Houston Republic

Courtney Litvak, a Katy resident, was appointed to President Donald Trump’s U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking after Ivanka Trump nominated her, and she accepted the position. 

Litvak will serve on the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking for two years, according to the White House website.

She and her mother, Kelly Litvak, started the organization ChildProof America. It works to fight human trafficking by educating families. A former victim of human trafficking, Litvak first was exposed to it as a student at Cinco Ranch High School.

After starting to use substances such as drugs and alcohol in high school, human traffickers contacted her through her fellow students. She was then transported across the country to be exploited.

Her family worked to get her home with the help of Rep. Michael McCaul.

“People need to understand that human trafficking is not just occurring overseas in a third world country, it is happening right in our backyards, in our suburban communities,” said Congressman McCaul, according to Covering Katy.

Litvak was present when Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 31 to help combat human trafficking human and online child exploitation. It also makes it easier for those who are involved to report it to authorities. 

“I was looking at being a completely transformed person from whom I was a year ago to standing on stage, being acknowledged by the president himself, and have him sign an executive order to help people who are lost like I once was lost,” said Litvak, according to Chron.

Litvak said that this position will allow her to reach more people with her ChildProof America organization.

A study performed by University of Texas said close to 300,000 people were directly impacted by human trafficking in the state.