The Journal of Human Trafficking published Dr. Roswurm’s two-part article series at the end of May centered on a human trafficking case that changed her career. These articles are 5 years in the making after being stuck for two years in the queue.   Adira, who first experienced trafficking from the age of 13, found herself being charged as an adult for human trafficking facing up 55 years in prison after turning herself into a juvenile detention facility. She wrote to Dr. Roswurm from jail at the age 17, asking for help. Thus, began a 5 year process of advocating alongside Adira.   The first article in the series, Criminalized for Surviving: A Call for Legal Relief for Survivors of Human Trafficking, explores Adira’s case (Adira herself is an author in this article) and the national trend of unjust criminalization of trafficking survivors and what steps need to be taken to ensure survivors receive proper services/legal aid.   The second article, Criminalized for Surviving: A Call for Social Justice Advocacy in Anti-Trafficking Efforts, explores advocacy steps and an intimate personal look into Dr. Roswurm’s professional journey advocating for Adira. Advocating for Adira brought about many obstacles, most shocking of all was the professional relationships that began unraveling as Dr. Roswurm navigated in her role as a social worker. Dr. Roswurm and her colleagues had to take a step back to ask hard questions of the...

January 11th, 2022 by Dr. (Karen) Irene Countryman-Roswurm, Kalynn Cheyney, and Allison Farres Fostering Courageous Conversations and Humble Curiosity This January, we encourage you to foster humble curiosity, courageous conversations, and critical thinking as you explore your role in addressing abuse and exploitation. Human Trafficking Awareness Month is a time for professionals and community members alike to think about how they can make the biggest impact in this anti-trafficking Movement. When you look deeper at the anti-trafficking field, you will begin to understand it is not homogeneous. Rather, it is a reflection of a wide range of views, values, and opinions of how to approach this work. At CCHT, we have emphasized holistic healing rather than short-term technical solutions, like “rescue” and “sting operations.” We believe anti-trafficking efforts must address underlying systemic and cultural issues that fuel trafficking. Our main concerns have been communicated through several questions: What happens after the rescue? What resources, organizations, and support are available to survivors? How will the law help survivors and how can it hurt them? With that said, we recognize the importance of collaboration and the value in leveraging each moment. Each news story, documentary, or viral post has a big reach that many people will see. Our hope is that you take what you’ve learned from us at CCHT and apply it here. Do not settle and remain “shocked” or...

Op-Ed piece written by Dr. Karen Irene Countryman-Roswurm, Center for Combating Human Trafficking and Linda Smith, Shared Hope International In February, Kansas Judge Michael Gibbens came under fire in national news for claiming that two girls, ages 13 and 14, acted as “aggressors” in a situation of exploitation in which a 67-year-old male, Eugene Soden, paid them to have sex. While public reaction to Gibbens ruling was appropriately harsh, the reality is that his decision is reflective of a much larger societal and legal paradox. Informing his ruling, Gibbens made multiple statements that less harm was done to the girls because he felt they had acted “voluntarily” and were paid. In speaking of the 13-year-old, Gibbens questioned: “So, she’s uncomfortable for something that she voluntarily went to, voluntarily took her top off for, and was paid for?” “I wonder, what kind of trauma there really was to this victim under those peculiar circumstances?” As a society, we must ask, why did money sanitize what, in any other circumstance, would be considered child rape? And more concerning, how did the exchange of money shift the narrative so dramatically so as to characterize children as aggressors in the crime of which they were victims? The answers lie in the paradox in which victims of child sex trafficking are legally apprehended and consequently, socially stigmatized.  Twenty-five states, including Kansas, still allow...

February 13, 2019 by Dr. (Karen) Irene Countryman-Roswurm and Kalynn Cheyney Joint Statement by the Center for Combating Human Trafficking and Shared Hope International on Sentencing by Kansas Judge Michael Gibbens Under Federal and Kansas state law, persons who purchase sex from minors commit child sex trafficking; in fact, Kansas law specifically criminalizes such conduct as “Aggravated Human Trafficking.” Therefore, by definition, minors who are purchased for commercial sex are victims of sex trafficking. Yet in 25 states, including Kansas, an alarming legal paradox exists that oftentimes prevents child sex trafficking victims from being identified and treated as victims of the heinous crime. A February 3, 2019 sentencing by Kansas Judge Michael Gibbens has once again reminded us of the detrimental status of our nation’s non-criminalization laws. In reducing the sentence of a 67-year-old buyer, and referencing the 13 and 14-year-old victims, Judge Gibbens stated, “So, she’s uncomfortable for something that she voluntarily went to, voluntarily took her top off for, and was paid for? . . . . I do find that the victims in this case in particular were more an aggressor . . . [t]hey were certainly selling things monetarily that it’s against the law for even an adult to sell. . . . Normally, I would think that the harm that would have been done by this kind of conduct would very, very substantial. I’m not convinced that...

