Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with former Sioux Falls Councilors Theresa Stehly and Pat Starr about taxes and bringing the new proposed swimming pool to a public vote.

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with former Sioux Falls Councilors Theresa Stehly and Pat Starr about taxes and bringing the new proposed swimming pool to a public vote.

A community issues and answering program that focuses on the city and people of the Sioux Empire.

Jon Michaels' Forum

Former City Councilors Theresa Stehly & Pat Starr Talk Taxes & Swimming Pools

Public Affairs Director, Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Brady Kerkman, Director of Development of Horizon Health Care in South Dakota.

(HOWARD, SD) – The Horizon Health Foundation will be hosting a raffle during its Drive It Home ’26 campaign that kicked off on January 19th.Car Raffle Flyer

The campaign is set to raise $100,000 to support the purchase of chronic care kits as part of Pillar II of the Healthier Horizons program. Only 800 tickets are available for the Drive It Home ’26 Campaign raffle drawing. The first prize is a 2026 Chevy Trax LT, the second prize is a half a hog and a deep freeze, and the third prize is a $500 local gas card. Tickets can be purchased at www.horizonhealthcare.org/foundation

The campaign will fund chronic care kits for Horizon Health patients managing diabetes, cardiovascular and dental disease. In 2025, 242 patients were enrolled in Horizon’s Chronic Care Management Program. This resource provides additional support from primary care providers and their teams to Medicare patients with two or more chronic conditions. The care kits would give additional assistance to these patients and any Horizon Health patient managing diabetes, cardiac or dental disease.

“Care kits for our dental patients are an essential resource to improve and maintain their dental health,” Horizon’s Chief Dental Officer, Dr. Michelle Scholtz, DDS, said. “Some of our patients have dental concerns that have gone untreated for years due to lack of accessibility to care. These kits help them to maintain their dental health and keep them on track for a healthy smile.”

“We are excited to provide added value to our patients with care kits they can use at home to help manage their chronic illnesses,” said Misty Rudebusch, MPAS, PA-C, Horizon’s Chief Medical Officer. “The care kits will help them reach positive milestones on their wellness journey and give them tools to take further ownership of their health.”

A Chili Cook-Off to support the raffle campaign is scheduled for Feb. 20 from 6-8 p.m. at the Riverfront Event Center in Yankton. The cook-off will feature local chilis, cinnamon rolls and entertainment by a regionally known comedian. Attendees will choose the top chef in the cook-off contest. RSVP by Feb. 6 by texting or calling 605-610-8048 to be entered into the raffle to win one of two $500 cash prizes to be given away that evening. You must be present to win. Entry to the event is free but donations are appreciated to help support the Drive It Home ’26 Campaign.

“The Drive It Home ’26 Campaign is truly about putting patients in the driver’s seat for their health care needs, through a combination of providing them with necessary chronic health kits, prevention, and education,” said Brady L. Kerkman, Director of Development for Horizon Health Foundation.

Raffle prize winners will be drawn at the Dueling Pianos event scheduled from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., April 18 at The Pointe in Elk Point, SD. You need not be present to win.

Sponsors of the Drive it Home ’26 Campaign include Rupiper Tours, Sanford Laboratories, First Dakota, SDN Communications, Prostrollo Auto Mall, Lindy Land & Livestock, Elk Point Ace Hardware, and See The Trainer. A sincere thank you to each of these sponsors who made this campaign possible.

Contact Brady L. Kerkman at 605-610-8048 for more information about the raffle, cook-off and Dueling Pianos events.

At Horizon Health, we’re focused on what’s real and what’s rural. With advanced technology and a personal touch, we deliver medical, dental and behavioral healthcare that’s open to everyone. Because the strength of a community isn’t measured by size. It’s measured by how much we care.

Horizon Health provides dental, medical, and behavioral health services at 27 medical and dental clinics in 19 rural South Dakota communities.

