Prevention in action: Reflections for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Human trafficking is a serious and ongoing concern. Within this broader issue, sex trafficking remains the most prevalent form.[1] Women and girls account for the majority of identified victims, and a significant proportion are children and youth under 18.[2] These realities affect communities across the country and challenge the systems designed to protect vulnerable individuals.

Community service organizations play an important role in preventing human trafficking and sexual exploitation. To better understand what this looks like in practice, I spoke with the Children of the Street program director.

Programs such as Children of the Street align with CARF’s Promotion/Prevention standards, which recognize proactive, evidence-informed approaches designed to reduce risk factors, strengthen protective factors, and support community wellness. The standards emphasize collaborative, team-based strategies that contribute to safer and more resilient communities.

Effective prevention begins by challenging some of the most common misconceptions about human trafficking and sexual exploitation. One of the most persistent is the belief that exploitation is rare, obvious, or unlikely to affect the young people in our own communities. According to Jen Graham, Director of Children of the Street, this misconception remains deeply entrenched. “People tend to think it’s going to happen to someone else’s child,” said Graham. “But the reality is that any child who has access to a phone or the internet is at risk. Predators don’t discriminate.”

Online spaces such as social media platforms, gaming environments, and messaging apps have become primary points of access. Grooming often begins as what appears to be friendship before gradually escalating. “The underlying tactics haven’t changed dramatically,” said Graham. “It’s the environment that’s shifted. The internet makes it easier.” Emerging technologies such as AI-generated deepfakes, together with online cultures that normalize harmful attitudes toward women, further complicate an already challenging landscape.

Another common misconception is that exploitation always involves strangers. In reality, it may involve someone a young person believes they know, someone closer in age than expected, or even peers. These realities demand prevention efforts grounded in how young people interact and communicate today.

Children of the Street approaches prevention with a strong commitment to safety and trauma-informed practice. Because conversations about sexual exploitation can be triggering, the program continually reviews its content to reflect emerging research, evolving trends, survivor insights, youth feedback, and collaboration with system partners. This ongoing quality improvement helps ensure presentations remain relevant, respectful, and developmentally appropriate.

“We’re very conscious that this information can be triggering,” said Graham. “So, we’re careful about how we frame it, how we deliver it, and how we support people before and after.” CARF International Surveyor Debbie Sirk adds, “CARF accreditation reinforces these efforts by fostering a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous learning–helping organizations provide safe environments where individuals can recover, thrive, and reduce their risk of future exploitation.”

Preventing exploitation requires coordinated action across schools, families, community organizations, and public systems. Schools are central partners because they provide access to young people while reinforcing prevention messages over time. Many schools invite Children of the Street back year after year, allowing learning to build as students grow older. “We often see the same kids as they move from elementary to middle school,” said Graham. “That consistency matters.”

Community organizations strengthen the prevention network by increasing the number of informed adults in a young person’s life. Partnerships with organizations supporting youth who are actively being exploited also provide valuable insight into emerging risks, helping prevention efforts remain current and grounded in practice.

The collaborative approach demonstrated by Children of the Street reflects what Sirk has observed across other organizations serving vulnerable individuals. “Prevention is everyone’s responsibility,” she says. Sirk further adds, “Organizations that invest in staff education, trauma-informed practices, person-centred care, and strong community collaboration are better positioned to identify risk factors early and respond in ways that promote safety, dignity, and healing.”

The impact of prevention is often difficult to measure. Its success is frequently quiet and unseen. Occasionally, however, its significance becomes unmistakable. In one year, Children of the Street will reach tens of thousands of individuals through prevention efforts. It is not uncommon for young people to come forward following a presentation to share concerns about their safety. As part of the program’s impact analysis, these disclosures are tracked and evaluated to better understand the program’s reach and effectiveness.

“We’re in a classroom for 45 minutes to an hour,” said Graham. “And for a child to come forward to someone they’ve just met, that tells you something about the trust the team builds.” Each disclosure is met with timely support, ensuring the young person is connected to the appropriate school and community resources.

