Human Trafficking Is Happening Here and We All Have a Role in Prevention By Sarah Monceaux, PMHNP, CoOwner, Unity Psychiatry Correctional Health Alliance

When many people hear the words human trafficking, they picture something distant — a problem happening in other countries or big cities, far removed from everyday life in Southwest Louisiana. The truth is much harder to face: human trafficking is happening right here in our neighborhoods, often involving children and adolescents we interact with every day.

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and co-owner of Unity Psychiatry and Correctional Health Alliance, I provide mental health services across Region 5, primarily in Calcasieu Parish. My work spans outpatient care, the Calcasieu Parish Adult Correctional Center, the parish prison, and the juvenile detention center. Through this lens — and through my service on the Southwest Louisiana Human Trafficking Task Force and the Louisiana Human Trafficking Minors Subcommittee — I have seen firsthand how real, complex, and close to home this issue truly is.

What the Data Tells Us About Louisiana — and Calcasieu Parish

According to the 2025 Louisiana Annual Human Trafficking Data Report (Addendum with 2024 data), the scope of the problem is undeniable.

Calcasieu Parish accounted for 37% (n = 733) of all human trafficking screenings statewide.

This high percentage reflects that the Calcasieu Parish Juvenile Justice Department is currently the only Juvenile Probation Department in Louisiana conducting CSE-IT (Commercial Sexual Exploitation Identification Tool) screenings — and they are screening exclusively within our parish. This tells us two critical things:

1. The issue is present here.

2. Other areas may be under-identifying victims due to lack of screening.

In 2024 alone, 1,571 arrests were reported statewide related to:

• Human trafficking

• Internet crimes against children

• Sexual assault against minors

• Prostitution offenses

The largest category of arrests was Sexual Assault Against Minors (47%, n = 742), followed closely by Internet Crimes Against Children (42%, n = 661). Prostitution offenses accounted for 8% (n = 122), while trafficking charges — including Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (n = 26) and Human Trafficking (n = 20) — made up the remaining arrests.

Behind every statistic is a child, a family, and a community impacted — often long before law enforcement ever becomes involved.

Addressing the Gaps: Statewide Efforts to Protect Minor Victims

As part of the Sex Trafficking of Minor Victims Subcommittee, I worked alongside dedicated professionals from across Louisiana to assess gaps in how our state identifies, supports, and protects trafficked youth. The subcommittee identified three critical focus areas:

1. Education

2. Juvenile Justice

3. Services and Resources

One key recommendation adopted by the Louisiana Human Trafficking Prevention Commission focuses on school personnel training.

Schools are often the first place where warning signs appear. Educators, counselors, and school staff interact daily with children who may be experiencing exploitation — yet many schools lack adequate training and protocols to recognize trafficking indicators or respond effectively.

Under Louisiana Children’s Code Act 603, school personnel are mandated reporters and are legally required to report suspected child abuse, including sex and labor trafficking involving minors. However, current mandated-reporter training provides only limited guidance on identifying trafficking.

The recommendation calls for expanding this training to include:

• Clear definitions of human trafficking

• Common indicators and red flags

• Reporting requirements and how to make reports

• Resources for survivors, including Act 662, which establishes coordinated care and relational advocacy services for confirmed victims

Additionally, Act 409 (2025) now requires child-abuse training completion rates to be publicly reported by schools and childcare providers — a critical step toward accountability and transparency.

Schools are encouraged to develop policies and procedures that include:

• Use of Louisiana’s Sex and Labor Trafficking Identification Tools

• Training key personnel, such as school counselors

• Collaboration with local agencies and community partners

These measures not only protect vulnerable youth — they strengthen entire communities.

Knowledge Is Power

While Louisiana has made meaningful progress, there is still work to be done. Human trafficking thrives in silence, misinformation, and lack of awareness. The reality is simple: you don’t know what you don’t know.

Parents, educators, healthcare providers, faith leaders, and community members all play a role. If you see something, say something. Trust your instincts. Ask questions. Reach out for help.

If You or Someone You Know Needs Help

• National Human Trafficking Hotline:

  📞 1-888-373-7888

  📱 Text HELP or INFO to 233733

• Alliance Hotline (Local):

  📞 337-491-7952

Human trafficking is not a distant problem. It is a local one — and together, through education, awareness, and action, we can better protect our children and our communities.