C.O. organizations highlight changes amid recent rise in online trafficking, mark Human Trafficking Prevention Month

(Update: Adding comments from several local organizations)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- This month is recognized as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and Central Oregon organizations are spreading awareness about the issue and how to combat it. Multiple events are being hosted throughout the month to inform the community about the signs of trafficking, and what to do if they encounter them.

According to Bend nonprofit In Our Backyard, Central Oregon is a hub for sex trafficking because of its location.

"We have volunteers, we have educators alongside us, and staff who are on the front lines to prevent situations," Executive Director Cheryl Csiky said Wednesday.

In Our Backyard is using this year's National Human Trafficking Prevention Month to inform the community about a growing change in trafficking, according to trainer Masayo Halpin.

"They're smarter now. They're online. They're hidden," she said Wednesday. "We may never see the trafficker, but it's still there. Any city that has internet has trafficking. Unfortunately, that's just the bottom line. "

From 2018 to 2019, the Oregon Department of Justice identified 746 victims of human trafficking across Oregon, including 48  in Deschutes County.

Just last year, Bend police rescued a young woman after she sent multiple texts to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, a testament to the efforts in the community.

Csiky says, "It works for every community. So when there are nonprofits or efforts to fight trafficking, if someone calls that hotline number, they're going to be directed to those resources. "

J Bar J Youth's anti-trafficking program at: project has teamed up with Soroptomist International of Bend this month to bring greater awareness and open discussion around human trafficking

Jan Swander, president of the Bend Soroptimists, said, "One of the things that I believe much of this community does not know is that there are young women for sale in Central Oregon on a Friday or Saturday night. And I don't know how you feel about that, but I have to stop that,"

Program Director Breanne Barrett says 2024 was their busiest year, reaching 100 victims, and that number could grow as trafficking continues to evolve.

"We know that it's a much bigger issue here," she said. "And the more we get our message out there, the more training that we do, the more likely we are to be able to help."

Both organizations say prevention can be as simple as a conversation. 

"It's a tough subject," Halpin said. "No one wants to know about this. It's ugly. But without knowing about it, we can't protect our children from it."

Use of the internet has boomed in the last two years, and with that, traffickers' reach spreads. The at: project says since the internet has seen greater use, they are now seeing victims as young as 10 years old.