HUMAN TRAFFICKERS: ARE THEY RECRUITING AT YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL?

This is a follow-up to my blog post below: HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN AMERICA.

Since I'm studying to be a special education teacher, I visit the US Department of Education website quite often. Earlier this week, I came across this disturbing article: HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES: A FACT SHEET FOR SCHOOLS.

Apparently, it is a common practice for pimps to recruit trafficking victims from middle schools and high schools. (Any victim under the age of 18 used in a commercial sex act is considered a trafficking victim even if they are not taken across the state line.) Because this practice has become so common, the US Department of Education has created this fact sheet so teachers and other school officials can recognize the signs of a child engaged in commercial sex acts.

Pimps do not target just one group of students. These students can be male or female, any race, and may be as young as 12 years old. "These pimps have been reported targeting their minor victims through telephone chat-lines, clubs, on the street, through friends, and at malls, as well as using girls to recruit other girls at schools and after-school programs.‪" (U.S. Dept of Education)

*HOW TO IDENTIFY A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING:

• The student has unexplained absences from school for long periods of time.
• The student chronically runs away from home.
• The student makes references to frequent travel to other cities.
• The student exhibits bruises or other physical trauma, acts withdrawn, depressed or fearful.
• He/she lacks control over his/her schedule or identification documents.
• The student comes to school hungry and malnourished or inappropriately dressed based on weather conditions.
• The student shows signs of drug addiction.
• The student demonstrates a sudden change in attire, behavior or material possessions (suddenly has expensive items).
• The student makes references to sexual situations that are beyond their age specific norms.
• The student has a "boyfriend" who is noticeably older (10+ years).
• The student makes references to terminology of the commercial sex industry that are beyond age specific norms, engages in promiscuous behavior, and may be labeled "fast" or "easy" by peers.

*It is important to note that this list is not comprehensive of all signs of human trafficking, nor are all students who exhibit these signs most certainly trafficking victims. The list is meant to be a guide to help determine if further action is appropriate. (U.S. Department of Education website)I don't know how everyone else feels, but this is getting too close for comfort. To think these pimps could be watching our children while they are at school is such a scary thought. Schools and parents need to team together to help keep an eye on our children. Remember, it is said "it takes a village to raise a child". One of the best ways to help combat human trafficking is to raise awareness and learn more about how to identify victims. Information on human trafficking can be found on the following Web sites:

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  U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
  http://www.state.gov/g/tip
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  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Campaign to Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/index.html
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  http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/ceos/trafficking.html
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  Federal Bureau of Investigation, Investigative Programs, Crimes Against Children http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/cac/crimesmain.htm
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  National Center for Missing and Exploited Children http://www.ncmec.org/
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  Polaris Project http:// http://www.polarisproject.org/