Scott County adopts trafficking-awareness proclamation; advocate urges $1 million in state funding

The Scott County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 2 adopted a proclamation declaring January Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Month and encouraged community education and reporting.

During the reading, the proclamation urged businesses, community organizations and individuals to work to identify and prevent trafficking and provided the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888). The resolution took immediate effect upon approval.

Following the proclamation reading, an advocate identified as Maggie — who said she serves as secretary of the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and founded Breaking Traffic, now integrated with family resources — thanked the board and urged supervisors to press state lawmakers for a funding allocation to support survivors.

"I was seeking from our legislator $1,000,000 for human trafficking survivor services fund," Maggie said, describing the proposed fund as an allocation in the attorney general's budget to ensure survivors have access to safe havens and reintegration services through social-service agencies across Iowa.

She asked supervisors to contact state senators and representatives to support the funding in the new legislative session, saying the money would help establish a more robust safety net for survivors and youth-specific restoration services.

The board adopted the proclamation by roll call. The funding request was presented as an appeal to state elected officials; the board did not appropriate county funds or take a formal vote on the legislative ask during the meeting.