What we can do as parents, teachers, and adults to protect our kids: 1.Educate your kids about human trafficking.
That it is here, what it looks like and to talk to you or another
responsible adult if they think they see it. If they are able, have them
read In Our Backyard. It will help them recognize the indicators. 2. Communicate with your kids, and let them talk to you without judgment.They
need to know they are safer with you than anywhere else. One rule we
had with our children was that if they did something wrong and they told
us before we found out, they might have some consequences but their
punishment would be less than if we found out another way.
3. Technology is a big part of how sex trafficking happens with youth.Know your kid’s passwords, know what is on their phone.
A good rule is “as long as you live under our roof, we have access to
passwords, emails, texts, etc.” Your child’s privacy is important but so
is their safety. If you talk to parents whose children have been sex
trafficked, without exception, they will all tell you they wish they had
monitored their computers, cell phone and activities on social media.
4. Technological devices now exist which include: GPS tracking devices
which can be placed on phones, clothes, and in backpacks which help
parents and authorities track your child and find them when they first
go missing. DNA scent kitswhich can be used to help authorities and dogs track a scent trail. 5.Know your kid’s friends.Have
them over to your home. Feed them a pan of brownies, a batch of cookies
and sit down and talk with them. Know where they hang out and what they
are like. 6.Get youth involved in positive things,community groups, sports, music, community service, and church youth groups. Surround them with positive peer pressure.
Gang Involved-Sex Trafficking
Watch this online training to learn how gangs are trafficking women and girls for sex.
Indicators of Human Trafficking in the Lives of Those Around You:
Situation: Teens whose circle of friends change completely and their new friends may have a gangster or provocative look Solution: Know your kid’s friends, don’t be afraid to be the parent and say no.
Situation: Teen receives an offer that
sounds too good to be true — a dream life, fancy cars, fancy clothes,
fast living for seemingly nothing Solution:
Keep in good communication with your children, do things with them to
build relationship and help them understand it’s important to discuss
with you any opportunities such as the one in this situation.
Situation: Kids have increased and unexplained absences from school. Solution:Work
with school to ascertain what is happening and cooperate with the
school so you can find your child immediately in an unexplained absence.
Situation: Kids are bringing home new cell phones as gifts from a new friend. Solution: Find out where the cell phones came from, confiscate them, and contact authorities if necessary.
Situation: Girls, especially teens with a new boyfriend who may be several years older Solution:
Restrict contact with him. If that doesn’t work consider relocating
your child to protect them. (You may contact IN OUR BACKYARD) if you
need information about relocation services.
Situation: Kids/teens come home with unexplained money or gifts. Solution:
Find out where they came from. Bring in outside help from counselors,
relatives or others who can help. Don’t ignore or hide this to save
reputation. Get help!
Situation: New tattoos Solution: Find out who did the tattoo, find out who was with them for the tattoo and what does it mean? Who else has the same tattoo?
Sen. David Farnsworth, R-Mesa. Photo by Gage Skidmore | Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0
A
conservative Republican senator who is convinced that the Arizona
Department of Child Safety is facilitating the global sex trafficking of
children removed from negligent parents called the police on one of his
GOP colleagues, alleging that she threatened his life.
Sen.
David Farnsworth, a Republican from Mesa, filed a report with the
Arizona Department of Public Safety this week accusing Sen. Kate Brophy
McGee, R-Phoenix, of threatening him if he didn’t stop investigating the
outrageous claim. The news was first reported by Yellow Sheet Report, a high-priced insider newsletter aimed at lobbyists and government officials.
Farnsworth told Yellow Sheet
that he has been looking into how DCS “lost” more than 550 children
last year, roughly half of whom are categorized as either runaways or
otherwise missing. The rest appear to be flagged for paperwork errors.
He
said he fears the children have been abducted and sold into a global
sex trafficking ring, and said he has been holding meetings with DCS,
critics of the agency and fellow lawmakers, including Brophy McGee.
Farnsworth acknowledged his beliefs were outlandish, but he said it’s not a conspiracy theory. He told Yellow Sheet
that he didn’t believe DCS officials were actively selling children
into sexual slavery, but that they are being lax at protecting children
from predators who will do so.
While
he said he hopes his meetings ultimately prove him wrong, Farnsworth
said he is more convinced than ever that Arizona children removed from
their parents and put into group homes or foster homes are being
sex-trafficked, even though he told Yellow Sheet he has turned up no evidence.
“When
I first heard about this, I believed that children from Arizona (DCS)
were ending up in sex trafficking. Now, after the research I’ve done,
I’m confident of it,” he told Yellow Sheet. “But I can’t prove it.”
Farnsworth also alleged that two former Republican state senators from other states who were killed within days of each other
earlier this year were “executed” because they were investigating links
between their own states’ child protective agencies and global sex
trafficking rings.
