NELSONVILLE, Ohio — Christi Scott Bartman, educator and founder of Eyes Up Appalachia, is a voice for 32 counties in rural Ohio, representing victims of trafficking.

“It hasn't been reported as much, but it's there and it may be worse than ever because it's not being seen,” said Bartman about human trafficking during the pandemic. 

Eyes of Appalachia is an anti-human trafficking organization that represents 32 counties in Ohio. 

“It was basically an effort that grew out of what I had seen over the last decade or so, working with human trafficking throughout Ohio — law, legislation, helping put on some human trafficking at the Statehouse for Sen. Fedor and seeing the need,” said Bartman. 

Human trafficking is defined as compelling someone to engage in a commercial sex act, labor, or service through the use of force, fraud or coercion. 

Bartman said southeast Ohio is where she's focused her initial efforts. 

“What I'm finding down there and we're seeing more of it is the familial trafficking, so parents trafficking kids in exchange for drugs, rent, fixing a car. We're exploring that and trying to understand it so we can better work to interdict and prevent,” said Bartman. 

Bartman said some other tell-tale signs of trafficking victims include anxiety, fear, isolation, even receiving expensive clothes or gadgets as gifts. 

Bartman is also gathering data to better examine the scope of the problem in Ohio. 

And while she said it's gut-wrenching hearing some of the victims' stories, Bartman is inspired by their courage. 

“It never ceases to amaze me the strength that the survivors that I work with and speak with demonstrate, and their desire really to give back to these communities and help others. There's a lot of work to do in Ohio first, and that's really kind of the focus; definitely for the next few years,” said Bartman. 

For more information about Eyes Up Appalachia, click here.