Local organization leads efforts against human trafficking during prevention month

Описание: January marks Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and The Invictus Project, a central North Carolina organization, is shedding light on the often-overlooked threats to children. Contrary to popular belief, child trafficking rarely begins with a stranger's abduction, said Whitney Miller, vice president of development at the Invictus Project. "I think one of the biggest misconceptions is the idea that someone is going to roll through and kidnap our child and put them in trafficking," Miller said. "That’s just not the narrative we are seeing play out and unfold."

The Invictus Project emphasizes the importance of "upstream" prevention efforts, as many trafficking cases originate from online sexual exploitation, grooming, and manipulation. With constant access to connected devices, predators have repeated opportunities to build trust with children through social media and online games. "It’s just that constant connection online and how these individuals are capable of connecting with our children, whether it be grooming or meeting up, and it tends to be where we are seeing these activities take place," Miller said.

The organization supports a law-enforcement task force that investigates child exploitation and trafficking across multiple counties, including Davidson, Alamance, Forsyth, and Randolph, alongside Homeland Security and the State Bureau of Investigation. The task force surpassed 200 arrests in 2025, according to Invictus leaders.

Parental controls are recommended as one layer of protection, but communication and supervision are crucial. The Invictus Project advises parents to set boundaries for device use, such as time limits, privacy settings, and knowing who children communicate with online. Warning signs of grooming or exploitation include secrecy around devices, withdrawal, sudden behavioral changes, unexplained gifts, and new online-only friends.

Schools play a critical role, with teachers and counselors often noticing behavioral changes and referring concerns to authorities. "The most powerful form of protecting your children is to engage and communicating with your kids," Miller said. "Have hard conversations, ask hard questions, our kids have a lot to say about what they’re seeing."

Upcoming outreach events include a community education event on Jan. 20 in Alamance County and a teen-focused event on Jan. 25 at Trailhead Church in Graham. #LocalNews #TriadNC #HumanTraffickingPrevention