My name is Shawna and I am the mother of a trafficking survivor. Yesterday 2/19/19
I attended the Arizona Human Trafficking Council meeting. I was disappointed.

While all of the educating of the “public”, boards and groups that are being created, one huge problem remains. This problem is our broken court system. The same system that the victims are supposed to trust is failing them in my eyes. When I broached this subject with the Trafficking Council, I was told by the Co-Chair that “this is not the forum to discuss this matter. We will get someone to speak with you.” Nobody did. I felt that my issue along with the victims. When I told him my daughter’s case since 2016 has had more than 39 different court dates, that was the answer I recieved.

After the meeting was adjourned, I was approached by Pastor Brian from the Phoenix Dream Center. He realized who I was since my daughter was there from 3/2017-12/2017.
She was the first minor the center took on before combining with Streetlight USA. With the Phoenix Dream Center it was a constant battle of wills with my husband and I and their poorly Raj administration. We put her there with the hope of her getting the much needed counseling, learning life skills, and finishing her education. She got the counseling.

I will keep fighting for my daughter and all of the survivors of this horrible crime until change happens. Changes where our children are educated on this subject, changes in the help our children recieve, and changes in our broken judicial systems.

Everything looks good on paper and on the Web until it hits home with your family.

Shawna