POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino and the Department of Community & Family Services (DCFS) recently hosted the County’s third annual Human Trafficking Awareness Forum at Dutchess Community College’s James and Betty Hall Theatre, bringing together more than 120 community partners, service providers, educators, healthcare professionals and law enforcement to strengthen local efforts to prevent human trafficking and support victims.
Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said, “Human trafficking is a crime that often goes unseen, and awareness is one of our strongest tools. By continuing to bring people together for education and training, we are strengthening our community’s ability to recognize exploitation and connect victims with help. Dutchess County is eager to keep working alongside our committed partners, and we thank all who took part.”
Human trafficking, defined as the unlawful trade of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for exploitative purposes, includes crimes such as forced labor, sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude. The International Labour Organization estimates more than 40 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking; it remains a serious public safety and human rights issue nationwide, affecting communities of all sizes. In 2025, the Dutchess County Task Force Against Human Trafficking received 38 local referrals of suspected trafficking cases – including referrals received from probation officers, youth service providers and staff at shelters for runaway and homeless youth.
The Dutchess County Task Force Against Human Trafficking brings together professionals from many different fields to stop human trafficking by raising awareness, recognizing possible victims and providing coordinated, trauma-informed support. The task force also offers prevention education for young people and practical resources for the community, including guides, hotline numbers, service listings and fact sheets that address common myths about trafficking.
The forum focused on increasing public awareness, improving identification of trafficking indicators and reinforcing coordination among agencies that serve vulnerable populations across Dutchess County. The program featured presentations, panel discussions and training sessions led by subject-matter experts. Speakers addressed emerging trends in human trafficking, best practices for victim-centered responses and the importance of cross-agency collaboration.
This year’s forum offered clear, practical information on the many forms of human trafficking, how to recognize the warning signs and steps that can be taken to prevent it, including:
• Human trafficking victim advocate and survivor speaker Alicia McDonald discussed her background of being a survivor of sex trafficking at the hands of her first husband;
• A presentation by the New York State Office of Prevention of Domestic Violence regarding gender-based violence and the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI);
• A review of Family Services, Inc.’s Center for Victim Safety and Support program, which offers services to victims/survivors in the community, including a 24-hour hotline for trafficking victims to call to seek assistance, available at (845) 452-7272; and
• A panel presentation from Hudson Valley Safe Streets on a multi-agency collaboration on a case involving a runaway youth from the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie.
Dutchess County participates in New York State’s Safe Harbour program, which helps counties better recognize young people who have been trafficked, sexually exploited or are at risk and connect them with the services they need. Forum attendees learned about Dutchess County’s Safe Harbour Program and the Center for Victim Safety and Support.
