“The level of coercion, ma- nipulation and threats they’ve experienced or are experiencing makes it diffi- cult to share this has hap- pened to them.” Other times local agen-


cies, such as Baxter County Department of Human Ser- vices or Juvenile Services, re- fer children to Into the Light because they are high-risk and are displaying risky be- haviors. In some cases, sex trafficking hasn’t happened and can be prevented, but in other cases, it has. Most commonly, a child


enters sex trafficking be- tween the ages of 14-16, ac- cording to Shared Hope In- ternational, an organization that fights sex trafficking na- tionally and internationally. “If there’s not interven-


tion, often times they go to a life of being prostituted,” Smeltzer said. In Arkansas, the first and subsequent offenses for so- liciting a prostitute are mis- demeanors, according to state law. “If there wasn’t a demand,


traffickers would not sell peo- ple,” Smeltzer said. “It would not exist if our culture as a whole rises up and says, ‘We’re not OK with this any- more.’”


Teens in need Into the Light began when


a group of local people with a similar calling to help under- age sex trafficking survivors


Help fight trafficking


To learn about becoming a volunteer, email Michele@intothe- lightus.org, call the office at (870) 470-9001, visit the group’s Facebook pages Into the Light or Into the Light NWA, or visit the website www.intothelightus.org. Those who are in a dan- gerous situation involving trafficking should call 911. The national human trafficking hotline is (888) 373-7888.


started looking at the issue. Several years ago, found-


ing board members Nicole and Chris Carter began to see the needs of local teenagers. About six years ago, Nicole


Carter was in the hospital for a health concern at the time, and she remembers they were so consumed with themselves they missed an opportunity to minister to a woman in their room who was given a terminal diagno- sis.


After this, Carter was driv-


ing by The Salvation Army in Mountain Home and spotted two teenagers. She felt she was to stop, but drove by. As she turned her vehicle around, she resolved to stop if they were still there. It turned out the two 18-year- olds, a boy and girl, were homeless and needed a place to stay. They ended up living with the Carters for a couple of months, and the couple began helping other teen- agers who were in need of a safe place to stay. “Getting to know the kids


and living with them, know- ing what their lives were like, we could understand the bro- kenness and need for ser-


Honoring the women of our compassionate care team of staff and volunteers. We celebrate your passion, dedication and professionalism. Our heartfelt thank you for all you do!


vices,” Nicole Carter said. “Each one of these kids was abused in different ways. They were at risk for sex traf- ficking.” Around the same time, the


Carters met Gretchen Smeltzer, and they knew they had to help. Meetings took place in the Carters’ home and they began raising sup- port for the organization. Into the Light functioned


as a community organization about a year and a half before it gained nonprofit status. Volunteers hosted communi- ty awareness events, such as a dinner and a 5K. At first,


they looked to provide resi- dential services to sex-traf- ficking survivors, but it wasn’t the right time. In- stead, they began to focus on a way for underage survivors to be identified.


Future vision Into the Light hopes one


day it will be able cover the entire state of Arkansas, be- cause minors placed in the state’s system can be moved to facilities outside the court’s 14th Judicial District, based on their needs. The organization would


like to hire more advocates to help survivors who may be placed in other parts of the state. For instance, this sum- mer, two minors in the care of Baxter County were placed in central Arkansas, which re- quired advocates spending six hours of driving time to meet with them. An advocate


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