By Chitara Ellis, Contributing Writer/Editor

Why should schools be involved in helping exploited children? Since the average victim comes from an unstable home environment, schools step in as the stable environments victims need to feel safe, while also being the intercessors between victims and local and federal authorities that offer help. But before schools can set themselves up in such a position, they need to know what kind of help is available and how to identify suspected victims. 

A 2015 report made for the U.S. Department of Education in collaboration with American Institutes for Research explains the relationship between America’s K–12 schools and human trafficking. The report serves as a guide in helping educators and their communities identify and support victims and protect children from being exploited by predators.

The guide encourages educators and community members to not be judgmental toward young trafficking victims and to look out for behavioral and physical signs of abuse such as truancy, frequent travel, inappropriate clothing for the season, tattoos (branding), sudden changes in appearance and material possessions, and unexplained injuries. Those who take note of these signs should be aware that—although any child can become a victim—children who are experiencing abuse at home, homelessness, substance abuse, poverty or social isolation are more likely to be victimized. The report states that “between 33% and 90% of victims of commercial child sexual exploitation have experienced childhood sexual abuse, chronic maltreatment and neglect, and otherwise unstable home environments.” 

Educators and community members do not have to combat human trafficking alone. Several federal departments and agencies are available to help direct school systems in promoting awareness and creating system-wide policies and protocols for suspected trafficking victims. The Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice and Department of Labor are just a few of the many government organizations that take a victim-centered, integrated approach in helping victims. Their strategy is known as the 3 P’s: prosecution, protection and prevention.

Page 14 of the report offers three sample protocols school districts can implement in identifying and supporting young victims of human trafficking. Taking a victim-centered approach, each protocol is based on the status of the victim: 1) suspected recruitment or actual exploitation by student, 2) suspected victim of commercial sexual exploitation of children and 3) confirmed victim of commercial sexual exploitation of children. The examples show that helping victims is a collective effort that involves government services as well as families (when available) and school staff.

This report only offers a general overview of steps schools can take to protect students. It’s up to the schools and their community members, including neighbors, families, religious organizations and local social services and authorities, to figure out what specific course of actions are needed for victims in their districts; a one-size-fits-all approach would not be efficient. To read more about this issue and learn how you can help abolish child sex trafficking, sign up for our newsletter in the website footer below.