January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and North Dakota youth organizations said for teen survivors, an open ear is just as important as meeting their basic needs.

Whether it is a podcast, Instagram story or a news headline, leaders from a coalition of regional service providers said the steady flow of information is hard to ignore for teens who have been exploited. And if there is a mention of human trafficking or sexual assault, the trauma of past events can come roaring back.

Mark Heinert, executive director of Youthworks of North Dakota, said as part of this outreach, they remind homeless and runaway youth about their many services. He added making them feel safe is a big part of it.

“When youth are in those formative years, those teen years, we often find that they’re saying that people aren’t listening,” Heinert said. “We see it as our mission to provide that place where they’ve got their basic needs met, but they’ve got a caring person to be there with them.”

Another statewide group, the 31:8 Project, pointed to its mentorship program for cases involving human trafficking, in which the survivor receives guidance in resuming their education or gaining job skills. Case managers can also accompany survivors to places like the grocery store or a doctor’s appointment if they need an added level of comfort.

Heinert stressed such work is not just about helping a young person after a traumatic event. He cited intervention efforts when there are signs a young person is thinking about running away from home.

“We have an opportunity to be able to do more than just react to challenges that exist,” Heinert added.

Experts said excessive truancy or a teen hiding food, money and clothing are signs they are at risk of running away.

The latest messaging follows an announcement earlier this month, when six youth agencies shared details about the new ND HOPE Project. Partners are leading a campaign to highlight resources and bolster community awareness of sexual and domestic violence, child abuse and human trafficking.