Local nonprofit debunks myths and misconceptions about human trafficking within McHenry County

MCHENRY COUNTY – On Jan. 20, Meredith Hodge, the executive director for a McHenry County-based non-profit called Refuge for Women, presented on the topics of grooming and human trafficking for the Huntley Police Department’s Women’s Safety Series.

Hodge explained that Refuge for Women originated in Kentucky, but began operating in Illinois when former City of Chicago Director Karen Schultz was exploring different anti-trafficking organizations and came across Refuge for Women.

“At the time, it was one of the only aftercare homes in the country. She connected with our founder, assembled a local Chicago board, and the rest is history,” said Hodge. “So, Refuge for Women is part of a nationwide network. We have locations across the country and we are here in the Chicago suburbs in McHenry County.”

The McHenry County Refuge for Women home opened its doors in October 2016 and received its first residents the following month. Shortly after in 2018, Hodge got involved with the organization as a volunteer.

“It’s important for us to debunk the common myths and misconceptions about trafficking in our community. If our community thinks that trafficking is only a foreign issue or it means people are being transported in shipping containers or chained down in someone’s basement or it’s only connected to prostitutes and the inner city of Chicago, there will never be progress for action in our community,” said Hodge. “The reality is—and it’s an ugly reality—but trafficking is happening here in McHenry County and Huntley and across all races, ages, religions, and economic statuses. So, we have an opportunity as a community to step up and do something about it.”

Refuge for Women assists individuals who are 18 years and older through its residential long-term care program and equips former victims of human trafficking or sexual exploitation with the skills to prosper outside of the organization.

“Women stay with us for 12 months and we do have a newly implemented transitional living program. We do offer 12 additional months to our graduates. So, really, they could potentially have 24 months, two years of care with us,” said Hodge. “We provide a holistic approach and we also call it trauma informed programming. So, with that, the women are receiving all of the skills that they need to thrive and it really is based on who they are and what their giftedness is. But in the beginning phase of our program, we’re just focused on safety and stabilization.”

According to Hodge, women in the program maintain a busy, structured schedule involving anything from taking classes on various topics to learning how to employ active and healthy lifestyles.

Despite being a faith-based non-profit, Hodge explained that Refuge for Women does not require their residents to participate in any explicit faith-based activity and will work with individuals to offer alternatives should that be requested.

“We believe that faith is an important part of a woman’s healing from trafficking and exploitation as they work alongside our evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment models (that are independent and exclusive from our faith-based principles),” said Hodge via email. “A profession of faith is not a requirement for care here. Women are also made aware that we are a faith-based organization prior to their entry and if they express that Refuge for Women isn’t a good fit for them, we ensure alternative housing program referrals are provided.”

While Refuge for Women has faced some difficulties in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has pushed forward to continue to seek opportunities to grow and be more involved within McHenry County.

“We always need support. It’s a big undertaking that we have and Refuge for Women is seeking to grow in the next three years,” said Hodge. “As an organization as a whole, our biggest accomplishment I would say would be the program itself…just the fact that we are continuing to thrive. That we are continuing to reach more and more women across our nation…So, I just believe the strengthening of our program here is truly an accomplishment and we’ve had so many graduates who have gone on to do great things.”

In addition, individuals can help support Refuge for Women by donating supplies such as food or toiletries for the residents, as well as can sign up to volunteer. Hodge says that even something as simple as sharing the non-profit’s social media accounts would help tremendously to build more connections within communities.

As for what to do if a community member does suspect someone of being a victim of exploitation or trafficking, Hodge says that the best course of action is to get in contact with law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.

“So, there’s a phone line. There’s a text option. There’s a live chat option. You could email them and they will provide some options, but truly after involving ourselves with the Huntley Police and knowing their heart with the issue, our citizens can call the police, because then we have it on record that there’s a suspicion there and truly, it is so much better to be wrong in our suspicion,” said Hodge. “It is so much better to be suspicious and report it and it be wrong than to be suspicious, not report it, and be right because the police will investigate and if there’s nothing wrong, they will go about that, but they will be intentional in their investigation.”

She continued, “As we do seek to grow and become more involved in our community, McHenry County especially, there is a great need to educate our educators…Again, debunk the myths about trafficking to understand that it’s happening and it’s happening with young people. It’s happening with our students. So, just to put it out there that [we can provide] a presentation with the administration or even the students depending on their age and we can customize a program for that.”

For more information about the Chicagoland area Refuge for Women, visit refugeforwomen.org/chicago/.