Fighting Human Trafficking Through Quality Foster Care

“Human trafficking” is a phrase that often conjures images of frightened, undocumented women who have been brought to the United States while fleeing a war zone. Over the past few years, the phrase has also been connected with (now debunked) stories of well-dressed businessmen attempting to snatch young girls from their families in the middle of a crowded shopping mall. Even for those who acknowledge the prevalence of human trafficking in every city in America, few immediately associate human trafficking with the real source of most of its victims: our nation’s broken child welfare system.

Roughly 98% of survivors of sex trafficking have been involved with Child Welfare services, and 75% have been in foster care.  In 2013, a nationwide operation rescued trafficking victims from across the United States, 60% of which were foster care youth who had run from care or who had aged out of the system. When we think of human trafficking, we must think of our nation’s most vulnerable children, those in foster care, group homes, or those who have been adjudicated to placement outside their homes.

Children from disrupted homes are targeted by traffickers because they are often unprotected by adults who are deeply invested in their lives. They have often experienced sexual abuse, are accustomed to adapting to sudden changes, and have learned to suppress their own desires to maintain harmony with those who exert control over their well-being. They are particularly susceptible to promises of stability, love, and belonging. They are incredibly resilient and accommodating, but are often lacking in the ability to discern manipulative behavior. Most importantly, they are overlooked and forgotten. When children run from foster homes, search efforts are often superficial at best; they are non-existent at worst.

Media attention since 2013 has helped bring trafficking awareness to the national consciousness, but most people feel ill-equipped to address the issue in a meaningful way. If you want to make an impact in the lives of human trafficking victims, visit your local human services agency and ask about how you can make a difference in the life of at-risk youth. Consider becoming a foster parent. Mentor a child in care. Commit to causes that advance the well-being of vulnerable children.  Insist on better oversight and screening of potential foster families. Hold local law enforcement accountable for pursuing missing foster care youth with the same commitment afforded to victims from intact families. Spread the word about the link between human trafficking and foster care. Lend your voice to the vulnerable, overlooked youth in foster care; it is only through a commitment to their civil rights and intrinsic value, that we can address the blight of human trafficking. 

Written by Colleen E-K., Medical Advocate