Displaying items by tag: John Kelly
Safe Harbour Summit will Address Human Trafficking on a Local Level
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 4th Annual Safe Harbour Summit will be held at Skidmore College on Friday, October 26 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is geared towards organizations and agencies that have a likelihood of coming in contact with youth who are at risk of being trafficked. This year’s conference focuses on the medical side of human trafficking such as health care professionals, and those who may play a role in identifying trafficking and treating resulting conditions caused by trafficking.
The Safe Harbour: NY program supports counties in developing their capacity to identify youth who have been trafficked, sexually exploited, or are at risk of victimization, and to meet identified service needs of these youth. The summit is made available through a Safe Harbour grant from the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and a partnership between the Saratoga County Department of Social Services, Saratoga Center for the Family, and CAPTAIN Community Human Services.
In an effort to have their physical, mental and emotional needs met, youth with past trauma and vulnerability to trafficking or at-risk of being trafficked often come in contact with a wide array of medical professionals. These types of interactions can offer both a opportunity to limit the risk for this vulnerable population of becoming trafficked and increase the ability to identify those at high risk of being trafficked. Aimed at educating, informing, raising awareness, and taking steps to prevent and stop trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of youth, the summit will also familiarize attendees with victim resources and services.
“We hope you are able to join us for what promises to be an up-close and personal look at how we recognize and respond to youth we suspect are being trafficked or at risk of being trafficked,” stated John Kelly, Law Enforcement Coordinator at Saratoga Center for the Family and Safe Harbour Coordinator.
“After hearing from our presenters, we feel confident you will know what to look for and who to contact should you encounter a youth who has been trafficked,” he added.
Speakers for the event include Jasmine Grace, the author of “The Diary of Jasmine Grace,” a true story of her life that sheds light on understanding the manipulation and mental programming involved in commercial sex; Hanni Stoklosa, MD, MPH, Executive Director of HEAL Trafficking and an emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston; and lastly, Dina McManus, LCSW-R, who has been a therapist in the field of sexual abuse and trauma for nearly 20 years; she is currently the Director for Clinical Services of LaSalle School’s Specialized Treatment Services Program.
For more information, please contact John Kelly, Law Enforcement Coordinator at Saratoga Center for the Family, at 518-587-8008, ext. 321, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
