Safe Harbour in Poughkeepsie is a program that provides residential care for children in need who are in the foster care system.

"Many of the youth in our program have experienced exploitation in human trafficking or are at a high risk of it," said Lori Stella, program director of Poughkeepsie Safe Harbour Children's Home.

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Stella says many people don't realize it's happening everywhere, including the Hudson Valley.

"Most people think it happens in other countries, you could be born in Poughkeepsie raised in Poughkeepsie and trafficked in Poughkeepsie," Stella said.

Stella says it's important to end the myths around human trafficking and raise awareness so community members are able to spot it. 

"Most people think of the movie 'Taken' where you know somebody is kidnapped and thrown in the back of a van or chained to the basement and that's not really not the case," Stella said.

One out of every seven endangered runaways reported to the National Center of missing and exploited children are most likely sex trafficking victims.

"And why is that? Because someone will offer them a place to stay in exchange for a sexual favor," Stella said.

Safe Harbour has education programs for community members and even children so someone can spot a victim when they see one. Every county in the state has a safe harbour coordinator; for more information, reach out to your local chapter.