The David Lawrence Center honored the Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s Human Trafficking Unit during the annual Recovery Month awards ceremony Thursday, September 24. The DLC recognized Detective Andy Henchesmoore and Victim Advocate Marisol Schloendorn, who make up the human trafficking unit, for their involvement in community outreach and referral. Detective Henchesmoore and VA Schloendorn rallied together local service providers and citizens to form the Collier County Coalition Against Human Trafficking _ the first in the country. The goal of the coalition is to educate the public about the local human trafficking epidemic and eliminate forced servitude and commercial sexual exploitation in Southwest Florida. “Through their efforts, they are helping victims of human trafficking access trauma services, mental health care and substance abuse treatment as well as putting their captors behind bars,” the DLC said in a news release announcing the award. The DLC is a nonprofit mental health and substance abuse treatment facility serving children, adults and families in Collier County. DLC joins other voices of recovery from across the nation in observing the 26th annual national Recovery Month. The event is held in September to help increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance abuse disorder. It also helps to promote the message that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective and people recover. Thursday’s ceremony at the New Hope Community Center, 7676 Davis Blvd., East Naples, recognized individuals and organizations in Collier County for their outstanding contributions to support those in recovery. Collier County Public Schools, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, The Rev. Tommy Sloan of St. Matthew’s House, and George Callahan were also honored at the ceremony,