The Center for Combating Human Trafficking (CCHT) offers opportunities for education on how to best prevent and respond to instance of trafficking.

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. During this month, the Wichita State University Center for Combating Human Trafficking (CCHT) provides opportunities for community members, leaders, and multidisciplinary professionals to learn more about issues related to human trafficking.

Check out Dr. Countryman-Roswurm and Bailey Brackin’s guest blog for Youth Collaboratory.

Per Presidential Proclamation, January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. At CCHT, we believe this month of focused awareness offers the opportunity to engage, educate, and inspire our community to combat abuse and exploitation. Ultimately, we hope to move our communities beyond basic awareness, toward purposeful action. With this in mind, we are thrilled to have partnered with a number of local businesses and organizations to offer a variety of awareness events. We hope that you will join us in both attending and spreading the words about these opportunities. Human Trafficking Dialogue Thursday, January 4th Breakfast at 8:45 AM, Meeting at 9:10 AM Progressive Missionary Baptist Church 2727 E 25th St. North Open to Ministerial League and Community   Hosted by the Greater Wichita Ministerial League, this panel discussion will feature representatives from the CCHT, 18th Judicial District, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), The Governor’s Social Services Policy Council, and Pure and Simple Health Education, Inc. Wichita Women in Health Professions Human Trafficking Awareness Month EventTuesday, January 23rd at 5:30 PM KU School of Medicine, Sunflower Room1010 N. Kansas Free and Open to the Public Hosted by the Wichita Women in Health Professions, this event is intended to raise awareness about human trafficking and local initiatives to best prevent and identify abuse and exploitation. Panelists include representatives from the CCHT, Forensic Nursing...

We love working alongside youth through our Prevention to Prosperity: ThriveTM Program. We know you are full of big, creative ideas and we want to hear from you! If you are 14-18 years old and living in the Wichita Metro area, you can are eligible to participate in our Human Trafficking Awareness Month Art and Writing Contest. Winners will not only win great prizes, but be featured on our blog and at our 2018 Human Trafficking Awareness Month Events.  Art Contest At the Center for Combating Human Trafficking (CCHT), the Lotus™ Anti-Trafficking Model guides our work and programming. This model is named after the flower that grows through mud and dirty water before blooming into a bright, exceptional flower. At CCHT, we believe the lotus is a symbol of determination and perseverance. Participants are free to express themselves through any medium to illustrate the meaning of the Lotus flower. Writing Contest In no more than 500 words, participants are asked to answer one of the questions below. Writing can be formal or creative form. What does it mean to overcome?What does it mean to be an ally? To Enter Entries are Closed Judging  One winner from each contest will be selected by a panel of CCHT staff and partners. Winners will be announced on our Facebook page (with approval) and at our annual Anti-Trafficking conference. Prizes Winners will receive a prize pack of supplies from Barnes & Noble and other...

In the name of stealing away what few moments I can for reflection and restoration, I have remained fairly quiet on social media over the last couple of months. But today, I cannot remain silent. Today, I cry out for justice. Today, I plead with my community, I beg you—particularly those of you who have claimed commitment to anti-violence efforts, to rise-up for Hope. Representative of the majority of survivors I have walked alongside over the last twenty-two years in the anti-trafficking movement, Hope is a young lady whose vulnerabilities in life were preyed upon and exploited. A minor victim of human trafficking herself, Hope remained under the control of a perpetrator who, as typical in trafficking situations, utilized her social media account to attempt contact with one of her peers. Thus, while the attempt was unsuccessful, and the perpetrator never made direct contact with nor exploited Hope’s peer, such interaction is deemed as “recruitment” under the action element of the crime of human trafficking. For this, there is an opportunity to prosecute Hope for human trafficking. For this, Hope—our daughter, our sister—who she herself was abused and exploited while in our state’s system of “care” and “justice” is charged. As Hope did not behave as the “perfect victim,” but rather acted in a manner resulting from the trauma-bond formed with her perpetrator (typical for the great majority of human trafficking survivors) and without the proposal of alternatives, she...

Check out Risa Rehert's guest blog for the National Mentor Resource Center.

Check out Dr. Countryman-Roswurm's guest blog post for Fight the New Drug.

The Center for Combating Human Trafficking is excited to announce that we are now accepting abstracts for our 4th annual anti-trafficking conference!