Preventing Sex Trafficking in Schools

This course provides you with important information on how to identify and prevent sex trafficking among students that you work with throughout the school day.  You will learn the signs of sex trafficking and how to properly report to the authorities to protect the child while not tipping off the offender.

The Boys and Girls Club of America states that:

Young people today in our society face an onslaught on safety issues, but one of the most horrific is the issue of sex trafficking of children. A staggering estimated 240,000 to 325,000 children are at risk of being victimized each year.

Offenders are skilled manipulators, first gaining the trust of adults around the child, says Jerome Elam, president and CEO of Trafficking in America Task Force and a survivor of child sex trafficking. Once the situation escalates into sexual abuse, they manipulate the victim into thinking it’s their fault, resulting in the child becoming incredibly ashamed, fearful and overwhelmed with the guilt of what happened.

Any child can become a trafficking victim, but research has shown that children with increased vulnerabilities are more often targeted according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Some high-risk groups include: children who are chronically missing or frequently run away; children who have experienced child sexual abuse; children who live with someone with significant substance abuse issues; and children who identify as LBTBQ and have been disowned or stigmatized by their family.

Many traffickers use websites with chat and messaging features, like Snapchat and online gaming platforms, to prey on young people and lure them into meeting in person.