By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Sex trafficking is on the increase in Kansas, even in Hays.
Jennifer Hecker, executive director of Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services, told city commissioners Thursday night the local organization has joined the state’s “Demand An End” campaign. Attorney General Derek Schmidt, along with statewide partners, launched the campaign in July. Kansas became the 11th state to join a national project that works to discourage demand for commercial sex – especially with children.
“We’re addressing the people who are purchasing sex that help to facilitate and keep that cycle of human trafficking going. As long as people are buying the services, traffickers are going to be in the market for victims,” Hecker said.
“Traffickers come to Hays to take our children, our citizens, and take them out of the state either to Colorado or to Texas. Those are the two biggest hubs.”
Options has been operating for 35 years. Through the main office in Hays and a satellite office recently reopened in Colby, the non-profit serves 18 counties in northwest Kansas, about 17,000 square miles. There is a safe shelter in Ellis County, staffed 24/7, and another shelter is planned for Colby.
“People can walk into our Hays office without an appointment and receive free, voluntary, confidential services. If transportation is an issue, we can travel to them, wherever they are in our service area,” noted Hecker.
Legal advocacy is also provided.
“We can go with people to court to support them, help them understand what their rights are,” said Tim Tarkelly, community services coordinator. “We’re not lawyers, obviously, but we have a referral process with Kansas Legal Services and we have some extra resources through the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.
“The same situation occurs when law enforcement calls. We respond to those. We also respond to the hospital for Sexual Assault Nurse Exams (SANE) exams,” Tarkelly added. “We can accompany survivors to any legal or medical appointment that pertains to their abuse situation.”
The number of survivors helped by Options has increased dramatically.
According to Hecker, the 20 paid staff members of Options, along with a handful of survivors, served 3,200 people last year and 7,000 so far this year.
Prior to the Hays city commission meeting, Mayor James Meier signed a local proclamation for national Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.
