Wisconsin Youth Sex Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Campaign

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) chose JSI to create a Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Campaign. The Campaign's goal was to inform the public that sex trafficking of Wisconsin youth under the age of 18 is an issue in urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout Wisconsin (WI). The campaign aimed to achieve the following:

• Bring awareness to the indicators that a youth is being sex trafficked or may be at risk of being sex trafficked;
• Disseminate information about the risk factors that may make youth more vulnerable to being trafficked;
• Implement an effective statewide media/social marketing campaign that reduces demand and prevents sex trafficking of youth in Wisconsin.

The overall Campaign had a positive focus that meets the Guiding Principles adopted by the Wisconsin Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force including, using trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and youth-centered solutions. The targeted audience included both youth and adults.

JSI researched and gathered knowledge from key stakeholders, developed messaging responsive to the Wisconsin context, developed social media, advertising, and communication materials, and engaged in public relations services that promoted the Campaign and its messaging.