Horizon Health provides patient-centered, quality care that’s personalized for rural South Dakota. Our patients are our neighbors. Our communities are our homes. And the wellness of those areas is vital to our way of life. For us, healthcare isn’t just a service we provide. It’s our mission.

As a Community Health Center, Horizon offers high-quality, affordable coverage in medical, dental and behavioral health with an invested presence in the communities we serve. We are  primary care providers who care. And we’ve been nationally recognized for it by the Health Resources and Service Administration, among others.

With a dedication to rural health, we offer leading edge technology and telemedicine capabilities, working with providers and specialists virtually anywhere in the country. In addition to urgent care services, we emphasize primary care, providing whole health medicine and wellness throughout your life.

The health of our neighbors reflects the health of rural South Dakota. That’s why Horizon Health chooses to be here, and nowhere else. Every day we’re dedicated to caring for our neighbors, caring for our communities and caring for our way of life.

Our Mission, Vision and Values

Mission: Horizon Health provides rural communities with access to high-quality, affordable primary healthcare services.

Vision: Our vision is to be the trusted leader in rural healthcare and to create healthier communities where every patient experiences care that is accessible, compassionate, and exceeds expectations.

Values

Respect – We treat everyone we encounter with dignity, kindness, compassion, and a genuine caring for the individual.
We praise publicly and coach improvement with timing, tact, and thoughtful delivery.
We recognize that diversity brings value to our work and the patients we serve.
We listen to understand vs. listening to respond.
We believe that everyone has an inherent desire to do what is good and right.
We recognize that 1st person communication is critical in building respectful relationships.

Teamwork – We believe that our combined efforts far exceed what we can do individually. We share and demonstrate a mentality that supports this belief.
We believe the success of the team, not an individual, is the most important gauge of success.
We welcome and appreciate ideas and differing opinions that lead to healthy discussions and positive outcomes.
We are committed to fully supporting the final decision, even if the decision wasn’t what we specifically wanted as an individual.
We support each other, celebrate successes, and learn from failures together.

Accountability – Everyone has an important role in our success. We trust, rely on, and hold ourselves and each other accountable to the highest standards.
We don’t view accountability as an attack on an individual but rather an account for mutually agreed upon expectations.
We are competent in the role we play and are committed to performing our duties to the best of our ability.
We see mistakes as learning/coaching opportunities. Failure is part of the process of success, not the opposite of it.
We present and receive constructive feedback in a manner that fosters an environment of continuous learning.
We hold ourselves accountable for the ethical and efficient use of Horizon’s resources to sustain access to rural healthcare.

Integrity & Professionalism – We hold ourselves to high standards both professionally and morally. We recognize that the way we interact and present ourselves in all aspects of our lives represents the public’s perception of the care we provide.
We strive to be viewed as an organization that provides the highest level of quality healthcare service and patient experience.
We respect the privacy of our patients, colleagues, and partners and act with the highest level of confidentiality and discretion.
We make unbiased decisions backed by data with honesty, fairness, and for the greater good of our employees, patients, communities, and organization.

Rurally Focused – Horizon specializes in and is recognized as a leader in rural healthcare delivery across the state, region, and nation. We place high emphasis on recruiting/retaining team members that are committed to being involved in keeping rural communities sustainable.
We understand that being a trusted healthcare professional within a rural community starts with building and supporting positive relationships.
We know that having primary healthcare services is a key piece of the economic engine within a rural community.
We strive for Horizon to be a key business partner in the community and desire to be part of conversations that impact the greater good of the community.
We understand the importance of trust and confidentiality within small rural communities where everyone knows each other.
We recognize that being a trusted healthcare provider is also being a good neighbor, and an active member of our communities.
We seek innovative solutions to challenges, leveraging the unique strength, creativity, and passion of our board members, employees, patients, and communities.

