Preventing and Identifying the Trafficking of School-age Youth
https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/human-trafficking-americas-schools
WHAT IS GOING ON?
Human trafficking is the fastest growing crime in the world and, in the U.S., traffickers simply cannot keep up with the high demand for the sexual exploitation of school-age youth. [Research suggests that up to 15 percent of American men are purchasing sex in their lifetimes today (Monto & Milrod, 2013; reference below).] As such, a common term for schools among these criminals is “candy stores,” as they find schools to be one of the best places for meeting and recruiting youth into the sex trade.
Youth are prospective victims of human (sex) trafficking whenever they are exploited for any type of sexual act or performance, in exchange for anything of value. More commonly, we see children and youth trafficked for sex acts, erotic dancing, or pornography. Most trafficked youth in Iowa appear to be U.S. citizens, although foreign national victims have also been identified.
How are traffickers accessing school-age youth?
- Schools provide youth with Internet access, and oftentimes computers or tablets, which can be used for communication, threats and intimidation, as well as arranging “dates”. For example, a trafficker may approach youth on a social media site such as Facebook, Snapchat, or Tinder, portend a romantic relationship or friendship with them, and then arrange to pick them up after school.
- Gangs are a serious concern in Iowa and nationwide. A common condition for girls to join gangs is to have sexual relations with the gang members and then be prostituted by the gang. Gangs often recruit from within our schools by having their younger, school-age members identify peers who might be vulnerable to exploitation.
- Criminal syndicates and smaller-scale “trafficking entrepreneurs” operating in any state may also hire school-age youth or young adults living in the community to recruit youth into trafficking exploitation, by offering them false promises of employment (such as modeling); opportunities to attend parties where they may access drugs and alcohol; or even idyllic romantic relationships promising love, security, presents, and a hopeful future.
- Whether operating alone or as part of a gang, syndicate, or criminal network, traffickers find easy access to school-age youth in school parking lots and surrounding streets; at public events such as basketball and football games; and, of course, at local youth hangouts such as malls, movie theaters, and local hangouts.
- Some drug dealers who sell to school-age youth are turning to sex trafficking to increase their income. It’s much more profitable to sell a youth over and over again within any given day than to sell drugs, which are never returned for repeated exploitation.
- Unfortunately, some school-age youth themselves are becoming traffickers. We are more likely to see this occur in heterosexual romantic relationships involving an abusive boyfriend who coerces his girlfriend into trafficking victimization, in order to earn money, for example, or access drugs.
- Finally, as we consider the types of relationships through which youth may be trafficked, we must include one of the most important: relationships with parents, legal guardians, relatives and family friends. Parents and guardians, for example, may traffic youth to drug dealers in exchange for drugs; to locals or passers by in exchange for money; or with landlords to pay the rent. Parents and guardians, similar to other types of traffickers, may sell youth online; through local operations, including pedophile rings; and even through local networks of families in informal exchange networks. It is not uncommon for parents who traffic their children to also be abusing them in other ways, whether emotionally, physically, sexually, or through neglect.
Regardless of how youth are trafficked, and regardless of their relationships with their traffickers, they may be advertised and sold for sex through diverse venues:
- Internet ads for escort, massage, and modeling services. We have 200-300 such ads in Iowa every day.
- Social media, including chat rooms.
- Dating and hookup websites – including dating websites which have solid reputations.
- Pedophile rings and networks which may operate locally or more broadly.
- Any type of local business, but especially strip clubs, escort services, adult stores, massage parlors, and modeling agencies.
Remember, although traffickers can’t advertise school-age youth online or in strip clubs, for that matter, as “children,” per se, they can and do advertise them as being young (typically 18-21 years old), as well as having youthful qualities such as freshness and newness, to attract buyers. We call businesses such as escort services and strip clubs “legal storefronts” for human trafficking since they are legal venues which provide storefronts for modern day slavery.
Youth may also be trafficked for labor, of course, and common venues for labor trafficking of minor U.S. citizens include door-to-door sales of magazines, encyclopedias, yard services, vacuum cleaners, etc. Foreign national minors may be trafficked through the above venues, but perhaps more commonly in the restaurant, small ethnic grocer, roofing, or agriculture and meat-packing industries.
Which youth are vulnerable?
All youth are vulnerable in Iowa, although youth from abusive, neglectful, and illicit drug-using and economically marginalized families are more likely targets for exploitation. Youth from both solid middle-class and more unstable families may purchase drugs from dealers (who also traffic), however, or be tempted by offers to become models, make “easy money,” or experience the so-called “glamour” of the adult entertainment industry.