There
is no evidence that either ex-legislator was murdered for that reason.
Linda Collins-Smith, a former senator from Arkansas, was killed by a close friend and former campaign aide. And Jonathan Nichols, a former senator from Oklahoma, died by suicide.
The
dispute between Farnsworth and Brophy McGee stems from what she said
was a conversation in which she told her colleague that both she and her
husband were concerned for her safety after some of Farnsworth’s allies
in the child-sex-ring investigation began harrassing her and spreading
rumors that she and others are involved in illicit child kidnapping schemes.
Brophy McGee told the insider publication that Farnsworth’s compatriots
are “unbalanced” and have forced her to have Senate security guards
escort her to and from meetings about DCS, but Farnsworth has been
unconcerned.
Bur Farnsworth told Yellow Sheet
that, while he initially didn’t take Brophy McGee’s comments seriously,
he decided to file a complaint with DPS because the “best deterrent to a
threat is for more people to be aware of it.”
National organizations that provide information on child and youth
sex trafficking prevention and intervention. If you are aware of any
others, please contact Child Welfare Information Gateway at OrganizationUpdates@childwelfare.gov.
Inclusion on this list is for information purposes and does not
constitute an endorsement by Child Welfare Information Gateway or the
Children's Bureau.
General Scope:
CAST is a coalition of organizations who share a commitment to human
rights and social justice by ending the modern-day slave trade. CAST
partners with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and government
agencies, locally and internationally, to build a powerful movement to
end modern-day slavery. Reaching out to communities where potential
victims of trafficking may reside, CAST offers client services such as
providing survivors with legal representation, social services, and
shelter at no charge to the client, training on identifying potential
trafficking victims, and practitioners’ guides on human rights and
health to inform a variety of audiences.
General Scope:
The Center for Human Trafficking Awareness is a clearinghouse for
training, speakers, publications, and community resources addressing
human trafficking.
Training Specific: The Center provides
in-person training in the Southeastern United States as well as online
resources. The Center partners with the Regional Community Policing
Institute (RCPI) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to provide
tuition-free training. Training offerings include an in-person
introductory 8-hour course for social service providers who may
encounter human trafficking victims, law enforcement that may
investigate the cases, and task force members.
Training Specific:: Human Trafficking Intro for Law Enforcement,
a free online training, provides an overview of the problem of human
trafficking in the United States and the legal framework to help address
it. Training includes web-based multimedia lessons with an audio
presentation track, instructional graphics and text, and learner
interactives. Training audiences include law enforcement and task force
members.
nadid: 26596
Male Survivor (formerly National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization)
General Scope:
Male Survivor is a nonprofit organization committed to the prevention,
treatment, and elimination of all forms of sexual victimization of boys
and men. This is accomplished through public education, advocating
treatment for victims and perpetrators, and offering voice and
experience to those developing prevention programs.
nadid: 26590
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
General Scope:
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides
assistance to parents, children, law enforcement, schools, and the
community in recovering missing children and raising public awareness
about ways to help prevent child abduction, molestation, and sexual
exploitation. The Center sponsors the CyberTipline for online reporting
of the sexual exploitation or molesting of children.
nadid: 11019
National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC) Child Abuse Library Online (CALiO)
General Scope:
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a national, anti-trafficking
hotline and resource center serving victims and survivors of human
trafficking and the anti-trafficking community in the United States. The
toll-free hotline is answered live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365
days a year. Callers can speak with the Hotline in English or Spanish or
in more than 200 additional languages using a 24-hour tele-interpreting
service. The National Hotline is operated by Polaris(opens in new window).
General Scope: The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) is funded through a cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Violence Prevention(opens in new window).
The organization collects information and resources to assist those
working to prevent sexual violence and to improve resources, outreach,
and response strategies. The Center provides access to resources on
reporting and recovery planning, serving child victims of sex
trafficking, and addressing issues for specific populations vulnerable
to sex trafficking, including children in foster care, missing and
exploited children, adolescent boys, and Native women.
General Scope:
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is a component of the Office of
Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The OVC website contains
resources and research from OVC and other Federal Government agencies,
local and national direct assistance information, a map of services and
task forces, and related funding opportunities for victims and survivors
of human trafficking, victim service providers, law enforcement, and
allied professionals. The Child Trafficking and Exploitation site offers resources, forum discussions, and FAQs.
Training Specific:
The OVC Training & Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) provides a
diverse range of specialized training and technical assistance services
related to human trafficking through its in-house subject matter
experts and vetted consultants. Direct technical assistance is provided
on task force formation, organizational structure, promising practices,
revitalization, and other trafficking topics. In-person training and
technical assistance, including distance consultation, tailored to
requester’s needs, is available at no cost through OVC TTAC’s
Customized Training and Technical Assistance Program. Any professional
who encounters victims of human trafficking is eligible to request
victim-centered training on human trafficking. OVC TTAC also can review
protocols, training materials, and documents. Training audiences include
attorneys, judges, law enforcement, prosecutors, social service
providers, task force members, and allied professionals.
