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Advocates for human trafficking victims say the state needs a single point of contact to direct victims to the services they need.
Lauren Chapman/IPB NewsAdvocates for human trafficking victims say the state needs a single point of contact to direct victims to the services they need.
State lawmakers Wednesday debated the best way to set up such a system.
Denise Robinson is the chief counsel for investigations at the Attorney General’s office. She says human trafficking victims – and their advocates – don’t necessarily know where to go for services.
“Right now we have disparate agencies doing their thing – and doing it well – but no one knows what they’re doing,” Robinson says.
READ MORE: New Law Eliminates Human Trafficking Reporting To Help Victims
Lawmakers question whether to create a new state agency to help solve that problem. Kate Kimmer says that would be reinventing the wheel. Kimmer is part of the Indiana Protection for Abused and Trafficked Humans Task Force. It’s made up of law enforcement, advocacy groups, service providers, worker organizers, and community leaders.
“And we have sat down and had those really tough conversations," Kimmer says. "So we’re already doing that collaboratively.”
Kimmer says a better solution would be more funding for the task force and its partners.
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