“That campaign was initially startling but the starkness and reality of it really hit home,” Webber said. “If we do that here and put a face to these missing women and these missing Indian people, we get a better understanding of what’s really going on here,'' which will help.

Montana’s human trafficking efforts have been recognized nationally. Earlier this month, Shared Hope International gave Montana an A for its efforts to prevent child sex trafficking. The state is one of two that raised its grade four levels, from an F, since 2011. Much of that comes from the 2015 legislation that greatly increased awareness of the issue and created a victim-centered approach.

Fox said for too long human trafficking was talked about in terms of pimps, prostitutes and johns and all three parties were engaged in criminal activity. In reality, he said, sex trafficking has one victim and two criminals, the perpetrator engaged in trafficking a person and the person seeking out those services.