Goal: The main goal of the campaign is to inform the public that sex trafficking of Wisconsin youth under the age of 18 is an issue in urban, rural, suburban, and tribal communities throughout the state.

Overview: JSI is working with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families to develop a high-impact awareness campaign to inform the public that sex trafficking of WI youth under the age of 18 is an issue in urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout the state. The three sub-goals of the campaign are to: 1) bring awareness to the indicators that a youth is being sex trafficked or may be at risk of being sex trafficked; 2) disseminate information about the risk factors that may make youth more vulnerable to being trafficked for sex, 3) implement an effective statewide campaign that reduces demand for and prevents sex trafficking of youth in Wisconsin. JSI created the “WI, We Need to Talk” campaign to raise awareness of and prevent youth sex trafficking. The campaign has a positive focus and includes using trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and youth-centered solutions. The campaign raises awareness of the indicators that a youth is being sex trafficked (or may be at risk) and highlights the risk factors that may make youth more vulnerable to being trafficked. The campaign launched in June 2018 and ran through August 2018.

https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/wisconsintalks

Results: The “WI, We Need to Talk” campaign launched statewide in June 2018. There were over 11,500 website views in the first 50 days of the campaign. A final evaluation will completed in the Fall of 2018. The campaign was featured in an interview on Fox News with Dr. Joy Ippolito, Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator, WI Department of Children and Families, as well as many other television, radio and news outlets. JSI will implement a Phase II campaign in 2018-2019 to reach adults who work with youth in Wisconsin.

The campaign won a Bronze Award in the 2019 NPHIC Berreth Awards for Excellence in Public Health Communication.

Dates: 2017 – 2018