The easiest youth to recruit into human slavery, of course, are homeless or in foster care, or those whose parents are disengaged from their lives. Over 10,030 youth in Iowa experience homelessness every year, and thousands more are in foster care or families engaged with the Department of Human Services due to concerns regarding abuse and neglect. Every month, furthermore, 100 to 300 youth are identified as “missing” in our state.
The bottom line: The need for love and attachment, so fundamental to being human, is the primary need traffickers tend to exploit. However, traffickers are striving to keep up with buyers’ demands; and are thus incentivized to target youth from any background, as long as they have some type of vulnerability which can be used to recruit them. “Materialism” and wanting to appear “sexy” are vulnerabilities, for example, alongside the basic need for acceptance and attention.
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING
All school personnel, from the janitors to the principals and school superintendents, need to be educated about indicators of human sex and labor trafficking; and how to prevent and safely intervene in this crime. Sometimes, it’s the lunch lady who picks up on the cues, and other times it’s a thoughtful janitor or insightful teacher, counselor, principal or coach. Regardless, it is imperative that every single full- and part-time staff member be trained, because youth often have “safe” persons in their schools in whom they are more likely to confide, and these persons may serve in any role. All school personnel, furthermore, serve a critical role in maintaining the overall safety of the school environment and looking out for possible signs of exploitation on- and off-campus.
Children and youth may be trafficked while living and attending school in the community.
Indicators of child/youth sex trafficking, based on the U.S. DOE’s recent report, are as follows:
Possible behavioral indicators of a child sex trafficking victim include, but are not limited to, the following:
- an inability to attend school on a regular basis and/or unexplained absences
- frequently running away from home
- references made to frequent travel to other cities
- bruises or other signs of physical trauma, withdrawn behavior, depression, anxiety, or fear
- lack of control over a personal schedule and/or identification or travel documents
- hunger, malnourishment, or inappropriate dress (based on weather conditions or surroundings)
- signs of drug addiction
- coached or rehearsed responses to questions
- a sudden change in attire, behavior, relationships, or material possessions (e.g., expensive items)
- uncharacteristic promiscuity and/or references to sexual situations or terminology beyond age-specific norms
- a “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” who is noticeably older and/or controlling
- an attempt to conceal scars, tattoos, or bruises
- a sudden change in attention to personal hygiene\
- tattoos (a form of branding) displaying the name or moniker of a trafficker, such as “daddy”
- hyperarousal or symptoms of anger, panic, phobia, irritability, hyperactivity, frequent crying, temper tantrums, regressive behavior, and/or clinging behavior
- hypoarousal or symptoms of daydreaming, inability to bond with others, inattention, forgetfulness, and/or shyness
Please see this report from the U.S. DOE, to learn more about indicators of both sex and labor trafficking and how to safely respond:
https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/human-trafficking-americas-schools
PLEASE CONSIDER HOSTING A TRAINING FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATORS, AS WELL AS OFFERING PREVENTION TRAINING FOR YOUTH
The Network Against Human Trafficking can provide training, through its member organizations, for school personnel; as well as prevention training for youth.
Our member organizations represent Iowa’s leading anti-human trafficking organizations and initiatives, ranging from Braking Traffik in the East; the Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking in the West; Cedar Rapids Gives in the North; the Central Iowa Services Network Against Human Trafficking; and several statewide youth programs. We are an affiliate of the Iowa Office of the Attorney General’s anti-trafficking initiative and represent considerable expertise on the issue.
You may reach the NAHT by contacting our Executive Director, Teresa Downing-Matibag. Please type “human trafficking training” in the subject line of your email to make a request.
Specific resources:
You may also access information about Braking Traffik’s program for school-age youth, Any Kid, Anywhere, here:
assistant@famres.org or by phone at 563-468-2381.
You may contact Megan Schneider for information about starting an anti-trafficking student club in your school:
MSchneider@yss.ames.ia.us
Thank you for helping to stop the human trafficking of school-age youth in Iowa. Please share what you have learned from this blog and consider donating on this website to support the NAHT’s efforts.
Sincerely,
Dr. Teresa Downing-Matibag
Executive Director
Network Against Human Trafficking
REFERENCES
Monto, M.A.. & Milrod, C. (2013). Ordinary or peculiar men? Comparing the customers of prostitutes with a nationally representative sample of men. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 58 (7):802-20.