January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, share knowledge, and strengthen community responses to trafficking. Throughout the month, The Retreat played an active role in local education and prevention efforts by participating in key discussions and professional gatherings focused on understanding, identifying, and responding to human trafficking on Long Island.

DEAN’S HOUR: SEX TRAFFICKING ON LONG ISLAND

On January 29, The Retreat’s Executive Director, Cate Carbonaro, joined a panel discussion titled “Dean’s Hour: Sex Trafficking on Long Island,” hosted in partnership with the Nassau County Bar Association (NCBA) Diversity and Inclusion Committee. The panel explored the causes and local impact of human trafficking, outlined the jurisdiction and procedures of the Nassau County Human Trafficking Intervention Court, and highlighted resources available to support survivors.

A key focus of the discussion was helping attendees recognize warning signs of human trafficking within their own communities, reinforcing the importance of early identification and informed response.

“Human trafficking harms children in our neighborhoods and limits the possibilities for people we know, love, and interact with every day,” said Ms. Carbonaro, who previously worked as a public defender for domestic violence and human trafficking survivors. “The Retreat is committed to working with partners across Long Island to bring this issue to light and provide the life-changing services needed to support those affected. We want people to know there is a way out.”

Additional guest speakers included: Hon. Maxine S. Broderick, Acting County Court Judge, Human Trafficking Intervention Court; Christine N. Guida, Deputy Bureau Chief, Special Victims Bureau, and Attorney in Charge of Human Trafficking, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office; and Rosemary A. Walker, MPS, Project Director, Problem Solving Courts, Nassau County District Courts.

SHINING A LIGHT ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE

On January 16, counselors from The Retreat were featured presenters at EAC Network’s 4th Annual Shining a Light on Human Trafficking Conference in Hauppauge. Hosted by EAC Network’s Safe Harbour Program in partnership with Nassau and Suffolk County counterparts, the conference brought together professionals from across systems to strengthen collaboration, share best practices, and advance prevention efforts.

Retreat counselors Amanda, April, and Cristina shared their clinical expertise and frontline experience working with trafficking survivors and at-risk youth.

Amanda, a licensed social worker, led a session on trauma and neurobiology, encouraging attendees to look beyond labels and examine the early factors that often precede a runaway episode. Participants identified domestic violence, neglect, and lack of stable attachment as critical influences.

Amanda highlighted how exploitation can teach internalized survival rules, including the dangerous notion that a person’s body can become currency. She described trauma’s impact on the brain, explaining how the hippocampus, responsible for memory processing, can become fragmented, while the prefrontal cortex and amygdala may be impaired—affecting emotional regulation, judgment, and stress responses. She also introduced survival responses commonly observed in trafficking, such as “fawning,” in which individuals abandon boundaries to reduce danger, and “collapse,” a shutdown response aimed at survival.

April, a senior clinician at The Retreat, emphasized the importance of thoughtful response and reunification strategies, noting, “We want to really be mindful of parent response and provider support, because it really directly influences the safety process.”

ADDRESSING A LOCAL CRISIS

Human trafficking remains a hidden crisis on Long Island, with profound impacts on youth and families. The U.S. Department of Justice lists Long Island as one of the top 20 human trafficking “hot spot” locations in the country, underscoring the urgency of coordinated prevention and intervention efforts.

The Retreat extends its sincere gratitude to EAC Network, the Nassau County Bar Association, and all participating organizations and professionals for fostering knowledge, connection, and collective action toward protecting youth and supporting survivors.

Together, through awareness, education, and collaboration, we can continue building safer communities and pathways to healing.