food, shelter just basic necessities that people will need,” Schweitzer said. “The guide provides them with those things so they’re easily accessible to them cause you know in time of need your mind is not thinking of those things and it’s very difficult to track them down.“
Teshawna Sawyer, executive director of Willow Rising, said the medical help that CHI Health St. Francis provides for victims is a great resource and they will partner together with a special event to spread awareness for human trafficking.
“On January 15 GI ACT which a local coalition here in town will be doing a red sand project that we will participate in as well,” said Sawyer. “It just represents how sand sticks in between the cracks of the sidewalks and so it represents those who have follow between those cracks and how we don’t notice them in our day to day world.“
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