JACKSON TWP — About 100 people attended a public forum Wednesday night at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School, where human trafficking fighter Opal Singleton offered a presentation.

“Every year, we try to bring in a series of speakers that address this,” said Linda Andreassi, Seneca Valley communications director.

As a mother, Andreassi said it's important to be aware of evolutions in human trafficking. It's also important to be aware as a community.

“At times, I'm wearing several hats,” Andreassi said. “It's important to stay on top of it.”

Education is a key part in identifying and fighting trafficking, according to Andreassi. The district is a key resource for distributing that knowledge.

But from the district's perspective, the fight against trafficking is not the job of any one person or organization. It requires action on the parts of parents, teachers, administrators and communities.

Seneca Valley Supervisor of Safety and Security Jeff James is a former Secret Service liason to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. There was an overarching theme in the cases in which James was involved.

“There was a lack of parental oversight,” James said. “Parental oversight is incredibly important.”

Learning how to recognize traffickers and victims isn't restricted to any one group. Anybody can — and should — learn how to fight trafficking, he said.

“Anybody who's dealing with kids (should know),” James said. “Kids are actually being recruited for this lifestyle.”

Andreassi stressed the importance of a group effort.

“We have to do it together,” Andreassi said. “I think that this is a partnership.”

Parents are perhaps the most important line of defense, according to Singleton.

“You're half the problem,” Singleton said. “We have to educate parents.”

“You think, 'That will never happen in your house,'” said Stacy Snyder, whose son attends high school at Seneca Valley. “It's kind of scary.”

Snyder attended the forum with her sister, Tanya Sharrar, and Tanya's friend, Stephanie Martin. The trio said the event was intense, but eye-opening. They said they will be taking steps to protect the children in their own lives.

“I'm going to call my brother and talk to him about my niece and my nephew,” Martin said.

“I believe that men are the key to combating human trafficking,” Singleton said.

Singleton said girls — and boys — with healthy male role models in their lives are better prepared for avoiding traffickers. Encouragement and empowerment go a long way toward keeping children off the streets, Singleton believes.

Sharrar said having compassion for kids who are in trouble instead of being harsh also is important. As a mother, Sharrar said Singleton's presentation touched her.

“It's here,” Sharrar said. “It's right here.”

James said when he interviewed child traffickers, several of them told him the same thing. If the trafficker was grooming a child via social media and the child suggests his or her parents controlled technology, the trafficker would stop trying to lure the child.

Most traffickers use social media platforms and apps to connect with children. They particularly target marginalized or insecure kids.

“All a pedophile has to do is sign up and wait,” Singleton said.

Singleton said she's often asked what phone apps are the most dangerous.

All apps are equally dangerous, Singleton said, if a person chooses to misuse them. She suggested parents know what their kids are using and talk to them about safe use.

James is more direct: Knowing your child's social media password is not as offensive as exposing them to traffickers.