Public Affairs Director, Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Brady Kerkman, Director of Development of Horizon Health Care in South Dakota.
(HOWARD, SD) &ndash; The Horizon Health Foundation will be hosting a raffle during its Drive It Home &rsquo;26 campaign that kicked off on January 19th.Car Raffle Flyer
The campaign is set to raise $100,000 to support the purchase of chronic care kits as part of Pillar II of the Healthier Horizons program. Only 800 tickets are available for the Drive It Home &rsquo;26 Campaign raffle drawing. The first prize is a 2026 Chevy Trax LT, the second prize is a half a hog and a deep freeze, and the third prize is a $500 local gas card. Tickets can be purchased at www.horizonhealthcare.org/foundation
The campaign will fund chronic care kits for Horizon Health patients managing diabetes, cardiovascular and dental disease. In 2025, 242 patients were enrolled in Horizon&rsquo;s Chronic Care Management Program. This resource provides additional support from primary care providers and their teams to Medicare patients with two or more chronic conditions. The care kits would give additional assistance to these patients and any Horizon Health patient managing diabetes, cardiac or dental disease.
&ldquo;Care kits for our dental patients are an essential resource to improve and maintain their dental health,&rdquo; Horizon&rsquo;s Chief Dental Officer, Dr. Michelle Scholtz, DDS, said. &ldquo;Some of our patients have dental concerns that have gone untreated for years due to lack of accessibility to care. These kits help them to maintain their dental health and keep them on track for a healthy smile.&rdquo;
&ldquo;We are excited to provide added value to our patients with care kits they can use at home to help manage their chronic illnesses,&rdquo; said Misty Rudebusch, MPAS, PA-C, Horizon&rsquo;s Chief Medical Officer. &ldquo;The care kits will help them reach positive milestones on their wellness journey and give them tools to take further ownership of their health.&rdquo;
A Chili Cook-Off to support the raffle campaign is scheduled for Feb. 20 from 6-8 p.m. at the Riverfront Event Center in Yankton. The cook-off will feature local chilis, cinnamon rolls and entertainment by a regionally known comedian. Attendees will choose the top chef in the cook-off contest. RSVP by Feb. 6 by texting or calling 605-610-8048 to be entered into the raffle to win one of two $500 cash prizes to be given away that evening. You must be present to win. Entry to the event is free but donations are appreciated to help support the Drive It Home &rsquo;26 Campaign.
&ldquo;The Drive It Home &rsquo;26 Campaign is truly about putting patients in the driver&rsquo;s seat for their health care needs, through a combination of providing them with necessary chronic health kits, prevention, and education,&rdquo; said Brady L. Kerkman, Director of Development for Horizon Health Foundation.
Raffle prize winners will be drawn at the Dueling Pianos event scheduled from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., April 18 at The Pointe in Elk Point, SD. You need not be present to win.
Sponsors of the Drive it Home &rsquo;26 Campaign include Rupiper Tours, Sanford Laboratories, First Dakota, SDN Communications, Prostrollo Auto Mall, Lindy Land &amp; Livestock, Elk Point Ace Hardware, and See The Trainer. A sincere thank you to each of these sponsors who made this campaign possible.
Contact Brady L. Kerkman at 605-610-8048 for more information about the raffle, cook-off and Dueling Pianos events.
At Horizon Health, we&rsquo;re focused on what&rsquo;s real and what&rsquo;s rural. With advanced technology and a personal touch, we deliver medical, dental and behavioral healthcare that&rsquo;s open to everyone. Because the strength of a community isn&rsquo;t measured by size. It&rsquo;s measured by how much we care.
Horizon Health provides dental, medical, and behavioral health services at 27 medical and dental clinics in 19 rural South Dakota communities.
Horizon Health provides patient-centered, quality care that&rsquo;s personalized for rural South Dakota. Our patients are our neighbors. Our communities are our homes. And the wellness of those areas is vital to our way of life. For us, healthcare isn&rsquo;t just a service we provide. It&rsquo;s our mission.
As a Community Health Center, Horizon offers high-quality, affordable coverage in medical, dental and behavioral health with an invested presence in the communities we serve. We are&nbsp; primary care providers who care. And we&rsquo;ve been nationally recognized for it by the Health Resources and Service Administration, among others.