Responding effectively also depends on the people providing care and support. Organizations working with vulnerable individuals must ensure staff have the knowledge, supervision, and resources needed to sustain their trauma-informed practice over time.

“CARF standards encourage organizations to invest in ongoing training, employee wellness, and strategies to address secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue—recognizing that supporting the workforce ultimately strengthens care for the people they serve,” said Sirk.

Prevention is not a single intervention or a one-time conversation. It requires intention, evidence, and sustained commitment. “We know where the gaps are,” said Graham. “If we’re serious about prevention, systems have to move faster than the risks.” She adds, “Everybody has a role. Whether you’re a parent, a policymaker, or a service provider, there’s always something you can do to close the gaps you’re seeing.”

Maesha Gulley, CARF International Surveyor, emphasizes that increasing public knowledge remains one of our strongest tools. “By educating people, showing them what human trafficking and exploitation can look like, and what they can do to combat it, empowers and protects us all,” said Gulley. Her message for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is simple: “Continued vigilance, spread awareness, and share the knowledge. Keep the conversation alive.”

To learn more about human trafficking prevention and access practical tools and resources, visit: https://www.childrenofthestreet.com/.

To learn more about United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons visit: https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-human-trafficking-day.

Acknowledgements and contributions:

PLEA Community Services has operated throughout British Columbia for more than 40 years. It delivers community-based services and specialized homes to children, youth, adults, and families facing significant challenges in their lives. The organization offers the full spectrum of social services, including the Children of the Street program, designed to support participants to avoid, overcome, and recover from the most complex circumstances.

It acknowledges that it is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Stó:lō Peoples, including ten local First Nations: q́ićəý̓ (Katzie), q́ʷɑ:ńƛ̓əń (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), máthxwi (Matsqui), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), se’mya’me (Semiahmoo), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), scəẃaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).

CARF Canada gratefully acknowledges that its headquarters are located on Treaty 6 Territory, the traditional territories of many First Nations including the Nêhiyaw (Cree), Denesuliné (Dene), Nakota Sioux (Stoney), Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), and Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), and within the Métis homelands and Métis Nation of Alberta Region 4.

CARF Canada extends a special thanks to Jen Graham whose stories, knowledge, and insights made this article possible.

Jen Graham moved from the United Kingdom to British Columbia with her partner in 2013 and joined PLEA Community Services shortly after. Originally hired for her communications expertise, she has spent the past 13 years contributing to the organization through roles that have included strategic communication, fundraising, policy development, outcomes measurement, and training. Over time, her work expanded into program leadership, and for the past three years she has overseen the operations of Children of the Street.

Graham holds a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Sociology from the University of Manchester and a Professional Diploma in Marketing from Cambridge Marketing College. She also maintains Chartered Marketer status with the UK’s Chartered Institute of Marketing. Her approach is grounded in collaboration, clarity, and continuous learning—qualities that guide her work in supporting prevention efforts across communities.

Debbie Sirk, MPA, LBSW, CADC, CCS, CCJP, CPS, is a CARF Administrative and Program Surveyor with more than 30 years of experience in behavioural health, child and youth, employment and community services, and opioid treatment. Sirk conducts surveys throughout the United States, Canada, and the world across multiple CARF standards manuals, bringing expertise in accreditation, quality improvement, and person-centred service delivery. She is passionate about helping organizations use accreditation as a catalyst for continuous improvement, strengthening organizational performance while enhancing the quality of care and support provided to the persons served and staff.

Maesha Gulley is a seasoned behavioural and mental health professional with 23 years of dedicated service in the social services field. Originally from Pensacola, Florida, Maesha has built a distinguished career centred on organizational excellence, clinical integrity, and regulatory compliance. Since 2012, she has worked extensively with CARF International standards, stepping into the role of official CARF Surveyor in 2018. Gulley surveys across six of CARF’s eight manuals, conducting both Administrative and Program surveys. In addition to her official surveying duties, Gulley leverages her deep industry knowledge helping CARF-accredited agencies across the field refine their operations, manage risk, and achieve peak conformance.

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[1] https://ccteht.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CCTEHT_trends_2019-2024_ENG.pdf

[2] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2025001/article/00008-eng.htm

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