Battling Human Trafficking

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – A local organization is investing in the future of Muskingum County by helping to provide area children a more stable childhood.  

Forever Dads Executive Director Ryan Sheppard shared some of the challenges that today’s youth are facing along with other issues they are trying to stay ahead of.

“Human trafficking is something that you know is kind of a hot button issue right now,” Sheppard said. “You know, not only locally but nationally. And there’s so many places where Forever Dads can kind of insert themselves into being able to help to fight human trafficking. It’s a very tragic and sensitive topic. You know, and I think for so long, it probably has been taking place, it’s just… you know, from a privacy standpoint, it’s not necessarily been something that has been kind of like a mainstream topic.”

Sheppard noted that in order to combat the issues involved in human trafficking, those issues need to be discussed honestly and openly so that they can be addressed directly. 

“Obviously there’s the sex crimes you know, that come along with it,” Sheppard said. “But even the emotional and the mental abuse that comes along with it. Grooming young people you know before they turn 18. You know, introducing young people to inappropriate material and content. All those things are included in sex trafficking. It may not be something that you know gets as much of the publicity as the higher level crimes that may take place with it but all these things are really creating an unstable and unsafe environment for our youth.”

Forever Dads believe stronger father-child relationships exponentially decrease the likelihood of human trafficking and are initiating programs that foster healthy behaviors in the youth, which can help end cyclical abuse patterns for future generations of children.