With a dedication to rural health, we offer leading edge technology and telemedicine capabilities, working with providers and specialists virtually anywhere in the country. In addition to urgent care services, we emphasize primary care, providing whole health medicine and wellness throughout your life.
The health of our neighbors reflects the health of rural South Dakota. That&rsquo;s why Horizon Health chooses to be here, and nowhere else. Every day we&rsquo;re dedicated to caring for our neighbors, caring for our communities and caring for our way of life.
Our Mission, Vision and Values
Mission:&nbsp;Horizon Health provides rural communities with access to high-quality, affordable primary healthcare services.
Vision:&nbsp;Our vision is to be the trusted leader in rural healthcare and to create healthier communities where every patient experiences care that is accessible, compassionate, and exceeds expectations.
Values
Respect&nbsp;&ndash; We treat everyone we encounter with dignity, kindness, compassion, and a genuine caring for the individual.
<ul>
<li>We praise publicly and coach improvement with timing, tact, and thoughtful delivery.</li>
<li>We recognize that diversity brings value to our work and the patients we serve.</li>
<li>We listen to understand vs. listening to respond.</li>
<li>We believe that everyone has an inherent desire to do what is good and right.</li>
<li>We recognize that 1st person communication is critical in building respectful relationships.</li>
</ul>
Teamwork&nbsp;&ndash; We believe that our combined efforts far exceed what we can do individually. We share and demonstrate a mentality that supports this belief.
<ul>
<li>We believe the success of the team, not an individual, is the most important gauge of success.</li>
<li>We welcome and appreciate ideas and differing opinions that lead to healthy discussions and positive outcomes.</li>
<li>We are committed to fully supporting the final decision, even if the decision wasn&rsquo;t what we specifically wanted as an individual.</li>
<li>We support each other, celebrate successes, and learn from failures together.</li>
</ul>
Accountability&nbsp;&ndash; Everyone has an important role in our success. We trust, rely on, and hold ourselves and each other accountable to the highest standards.
<ul>
<li>We don&rsquo;t view accountability as an attack on an individual but rather an account for mutually agreed upon expectations.</li>
<li>We are competent in the role we play and are committed to performing our duties to the best of our ability.</li>
<li>We see mistakes as learning/coaching opportunities. Failure is part of the process of success, not the opposite of it.</li>
<li>We present and receive constructive feedback in a manner that fosters an environment of continuous learning.</li>
<li>We hold ourselves accountable for the ethical and efficient use of Horizon&rsquo;s resources to sustain access to rural healthcare.</li>
</ul>
Integrity &amp; Professionalism&nbsp;&ndash; We hold ourselves to high standards both professionally and morally. We recognize that the way we interact and present ourselves in all aspects of our lives represents the public&rsquo;s perception of the care we provide.
<ul>
<li>We strive to be viewed as an organization that provides the highest level of quality healthcare service and patient experience.</li>
<li>We respect the privacy of our patients, colleagues, and partners and act with the highest level of confidentiality and discretion.</li>
<li>We make unbiased decisions backed by data with honesty, fairness, and for the greater good of our employees, patients, communities, and organization.</li>
</ul>
Rurally Focused&nbsp;&ndash; Horizon specializes in and is recognized as a leader in rural healthcare delivery across the state, region, and nation. We place high emphasis on recruiting/retaining team members that are committed to being involved in keeping rural communities sustainable.
<ul>
<li>We understand that being a trusted healthcare professional within a rural community starts with building and supporting positive relationships.</li>
<li>We know that having primary healthcare services is a key piece of the economic engine within a rural community.</li>
<li>We strive for Horizon to be a key business partner in the community and desire to be part of conversations that impact the greater good of the community.</li>
<li>We understand the importance of trust and confidentiality within small rural communities where everyone knows each other.</li>
<li>We recognize that being a trusted healthcare provider is also being a good neighbor, and an active member of our communities.</li>
<li>We seek innovative solutions to challenges, leveraging the unique strength, creativity, and passion of our board members, employees, patients, and communities.</li>
</ul>

