North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp and representatives from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) spoke at a panel on child trafficking October 20, 2017, in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

“I think it is critically important that this not just be a social worker's problem, a cop's problem, a legislator's problem; that this be all of our problem because these are all of our kids,” said Heitkamp.

NCMEC received reports of 113 children missing in North Dakota during the last three years. NCMEC said the average age of a trafficking victim is 15 and there has been an increase in the number of male trafficking victims.

The panel suggested more training for social workers and nurses and more legislation to stop websites known for sex trafficking.

Tribal officials and AMBER Alert partners will gather for a child protection symposium on June 1-2, 2017, in Bismarck, North Dakota, to share ideas on helping children in Indian Country. The symposium will include presentations on child exploitation, human trafficking, and endangered and abducted children. Presentations will address the latest tools and technologies to support AMBER Alert programs and ways to promote long-term solutions for public safety in Tribal communities. Speakers will include Human Trafficking Victim Advocate Cindy McCain, North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp, and a child sex trafficking survivor.