NEENAH, Wis. (January 8, 2024) – Reach Counseling, a sexual assault service provider in the Fox Valley, is raising awareness this January during Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Human Trafficking is a serious problem nationwide, including Wisconsin. The National Human Trafficking Hotline reports that since its inception in 2007, Wisconsin has had 796 human-trafficking cases involving 1,640 victims. Reach Counseling’s Anti-Human Trafficking and Exploitation Advocate, Nora Gonzalez, states: “Raising awareness about Human Trafficking is so critical because it is a universal problem and one of the most outrageous crimes, affecting the lives of millions of people.”
On January 11th, Reach encourages community members to wear blue in honor of Human Trafficking Awareness. Put on by the Department of Homeland Security, #WearBlueDay is simple, just follow these easy steps: Wear something blue — the international color of human trafficking awareness — then take a photo and post it on social media using the hashtag #WearBlueDay.
On January 24th, a screening of Unchained: The Scourge of Human Trafficking will be held at 5:00PM at Reach Counseling’s Appleton Office (400 N Richmond St., Suite F, Appleton WI 54911). After the screening a panel consisting of representatives from Grand Chute Police Department, Aurora Medical Center, Lotus Legal Clinic, and Reach Counseling will answer questions about Human Trafficking in the Fox Valley.
For more information regarding the documentary viewing and panel discussion, please contact Nora Gonzalez at, nora@reachcounseling.com
About Reach Counseling
Reach Counseling is a leading provider of trauma-specific mental health care in Northeastern Wisconsin. The organization is committed to understanding and responding to emotional, sexual, and physical abuse. Since 1976, Reach has helped heal the lives of abuse victims and hold perpetrators accountable through innovative programs in education and outreach, victim advocacy, outpatient therapy, culturally responsive programming, and sex offender treatment. If you are a survivor in Calumet, Outagamie, or Winnebago counties in need of Reach Counseling’s services, call their 24/7 helpline at 920-722-8150.