Horizon Health - 27 Clinics - 19 South Dakota Rural Towns - 200 Employees

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels, (since 1973) talks with Todd Epp about being a home caretaker of his father and news analyst of the South Dakota State Legislature.

from chat gpt:

Todd Epp in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area is a local journalist, attorney, radio news contributor, and media writer known for covering community news, local government, and public affairs topics.

📌 Who He Is


Journalist & Writer: Todd Epp has written news and feature articles for outlets like KELO.com and local sports/media sites, reporting on a range of topics including local government, community events, and Civil Air Patrol activities.


Radio Contributor: He has appeared as a radio news reporter and commentator in South Dakota media.


Attorney & Consultant: In addition to journalism, Epp is identified as an attorney involved in legal and consulting work.


Community Involvement: He’s been active in community reporting and has held roles such as incident commander for Civil Air Patrol exercises in the Sioux Falls region.

Overall, Todd Epp is a multifaceted local media figure and professional who engages with Sioux Falls news, law, and community issues through writing, reporting, and public outreach.

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels, (since 1973) talks with Todd Epp about being a home caretaker of his father and news analyst of the South Dakota State Legislature.
from chat gpt:
Todd Epp in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area is a local journalist, attorney, radio news contributor, and media writer known for covering community news, local government, and public affairs topics.
📌 Who He Is
<ul data-start="265" data-end="1068">
<li data-start="265" data-end="544">
Journalist &amp; Writer: Todd Epp has written news and feature articles for outlets like KELO.com and local sports/media sites, reporting on a range of topics including local government, community events, and Civil Air Patrol activities.
</li>
<li data-start="545" data-end="689">
Radio Contributor: He has appeared as a radio news reporter and commentator in South Dakota media.
</li>
<li data-start="690" data-end="857">
Attorney &amp; Consultant: In addition to journalism, Epp is identified as an attorney involved in legal and consulting work.
</li>
<li data-start="858" data-end="1068">
Community Involvement: He&rsquo;s been active in community reporting and has held roles such as incident commander for Civil Air Patrol exercises in the Sioux Falls region.
</li>
</ul>
Overall, Todd Epp is a multifaceted local media figure and professional who engages with Sioux Falls news, law, and community issues through writing, reporting, and public outreach.

Todd Epp: Balancing Home Caretaker of His Father and Radio Analyst of the SD Legislature 

Public Director Jon Michaels, since 1977, talks with Becky Rasmussen, President and CEO, and Rachel Foltz, Director of Impact and Program Relations of Call to Freedom.

from the internet:

THE PROBLEM

Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of forced labor or sex trafficking. As the world’s fastest growing criminal industry, it affects every corner of the globe—including the state of South Dakota.

It is a $150 billion dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to millions of people around the world. Every day, men, women, and children are being exploited for commercial sex or manual labor against their will.

It is estimated that less than 1% of victims are ever identified. Many return to “the life” (streets), end up in jail or prison, or simply disappear due to a lack of specialized long-term care for survivors.

Who We Are

Sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation occur at growing rates across the United States, including in the state of South Dakota. Several intersecting factors, including extreme poverty, geographic isolation, and homelessness, result in high levels of victimization across the state. Call to Freedom is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in South Dakota dedicated to bringing wholeness to all individuals impacted by sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Founded in 2016, Call to Freedom hired its first full-time staff member in 2018 and has grown to 26 full-time staff united by their passion for ensuring survivors of trafficking and exploitation are believed and supported by their community. Staff members bring decades of experience combatting violence and providing community-based services and include previous South Dakota Department of Corrections staff, social workers, law enforcement, and addiction recovery specialists.

The majority of our direct service staff had worked with Call to Freedom in their prior roles as community-based service providers and joined call to Freedom because of their passion for its holistic, person-centered approach. Our staff are uniquely positioned to serve trafficking survivors, given their experience working with people who have experienced trauma, responding to crisis situations, and identifying community resources available within the Sioux Falls community and across South Dakota.

