Developing a Comprehensive Response to Sex Trafficking Among Child Welfare-Involved Youth

Multiple cases of domestic youth sex trafficking have been reported in all 50 states. There are numerous risk factors associated with youth sex trafficking which include any set of experiences that may lead to increased emotional or physical vulnerability. These experiences include a history of neglect or abuse, low self-esteem, poverty, and foster care placement. In 2014, P.L. 113-183, the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act was implemented to benefit children and youth. Later that same year, the Children’s Bureau awarded grants to nine agencies and organizations around the country “to build a greater awareness and a better response to child trafficking within the child welfare population.” Three of the states which were awarded these grants – Arizona, Maryland, and North Carolina - identified training gaps among child welfare professionals as a problem. As a result, all three states developed multidisciplinary approaches to training in order to improve the identification and protection of children and youth at risk of sex trafficking.

This roundtable will explore the latest data on the overlap between child welfare and youth sex trafficking; and, discuss the need to equip child welfare professionals  with the knowledge and skills necessary to serve this vulnerable population. The federal project officer for this initiative will serve as discussant. Presenters will focus particular attention on the situational and cultural contexts which put children and youth most at risk for trafficking and how prevention and identification of victims can be prioritized so that child welfare systems can improve their response to victims’ needs. One presenter will discuss how it is promoting the use of multi-disciplinary interventions through strong and effective cross-system community partnerships. One presenter will discuss the process for developing a comprehensive, cohesive, and sustainable training plan for child welfare professionals statewide. The third presenter will discuss how workgroups on Prevention, Youth Outreach and Engagement, Screening and Intake, Services and Practices, Funding, and, Data and Evaluation are being used to create an effective response to trafficking.

All three states as evidenced by the presentations aim to ensure that children and youth who have been sex trafficked or are at risk for being trafficked have access to an array of comprehensive, high-quality services, including an effective well-trained child welfare workforce.