Minutes from 10/29/2019
Shield NC Meeting
Attendees:
Nicole Bernard, Director, Shield NC
Tommy Bernard, Emergency Medicine Physician
Lance Olive, Mayor of Apex
Kim Adcock
Steven Bodhaine
Danica Coleman
Matt Curry
Ryan Doherty
Sonya Edwards
Josh Hill
R. J. Haggard
Mitchell McKinney
Mike Merker
Karen H. Morant
Patty Patrick
Kenneth Ragland
Kristofer Shuart
Brittany Travis
Joi Whittington
Annette Williamson
Deputy Chief Mitchell McKinney, Apex PD, spoke briefly on how significant a problem human trafficking is for our state. He indicated that the Town Manager of Apex has made human trafficking training mandatory for all Town of Apex employees. Officer McKinney introduced Officer Shuart and then departed for another meeting.
Master Police Officer Kristofer Shuart, one of the Community Outreach Officers, introduced the subject of Christmas with a cop. The program called Shop With A Cop, takes kids to Target where each child gets to spend $200 – $300 picking out gift items. Officers take the kids back to the police station where they watch a movie, complete a craft, eat snacks and wrap gifts. He asked for help in locating Apex families who are in need of help. He indicated that Officer Kenneth Ragland is also a Community Outreach Officer and either of them can be contacted with the names and contact information of families.
Nicole spoke briefly and introduced the speaker, Dr. Tommy Bernard. Dr. Bernard is an Emergency Medicine Physician who is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area and is a NCEEP Board Member. He was appointed to the NC Human Trafficking Commission by Governor Cooper. It is Dr. Bernard’s hope to make a difference as physicians are often the first point of contact for victims. Nicole said Dr. Bernard speaks on the state level and is responsible for getting Shield NC off the ground.
He is currently leading a subcommittee on public health. The committee is studying the public health effects that human trafficking has on NC. They are evaluating and creating training for people who will most likely interact with victims. He indicated the committee will need buy in from agencies for training.
Dr. Bernard shared one of his first experiences in identifying a human trafficking victim. He said because he had overheard Nicole talking about some of the signs of a victim, he was able to identify a human trafficking victim who came into the ED where he was working and get her help.
Dr. Bernard shared examples of human trafficking victims.
- 23 year old female presents to ED for opiate withdrawal and facial trauma.
- 17 year old female for STD check for 5th time in 2 months and possible pregnancy.
- 35 year old male for heat exhaustion.
Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery in both sex and/or labor. It is a multibillion dollar industry. Those at risk of being trafficked are migrants, teens who run away, those with mental health issues, and substance abusers.
Since 2007, they have had 5,569 total contacts and 1,290 total cases. In 2018, they have had 287 cases with 186 females and 41 males with 54 presenting as minors. Victims may bring in $1,000 per day for their pimps.
Wake Med has developed a toolkit – TUIT: What the ED Nurse Needs to Know. The toolkit is effective in providing markers for identifying victims and how to treat them. It also helps them in providing ways of separating the victim from the pimp. In bathrooms, victims can apply blue stickers on a urine specimen cup which alerts the doctor the victim wants to talk alone.
Many victims will go to an Urgent Care facility because they can pay with cash or credit cards. If they go to an ED, they have to pay and show a form of identification.
Dr. Bernard shared that it is the committee’s intention to reach out further in educating tattoo parlors, school nurses, dentists, smaller EDs, and local colleges and universities in helping them to identify human trafficking victims.
Dr. Bernard addressed some human trafficking myth busters.
- Only women/girls
- Why don’t they run away?
- Usually a stranger
- Went willingly so not trafficking
- Held against their will/trapped
- Kidnapping victim
- Usually associated with violent crime
- Only people who are sent from out of the country
- Not here in NC or my town
Mayor Lance Olive shared that the Apex PD shut down a massage parlor used for human trafficking. There were Chinese ladies bussed down from NY who were used for those purposes. It became a federal case because it was a much larger operation.
The Mayor implied one should look at human trafficking from a business viewpoint. It is not always associated with poverty. People with disposable income want access. Teens who have time on their hands and money but not enough affection from family may fall prey to this lifestyle.
Dr. Bernard shared that Nicole Bernard had written a book on the process. He shared that some people cannot leave the lifestyle because of family needs, money or threat of exposure. He said some of the red flags for human trafficking victims are: working and living conditions, branding or tattoos, unable to make decisions without approval, rolls of cash, multiple phones and gift cards.
In October, Shield NC had a freedom week where UC/PCP participated in office visits and worked on developing relationships.
Dr. Bernard shared that Shield volunteers are needed to help with outreach to Apex medical staff. He asked that human trafficking training be added to any ministry. He indicated it would be helpful to attend HTC meetings, lobby legislature, and research medical responses nationwide to get best practices. He shared vital telephone numbers 888-373-7888 (Human Traffickking Hotline) and 919-410-6586 (Project Flight).
Nicole Bernard spoke on how to prevent human trafficking. She said Shield NC is investing in peer to peer education through youth groups. She indicated childhood trauma is often the beginning for victims and traffickkers. She shared that the correction system wants to get involved. She said TN has combined opioid coalition with Shield.
Mayor Olive shared if there is no buyer then there is no business. He said one way to reduce demand is by informing the buyer s/he is known. Another way to reduce business is by having churches share sermons on prevention.
Nicole explained that SBI human trafficking is in limbo until the NC budget is approved. There currently is one SBI agent in NC focused on human trafficking.
For churches:
- In infancy stage to get faith leaders trained
- Congregations receive sex addiction training
- Foster families provided
Brittany Travis spoke briefly as a representative from Wake County. She said currently there are only 200 foster homes for 500 foster kids. She said the County is in need of additional foster homes. At present, some kids have been moved from Wake County into adjoining counties. Thirteen kids alone have been moved from Apex because of the lack of foster homes.
The topic for the November 26, 2019, meeting will be foster care.