Call To Freedom Statement of Faith:

We model Christ in our approach to restore wholeness to those impacted by sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Mission:

Call to Freedom brings wholeness to all individuals impacted by sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation by navigating a healing path through our continuum of care model.

Vision:

Our vision is to create a comprehensive CommUnity model of care for individuals, and support communities while educating and advocating to combat sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Barriers that prevent identification

Individuals who are at risk of trafficking or who have experienced trafficking are often not recognized for various reasons. These barriers to identification fall into two categories: individual-related and provider-related.

Provider Related Barriers

Lacks knowledge about human trafficking
“Checks off boxes” without seeing the full situation
Inadequate understanding of laws
Fears violating HIPAA rules
Lacks trauma-informed care training
Does not believe it is their role to get involved
Lacks access to neutral, professional interpreters
Thinks that asking will be time-consuming or too complex
Feels the individual is unresponsive or hostile to questioning
Lacks information about referral options
Attributes behavior(s) to harmful cultural stereotypes
Has preconceived notions of how an individual who has experienced trafficking will behave or look
Individual Related Barriers

Lacks awareness that what they are experiencing is trafficking
Lacks understanding of victim and legal rights
Lacks identification and other records
Has a language barrier
Fears deportation or law enforcement
Fears that reporting could lead to being returned to an abusive home, jail, or foster care placement
Feels complicit in an illegal act
Fears that traffickers will cause harm to self, family, or loved ones
Has limited literacy and education that hinders ability to communicate
Has experienced trauma bonding with the trafficker or other victims
Distrusts the provider or those in authority
Feels hopeless and helpless
Feels shame or guilt
For more information on the barriers that prevent identification, visit National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center

Is it an indicator of trafficking?

A variety of flags can be indicators of trafficking. The examples listed are not definitive, and not every individual will present the same flags. Additionally, seeing one or two indicators doesn’t necessarily mean that something is happening to you, it simply lets you know that you should probably step back and take another look at the situation.

How to Protect Yourself

 

Online Exploitation

Requests for pics or videos that are private.

One sided conversations, like someone not sharing about themselves while you have been very open.

Someone threatening you or blackmailing you to do things – when someone does that with images or video of you, it’s called sextortion.

Labor Trafficking

Threats or abuse from employer

Unable to quit your job or go home

Withholding payment, not allowed to see or be in control of your paychecks or taking money out of your paycheck

Sex Trafficking

Asking you to keep secrets or telling you not to tell anyone what they did to you or what they had you do for them

Keeping you isolated away from your friends and family

Manipulating you with strings attached, like making you do sexual acts in return for something

Adapted from Love146

How to Advocate for OthersPhysical – notable changes in health or appearance

Untreated or undertreated workplace injuries

Physical impacts of long-term trauma including chronic illnesses

Shows signs of physical trauma such as bruises, black eyes, cigarette burns, or broken bones

Has repeated or concerning testing or treatment for pregnancies or STIs

Has health problems or complaints related to poor nutrition or irregular access to meals

Substance use impacts their health or interferes with their ability to function

Reports multiple sexual assaults perpetrated by non-family members

Relies on emergency or temporary resources to meet basic needs

Not allowed to sleep regularly or in a safe place

Behavioral – exhibits signs of trauma exposure

Youth runs away frequently or leaves their residence for extended periods of time (days, weeks)

Has unhealthy or inappropriate relationships including youth in a romantic relationship with an adult

Explicit photos are posted on the internet or stored on their phone

Meets with contacts they developed over the internet, including sex partners or significant others

Appears on edge, preoccupied with safety, or hypervigilant

Engages in self-destructive, aggressive, or risk-taking behaviors

Forced to give earned money to another person

Avoids interaction or gives misleading or vague information about their age, whereabouts, residence or relationships

