Lilly Lawson for Burns Times-Herald

There’s resources available for awareness and prevention training. There is also tips for keeping kids safe and indicators of human trafficking. All of this and much more can be found at www.inourbackyard. org.

In Our Backyard is a national nonprofit that fights for human trafficking by raising awareness and prevention. They are located in Bend and they have been a part of past speaking events in our community. They have also donated freedom sticks and Teens Against Trafficking books to our community.

The Freedom Stickers are placed on the inside of restroom stalls. On it, they have the national human trafficking phone number on them for victims to call. Once called, a plan will be made for the victim to be rescued as well as having other options. 

Teens Against Trafficking books are for middle and high school aged individuals. They can be used in the schools in the health department or for parents to go though with their kids. Both the stickers and books have been effective at saving lives of those that have been victims of human trafficking.

At the In Our Backyard website, you can find tips for keeping kids safe, as well as, how to educate and communicate with their children, along with knowing what’s on your child’s phone, their passwords, GPS and knowing your kids’ friends.

At the website, there’s a section called “Indicators of Human Trafficking in the lives of those around you,” that gives situations and solutions for your children. Getting the youth involved is a great way to spread awareness.

If you would like to schedule a training session you can email Lilly Lawson at LRWJGL52@gmail.com or call 541-413-0897. You can reach In Our Backyard at info@inourbackyard.or or call 541-639-5008 with any questions.

Anyone who suspects human trafficking should call local authorities or the toll-free 24-hour hotline for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center: 888-373-7888, or text BeFree (233733). You can also leave a tip on their website at https://humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking