Those at Cross Timbers Family Services, law enforcement and their advocates took time out of the weekend to focus on a harrowing subject – human trafficking – with its third annual Better Beginnings Brunch.
The brunch held Saturday, Jan. 28 brought partners from all across Erath County together to focus on the dangers of human trafficking, for human trafficking awareness month. It also serves as an annual fundraiser for CTFS.
“It’s a crime that is heavy on our mind and on the state of Texas,” CTFS Executive Director Laura Gambino said. “It’s profitable. Human traffickers can sell one person’s services innumerable times.”
The event also helped raise funds for CTFS who focus on helping victims from any violent crime, including sexual assault and domestic violence as well as helping to enhance safety and justice in the community through empowerment, advocacy, awareness and action for social change.
“I was thrilled at the show of support from the community at our Third Annual Better Beginnings Benefit. Our event is as much about awareness as it is our annual fundraiser. Human Trafficking is a difficult topic and we appreciate the audience being willing to discuss it. We also wanted to spotlight the diversity of crimes we see at Cross Timbers Family Services and let the public know we serve all victims of violent crime, including victims of human trafficking. It is being seen in our region and we believe the public should have a basic knowledge of what it looks like and who is vulnerable,” Gambino said, after the event.
The event, featuring a sold out crowd, was held at Bella Vita Ranch. It included a brunch from Harvest Restaurant in Comanche, raffles and door prizes along with a Human Trafficking Panel Discussion.
The panel discussion was facilitated by Sara Vanden Berge from Beneath the Surface News.
Participants included Investigator Sherri Thomson (whose background includes retiring from the Fort Worth Police Department’s Sex Crimes/Human Trafficking Unit), CTFS Bilingual Advocate Aida “Evie” Monrreal (who has served in this capacity since Nov. 2019), Chief Nurse Officer of Texas Health Resources Cindy McCarthy (who is also a member of the American Hospital Association Human Trafficking Advisory Council), CTFS Counselor Sophia Stice (who is a licensed professional counselor associate, supervised by Dr. Brenda Faulkner, LPC Supervisor).
Thomson started off the panel discussion by educating the audience about the difference between smuggling vs. human trafficking (human trafficking doesn’t require movement).
“In this arena that we are talking about, human beings are so reusable that the crime of human trafficking is constant, flowing and never stops,” Thomson said.
McCarthy addressed the fact that there isn’t one set “profile” for a human trafficker since many times they may be a business person or a parent, which means that medical professionals need to be on their toes when it comes to identifying victims.
She gave the audience some red flags that medical professionals may see like being malnourished, being in chronic pain, having multiple sexually transmitted diseases or abortions, being reluctant to answer questions, being “marked” through a brand or tattoo or suffering from mental health conditions.
McCarthy said that Texas, which is second in the nation behind California for human trafficking, has recently stepped up its educational requirements for medical professionals. One in five victims of human trafficking in the nation passes through Texas at some point.
“We have enhanced that even more at our hospital,” she said.
Monrreal said that CTFS has a 24/7 hotline that can help victims at all times and Stice reported that there are many barriers that prohibit victims from seeking help, including their basic needs being met, such as food and shelter.
The panel discussion ended with Investigator Thomson sharing real-life examples of human trafficking that occurred in the Fort Worth area.
She described a case where a mother and father sold their 5-year-old for sex for $80 an hour and their 8-year-old for $50 an hour.
“This is a clear instance of human trafficking,” she said.
She described another case that wasn’t as clear. A 19-yearold girl met with someone that she had chatted with online. When she met with him, he stabbed her with a needle full of drugs and she woke up in a Louisiana hotel room. At this point, the human trafficker profited off of her when he let 40 men in 48 hours have sex with her.
“He was the human trafficker while those who had sex with her committed sexual assault and were rapists,” she explained.
Stice encouraged audience members to educate themselves especially about online safety and children and teens.
“If you think that your teens don’t have access to unrestricted online access, they do,” she warned.
McCarthy said the prevention of human trafficking is about collaboration. “It does happen in Stephenville and the surrounding areas,” she said.
If you are the victim of human trafficking, you can call 512-463-1646 for the state office or the CTFS 24/7 emergency hotline 866-9344357. All services for CTFS are free and confidential.