Unaware of location, age or time

Environmental – situation or activities that attribute to risk of exploitation

Engages in sexual activities that cause harm or place them at risk of victimization

Youth experiences housing or caregiving instability

Youth with current or past involvement with law enforcement, juvenile justice, social services, or foster system

Relationship and belongings are not consistent with their age or circumstances

In possession of material items inconsistent with the their access to money including gifts, transportation and money

Someone else controls contact with family or friends, creating social isolation

Living with non-relative who is significantly older

Living at work or in extremely overcrowded locations

Accompanied by overly controlling adult who prevents them from speaking freely

A secret phone or apps providing additional number

Adapted from National Human Trafficking Training and Assistance Center and WestCoast’s Commercial Sexual Exploitation-Identification Tool

Vulnerable Populations

While anyone can be affected by trafficking, including both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, there are some populations at a higher risk that you may encounter in your work. Factors that lead to a disproportionate risk of trafficking include: 1) history of abuse and neglect, 2) social disconnection, and 3) social stigma and exclusion.

By understanding how social determinants of health are connected to populations at the highest risk, you can better identify and respond to those affected by and at risk of trafficking. Examples of populations that may be more likely to experience these circumstances and be at greater risk of trafficking include:

 

Public Director Jon Michaels, since 1977, talks with Becky Rasmussen, President and CEO, and Rachel Foltz, Director of Impact and Program Relations of Call to Freedom.
from the internet:
THE PROBLEM
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of forced labor or sex trafficking. As the world&rsquo;s fastest growing criminal industry, it affects every corner of the globe&mdash;including the state of South Dakota.
It is a $150 billion dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to millions of people around the world. Every day, men, women, and children are being exploited for commercial sex or manual labor against their will.
It is estimated that less than 1% of victims are ever identified. Many return to &ldquo;the life&rdquo; (streets), end up in jail or prison, or simply disappear due to a lack of specialized long-term care for survivors.
Who We Are
Sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation occur at growing rates across the United States, including in the state of South Dakota. Several intersecting factors, including extreme poverty, geographic isolation, and homelessness, result in high levels of victimization across the state. Call to Freedom is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in South Dakota dedicated to bringing wholeness to all individuals impacted by sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.
Founded in 2016, Call to Freedom hired its first full-time staff member in 2018 and has grown to 26 full-time staff united by their passion for ensuring survivors of trafficking and exploitation are believed and supported by their community. Staff members bring decades of experience combatting violence and providing community-based services and include previous South Dakota Department of Corrections staff, social workers, law enforcement, and addiction recovery specialists.
The majority of our direct service staff had worked with Call to Freedom in their prior roles as community-based service providers and joined call to Freedom because of their passion for its holistic, person-centered approach. Our staff are uniquely positioned to serve trafficking survivors, given their experience working with people who have experienced trauma, responding to crisis situations, and identifying community resources available within the Sioux Falls community and across South Dakota.
Call To Freedom Statement of Faith:
We model Christ in our approach to restore wholeness to those impacted by sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.
Mission:
Call to Freedom brings wholeness to all individuals impacted by sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation by navigating a healing path through our continuum of care model.
Vision:
Our vision is to create a comprehensive CommUnity model of care for individuals, and support communities while educating and advocating to combat sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.
Barriers that prevent identification
Individuals who are at risk of trafficking or who have experienced trafficking are often not recognized for various reasons. These barriers to identification fall into two categories: individual-related and provider-related.
Provider Related Barriers
Lacks knowledge about human trafficking &ldquo;Checks off boxes&rdquo; without seeing the full situation Inadequate understanding of laws Fears violating HIPAA rules Lacks trauma-informed care training Does not believe it is their role to get involved Lacks access to neutral, professional interpreters Thinks that asking will be time-consuming or too complex Feels the individual is unresponsive or hostile to questioning Lacks information about referral options Attributes behavior(s) to harmful cultural stereotypes Has preconceived notions of how an individual who has experienced trafficking will behave or look Individual Related Barriers