General Scope:
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is committed to
preventing human trafficking and ensuring that victims of all forms of
human trafficking have access to the services they need. The site offers
Blog posts, a Featured Resource, the opportunity to report a tip or
request services, and visitors can subscribe to Human Trafficking’s
Email and News Alerts.
Training Specific: A Resources
section offers a list of organizations that provide training and
technical assistance to build the capacity of service providers and
communities to respond to human trafficking as it intersects with
multiple systems. A short synopsis and contact information on each is
provided. Training audiences include youth-serving organizations,
government agency service providers, and communities who respond to
human trafficking.
General Scope:
Polaris is a nonprofit organization that operates the National Human
Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC), hosts the national hotline on human
trafficking, and engages community members in local and national
grassroots efforts. The organization’s work ranges from working with
government leaders to protect victims’ rights to offering direct
outreach and services to victims. The organization provides information
on human trafficking, including information on special populations such
as youth involved in child welfare and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) youth.
Training Specific:
Through the National Training and Technical Assistance Program, the
Polaris Project works to ensure the implementation and
institutionalization of anti-trafficking efforts and enhance community
networking, coordination, and response. The Project offers in-person and
online training as well as training of trainers, develops specialized
curricula, offers consultation and technical assistance, and assists
task forces, coalitions, and advocates with capacity building and
sustainability. This includes providing information on Federal and State
laws, promising practices, victim identification and assessment, and
human trafficking trends. Training audiences include attorneys, judges,
law enforcement, prosecutors, social service providers, task force
members, and allied professionals.
General Scope:
Project REACH provides consultation and brief mental health services to
trafficking victims throughout the United States. Project REACH
provides case consultation to local health providers regarding
individuals who have been trafficked, offering expertise on trauma and
mental health to local providers.
Training Specific:
Project REACH offers in-person training and distance consultation about
trafficking and trauma. Project REACH works to train local service
providers, including first responders and law enforcement, who will be
working with specific trafficking victims about relevant issues,
including information on trafficking, the psychological effects of
trauma, working with trafficking survivors (such as interviewing
techniques), and culturally appropriate, trauma-informed interventions
with survivors of trafficking.
General Scope:
Shared Hope International is an international organization that brings
together a network of committed professionals to prevent the conditions
that promote sex trafficking, restore the lives of victims of sex
slavery, and obtain justice for survivors. In addition, this
organization seeks to inspire change through trafficking awareness
campaigns and a broad range of advocacy efforts aimed at strengthening
State and Federal legislative responses to sex trafficking.
Training Specific:
Shared Hope International provides various training programs and
resources designed to improve the identification of victims of sex
trafficking and enhance agency management of these cases. Customized
training is also available and designed to meet the needs of a variety
of audiences that may come in contact with victims of domestic sex
trafficking.
nadid: 26735
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops/Migration and Refugee Services/Anti-Trafficking Program
Training Specific:
The training, Collaboration and Task Force Building to Combat Human
Trafficking in Your Community, focuses on collaboration between law
enforcement and social service providers; resource mapping and
developing a community network of services for victims;
multidisciplinary approaches to case management; no duplication of
services; grassroots organizing; outreach and communication strategies;
and advocacy. Training is usually offered at no cost in an in-person
format or by live webinar. Training audiences include advocates,
attorneys, government officials, law enforcement, social service
providers, task force members, and allied professionals
Training Specific:
Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
and the Office of Victims of Crime, the Institute offers free online and
classroom anti-trafficking training, including Advanced Human
Trafficking Investigation Training and Human Trafficking in Indian
Country-Tribal Youth Prevention Curriculum. The online course,
Introduction to Human Trafficking Awareness Training, provides an
overview of the problem of human trafficking in the United States and
the legal framework to help address it. Training audiences include law
enforcement, task force members, and adults who serve Tribal youth.
General Scope:
The mission of the Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) program is to
provide a rapid, proactive, and comprehensive capacity to counter all
threats of abuse and exploitation of children when those crimes fall
under the jurisdiction and authority of the FBI; to identify and rescue
child victims; to reduce the vulnerability of children to in-person and
online sexual exploitation and abuse; to reduce the negative impact of
domestic and international parental rights disputes; and to strengthen
the capabilities of the FBI and federal, state, local, tribal, and
international partners through training, intelligence sharing, technical
support, and investigative assistance.
1. Educate your kids about human trafficking.
That it is here, what it looks like and to talk to you or another
responsible adult if they think they see it. If they are able, have them
read In Our Backyard. It will help them recognize the indicators.
