Sex Trafficking Awareness
Identifying the Unseen - Sex Trafficking Awareness
Virtual via Zoom
Fee: $10 full members; $25 partial members and nonmembers
Continuing Education Hours: 2.0
Course Description
Sex trafficking is widely talked about — but rarely understood.
This presentation goes beyond headlines and myths to examine how trafficking actually happens, why victims often don’t self-identify, and what makes this crime so difficult to detect and prosecute.
Drawing from real investigative experience, this session breaks down the psychology of grooming, the vulnerabilities traffickers target, and the demand dynamics that quietly sustain exploitation. Attendees gain a clear, realistic understanding of how recruitment, control, and manipulation unfold in real life — not in movies or social media narratives.
Rather than fear-based messaging, this training equips participants with informed awareness: how to recognize concerning patterns, how to respond without causing harm, and how early understanding can interrupt exploitation before it escalates.
This is not just an awareness session — it’s an inside look at the realities of trafficking and the role informed communities play in prevention and accountability.
Participants leave with a deeper understanding of the crime, greater confidence in recognizing red flags, and practical knowledge that can make a real difference.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will learn how to recognize credible indicators of sex trafficking and grooming, understanding the behavioral patterns and contextual clues that often appear before exploitation is obvious.
- Participants will understand how to respond to concerns appropriately — including when and how to report suspicions — while avoiding common mistakes that can endanger victims or compromise investigations.
- Participants will gain insight into how traffickers recruit, groom, and control victims, and why victims may not seek help or immediately leave exploitative situations. This understanding reduces harmful misconceptions and supports victim-centered awareness.
About the Trainer
Heidi Chance
Heidi Chance is a distinguished law enforcement professional with over 27 years of dedicated service, widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading subject matter experts in sex trafficking, undercover operations, and online safety. Throughout her career, she has been at the forefront of combating sex trafficking, bringing real truths, lived undercover experiences, and powerful case studies into every training, keynote presentation, and coaching session she delivers.As a highly sought-after national speaker, Heidi presents on critical topics including Sex Trafficking Awareness & Prevention, Modern Day Situational Awareness, and Digital Literacy & Online Safety for Parents. Her work empowers communities, organizations, and law enforcement with the knowledge and tools they need to prevent victimization and recognize evolving threats in today’s digital and physical environments.
Her expertise has been featured in the PBS Frontline documentary “Sex Trafficking in America,” and she serves as an Executive Contributor for BRAINZ Magazine, authoring multiple articles on human trafficking and online exploitation. Heidi is frequently called upon as an Expert Witness in trafficking trials across the country.
During her tenure in law enforcement, Heidi led a meticulous investigation that resulted in a trafficker being convicted on 101 counts—including child sex trafficking, dangerous crimes against children, and aggravated assault. The trafficker received a historic 493.5-year sentence, bringing long-awaited justice to seven child victims and marking one of the largest sentences of its kind.
Heidi’s commitment to education and awareness extends far beyond the courtroom. Through her company, A Chance for Awareness, she provides in-person training, online courses, webinars, and keynote programs designed for diverse audiences—from parents and educators to corporate professionals and law enforcement agencies. Her mission: to create a well-informed, highly prepared community that can identify, prevent, and respond to exploitation in all its forms.
She is also the author of the book “Talk to Them: Navigating Difficult Conversations with Youth in the Digital Age,” now available in both English and Spanish. The book is a critical resource for parents, caregivers, and mentors seeking to protect children online by understanding digital risks, grooming behaviors, social media trends, and how predators exploit technology. Drawing from her decades of investigative experience, Heidi equips adults with practical, impactful strategies to guide and protect the youth in their lives.
Heidi Chance is not only a leading voice in the fight against trafficking—she is a driving force for change, empowering others to take action and helping to build a united front focused on safeguarding the most vulnerable in today’s world.