By Reetika Gupta, Contributing Writer
Let’s be honest. Whenever we hear the word trafficking, we immediately think about third-world countries where women and children are forced to be sold by pimps for sex to wealthy patrons. Well, did you know the problem finds its grips right here in the U.S.? Even more astonishing is that trafficking as a common problem particularly in large cities such as New York City. Furthermore, foster children are a vulnerable group who are an easy prey to these traffickers.
Historically, reports suggest that most children who are involved in sex trafficking are either currently in foster care or have been involved with the child welfare system in the past.
Quick Facts
In 2013, the FBI conducted raids in 70 cities and found that 60% of the child sex trafficking victims recovered were from foster care.
In 2012, Connecticut reported that out of 88 child victims of sex trafficking, 86 were in foster care or residential placement.
In 2007, New York City identified 2,250 child victims of trafficking, of which 75% had some contact with the child welfare system.
You may be wondering why this is. Truthfully, there are a number of factors that make children in foster care more vulnerable to human trafficking. Predators typically prey on those who are isolated and have a history of abuse. Foster children who have already experienced sexual, physical and/or mental abuse prior to entering the system fits that description well. Kristina Fitz, a trafficking survivor who works as a case manager with the Children’s Law Center says, “Kids in foster care don’t really have parents or certain individuals or a caring safe adult that they can go to or that they can confide in. They’re the quickest ones to fall into the hands of an exploiter. They talk about being friends with a friend of a friend of a friend. Many still get recruited by face-to-face meetings, but it’s a real mix of the two.”
Traffickers invest their time and money on their potential victim to make them feel loved, valued and special—a process called grooming. Vulnerable youth attach themselves to those who give them positive attention. Traffickers recreate a sense of belonging that provides vulnerable youths a security blanket that they may not experience elsewhere.
Effects on Rescued Children
The National Research Council says that sex trafficking has severe and long-lasting impacts on vulnerable children and youth. Their health is impacted from injuries, unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Furthermore, their mental health suffers due to depression, substance abuse, self-destructive behavior and suicidal tendencies.
There are a lot of social impacts too. Education is affected, and they tend to miss out on good job opportunities that may help them build a more stable life.
Psychological effects can include the fear of being emotionally intimate with someone and the fear of being different or weird. Years of abuse may lead survivors to avoid others, believing they are worthless with nothing to offer, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
What Can We Do?
Ignorance is not always bliss. We must educate ourselves on the signs of children who may be stuck in human trafficking situations and adults who may be attempting to prey on vulnerable kids. It is extremely important that we contact local authorities and seek professional counseling for help if we suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking
Sadly, the foster care system has led too many children into a life of exploitation and prostitution. With increased knowledge, we all can come together and address risk factors and reduce risk of trafficking for children in foster care.
Resources and Further Reading
https://nfyi.org/issues/sex-trafficking/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/stopping-the-foster-care-_b_4170483
https://www.casey.org/media/child-sex-trafficking.pdf
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/report_congress_child_trafficking.pdf
https://engagetogether.com/2018/04/29/5-reasons-foster-youth-become-human-trafficking-victims/
https://humantraffickingsearch.org/us-foster-care-system-a-breeding-ground-for-human-trafficking/
https://humantraffickingsearch.org/foster-care-and-human-trafficking-nexus/