Lacks awareness that what they are experiencing is trafficking Lacks understanding of victim and legal rights Lacks identification and other records Has a language barrier Fears deportation or law enforcement Fears that reporting could lead to being returned to an abusive home, jail, or foster care placement Feels complicit in an illegal act Fears that traffickers will cause harm to self, family, or loved ones Has limited literacy and education that hinders ability to communicate Has experienced trauma bonding with the trafficker or other victims Distrusts the provider or those in authority Feels hopeless and helpless Feels shame or guilt For more information on the barriers that prevent identification, visit National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center
Is it an indicator of trafficking?
A variety of flags can be indicators of trafficking. The examples listed are not definitive, and not every individual will present the same flags. Additionally, seeing one or two indicators doesn&rsquo;t necessarily mean that something is happening to you, it simply lets you know that you should probably step back and take another look at the situation.
How to Protect Yourself
&nbsp;
Online Exploitation
Requests for pics or videos that are private.
One sided conversations, like someone not sharing about themselves while you have been very open.
Someone threatening you or blackmailing you to do things &ndash; when someone does that with images or video of you, it&rsquo;s called sextortion.
Labor Trafficking
Threats or abuse from employer
Unable to quit your job or go home
Withholding payment, not allowed to see or be in control of your paychecks or taking money out of your paycheck
Sex Trafficking
Asking you to keep secrets or telling you not to tell anyone what they did to you or what they had you do for them
Keeping you isolated away from your friends and family
Manipulating you with strings attached, like making you do sexual acts in return for something
Adapted from Love146
How to Advocate for OthersPhysical &ndash; notable changes in health or appearance
Untreated or undertreated workplace injuries
Physical impacts of long-term trauma including chronic illnesses
Shows signs of physical trauma such as bruises, black eyes, cigarette burns, or broken bones
Has repeated or concerning testing or treatment for pregnancies or STIs
Has health problems or complaints related to poor nutrition or irregular access to meals
Substance use impacts their health or interferes with their ability to function
Reports multiple sexual assaults perpetrated by non-family members
Relies on emergency or temporary resources to meet basic needs
Not allowed to sleep regularly or in a safe place
Behavioral &ndash; exhibits signs of trauma exposure
Youth runs away frequently or leaves their residence for extended periods of time (days, weeks)
Has unhealthy or inappropriate relationships including youth in a romantic relationship with an adult
Explicit photos are posted on the internet or stored on their phone
Meets with contacts they developed over the internet, including sex partners or significant others
Appears on edge, preoccupied with safety, or hypervigilant
Engages in self-destructive, aggressive, or risk-taking behaviors
Forced to give earned money to another person
Avoids interaction or gives misleading or vague information about their age, whereabouts, residence or relationships
Unaware of location, age or time
Environmental &ndash; situation or activities that attribute to risk of exploitation
Engages in sexual activities that cause harm or place them at risk of victimization
Youth experiences housing or caregiving instability
Youth with current or past involvement with law enforcement, juvenile justice, social services, or foster system
Relationship and belongings are not consistent with their age or circumstances
In possession of material items inconsistent with the their access to money including gifts, transportation and money
Someone else controls contact with family or friends, creating social isolation
Living with non-relative who is significantly older
Living at work or in extremely overcrowded locations
Accompanied by overly controlling adult who prevents them from speaking freely
A secret phone or apps providing additional number
Adapted from National Human Trafficking Training and Assistance Center and WestCoast&rsquo;s Commercial Sexual Exploitation-Identification Tool
Vulnerable Populations
While anyone can be affected by trafficking, including both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, there are some populations at a higher risk that you may encounter in your work. Factors that lead to a disproportionate risk of trafficking include: 1) history of abuse and neglect, 2) social disconnection, and 3) social stigma and exclusion.
By understanding how social determinants of health are connected to populations at the highest risk, you can better identify and respond to those affected by and at risk of trafficking. Examples of populations that may be more likely to experience these circumstances and be at greater risk of trafficking include:
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