Raise Your Awareness: Human Trafficking Awareness Month

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and school administrators, counselors and teachers should know how to identify potential cases and how to help children who are being trafficked. Trafficking can involve school-age youth, particularly those made vulnerable by challenging family situations, and can take a variety of forms including forced labor, domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation.

The U.S. Department of Education has released a guide for educators - and any staff in the school community - on ways to identify and help prevent child trafficking in schools. Human Trafficking in America's Schools is a free guide for school staff that includes information about risk factors, recruitment and how to identify trafficking; what to do if you suspect trafficking, including sample school protocols and policies; and other resources and potential partnership opportunities.

For more information, read the Department of Education Office of Safe and Healthy Student’s Fact Sheet on Domestic Human Trafficking, register and order free materials for distribution to your staff and students from this government website or contact Jeanne Ackerson at (816) 268-0401.