Some Things Are Hidden in Plain Sight
Some struggles are visible. Others move quietly enough that they go unnoticed, even in places where people believe they would see them.
Human trafficking is often one of those.
It does not always look the way people expect. It does not always involve strangers or unfamiliar places. In many cases, it exists within the same communities people move through every day, without being named for what it is.
At the 2026 Summit on Behavioral Health in Energy Country, we will hear from Stacey Schaffer, founder of 31:8 Project, whose work is centered on helping communities recognize what is often missed.
Her work is grounded in a simple reality. People cannot respond to what they do not understand.
In rural communities, there is often a quiet confidence that something this serious would be obvious. That someone would notice. That it would not go unchecked. But exploitation does not always disrupt the surface. It often blends into it.
People who are being trafficked may still go to work. They may still attend school. They may interact with providers, neighbors, and community members who do not realize what they are seeing.
That is where this conversation becomes necessary.
Because the impact shows up, even when the cause is not recognized. It shows up in trauma that does not have clear language. In behaviors that seem confusing or inconsistent. In individuals who are navigating fear, control, and survival while trying to function in everyday life.
Without context, it is easy to misunderstand those moments. To look past them. To respond in ways that miss what is actually happening.
Stacey’s work brings clarity to that space.
Not by asking people to become experts, but by helping them recognize patterns they may have already encountered. What to look for. How trauma can shape behavior. How to respond in a way that does not cause further harm.
She often says that no one person can do everything, but everyone can do something. In this work, that “something” often begins with awareness that feels close enough to act on.
Because once something is recognized, the response changes.
And in some cases, that response can interrupt a cycle that would have otherwise continued unseen.
If you have ever assumed this issue does not touch your community, or wondered how people in everyday roles can make a difference, this is a conversation worth being in.
Join us at the 2026 Summit on Behavioral Health in Energy Country. Secure your ticket, explore sponsorship opportunities, or reserve an exhibitor booth to be part of the work shaping how our communities respond.
Learn more and get involved:
https://www.visionwestnd.com/summit