NEWS

Officials to unite resources to fight human trafficking

Matthew Kent

LANCASTER – A local pastor called on Lancaster organizations to come together as officials seek to combat human trafficking in the area while continuing to raise awareness of the issue.

Steve Rauch, pastor at Pleasant Chapel Church of God, hosted a forum at The Well in downtown Lancaster intended to bring community members, organizations and law enforcement officials together to talk about the problem, which he hopes people will recognize.

Rauch said he saw a need to address human trafficking a few months ago after the subject kept coming up. He also described a 17-year-old daughter of a family who attends his church as being in a high-risk category of being trafficked, saying the girl has run away 11 times so far.

“It is a problem in our community and we gotta do something about it,” Rauch said.

Donna Cox, director of OneHeart Ministry in Dayton, said the organization was established five years ago and is taking an active role in fighting human trafficking by helping women who work at strip clubs who are at risk of being trafficked or are being trafficked.

OneHeart Ministry provides professional assistance through counseling, case management, educational opportunities, housing and jobs. Cox said once people are able to establish a sustainable income, they then are then put in contact with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity for a residence.

“We don’t ever give up on people,” Cox said.

Cox said she thinks awareness of human trafficking has increased over the last few years, but noted children ages 10 to 12 are being targeted for prostitution. She said parents and other community members can look for particular signs such as children who are isolated, are in broken homes or don’t feel good about themselves.

Cox said being involved in the life of a child is an investment for the future, adding that recognizing the services that are available and coming together ultimately makes a community stronger.

Cox said human trafficking is particularly high in Ohio and asked the public to be aware.

“If you see something, say something,” she said.

But Rauch said there is much more work to be done on the problem, and he asked organizations to be united to deal with human trafficking.

“We’ve got to partner with agencies and organizations that are working with families affected by that,” he said. “One voice is not enough. We need all of your voices to say, ‘Not in our community.’ ”

He said he hopes officials can “get a face to the problem and take the next step to do something about it.”

Officials plan to discuss the issue again during a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11 at The Well.