Child Trafficking and Safety
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Kristin Wood-Hegner from South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking. We talked about WHAT Human Trafficking is and how to teach our kids from a young age how to stay safe. Kristin has also started an amazingly helpful Instagram with tips on/sharing information and experiences regarding ADHD, Autism, Domestic Violence, and living with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.
You can watch our interview on Instagram BY CLICKING HERE.
Notes from our Discussion:
What is human trafficking?
Modern-Day Slavery
A crime that is illegal under federal and California state law
AMP from the Polaris Project: ACTION: recruitment, selling, buying/getting, transporting, holding (etc) a human being, MEANS: Force, Fraud, or Coercion ( not required if the victim is a minor involved in sex trafficking), PURPOSE: Commercial Sex (Sex Trafficking), Labor or Services (Labor Trafficking)
It happens here in the South Bay and throughout the United States and the world. The South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking is a non-profit organization that partners with victim service providers, legal service providers, government agencies, specialized local human trafficking law enforcement task forces, and others to address human trafficking in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties. The FBI has identified the San Francisco Bay Area as one of the top hubs for human trafficking activity in the US. It can happen in plain sight in places we frequent like restaurants, hotels, custodial services, massage businesses, and spas.
Who is trafficked?
Anyone can be trafficked, but we know that women, people of color (especially Black girls), children, LGBTQ, disabled, foster kids, and justice involved individuals are overrepresented in the trafficking population.
How to prevent your child from being trafficked:
Teach kids about stranger danger
Help them identify safe adults they can talk to if they have a problem and don’t feel comfortable talking to their parents (counselor, teacher, family members, family friends)
Most trafficking doesn’t occur as a stranger abduction
Grooming: Coercion and building a relationship. May pose as a boyfriend or friend, can be male or female. May be the lead trafficker or a recruiter, who may or may not be forced to do so. Slowly introducing inappropriate conversations or activities, escalates to things like photographs that can be used as revenge porn/leverage to do more things, or meeting in person.
Red flags: controlling partner/friend, having to check in / ask permission, sudden behavior changes, sudden sexually explicit / age-inappropriate clothing and behavior, expensive items / more money
Safety and Tech
Teach boundaries with adults, empower kids to take ownership of their body and say no
Teach kids the real names of body parts
Establish open, safe, non-judgmental communication with your kids so they can talk to you about problems Help kids identify safe adults they can talk to if there is a problem: school counselor, teacher, family members, family friends
Exploiters can use a variety of apps, games, and social media to contact kids.
Anything you put on the internet is permanent
Set all apps to highest privacy settings
Monitor their online and offline activities, but balance with age-appropriate respect for the child’s privacy
Know the signs and resources for human trafficking
Red Flags like Safety Issues: Injuries, Fearful
Living Conditions: Live in the same place they work? Visitors okay? Where do they eat and sleep?
Work: abusive conditions? Wage theft? Can they leave? What would happen if they leave?
Social Connections: Are they freely allowed to contact friends and family? Are communications monitored? Do they have to check in with someone or get permission?
Note any red flags you see to keep a record. If it’s safe for you and the potential victim, carefully ask some of the red flag questions. If it’s safe, share resources like the National Human Trafficking Hotline 888-3737-888
Report red flags, but don’t investigate. If an emergency, call 911. Otherwise call the Hotline.
How to get involved
Contact us through our website or social media if you’re interested in:
Collecting sneakers as a fundraiser
Donating
Signing up for our newsletter with volunteer opportunities, news, and resources like our upcoming Annual Report.
Virtual Human Trafficking Conference (follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter for more info)
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and sign up our newsletter for accurate news, tips, events, and resources.