Every parent wants to believe their child is safe. But the harsh truth is that the sex trafficking of minors isn’t just happening in faraway cities or hidden corners of the internet — it’s happening right here in the suburbs and throughout the five boroughs. In our neighborhoods, our schools, our shopping centers, and along our main streets. This isn’t alarmism; it’s reality. And it demands our collective action.

We’ve seen this crisis from both sides — law enforcement and direct services. Law enforcement agencies have investigated and dismantled trafficking operations across Long Island. Our experiences with the FBI, the Suffolk County Police Department, and within EAC Network revealed a chilling truth: while drugs and guns can be sold only once, human beings can be sold again and again.

The creation of Suffolk County’s first stand-alone Human Trafficking Unit marked a turning point — a shift toward treating those recovered not as criminals, but as victims in need of safety, support, and compassion. Together, EAC Network and law enforcement built a model program that connects survivors to trusted social........

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