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Signs That Your Child Maybe a Victim Of Sexual Exploitation or At Risk Of:

 

  • Demonstrates a sudden, dramatic change in behavior, attitude, or appearance.

  • Runs away repeatedly and refuses to say where they are or have been or why they ran away.

  • Skips school or sneaks out of the house frequently.

  • Secretive behavior, defensive manner, secretive text or phone calls

  • Appears to have money yet no job.

  •  Has more than one cell phone

  • Has new clothes, expensive jewelry, electronics and says they were given to them.

  • Wear skimpy or provocative clothing, sometimes with slogans of ownership.

  • Come on to people in public.

  • Seems to be known by adults and others you have no connection to

  • Has knowledge of Gang symbols or signs or are friendly to members?

  • Have frequent STD's or UTI's

  • Tattoos without permission of names, symbols or nick names

  •  Unexplained bruises or injuries

  • Demonstrates withdrawn behavior, depression, fear.

  •  Spends large amounts of time on the computer and social media while others are sleeping.

  • Signs of addictions especially drugs

 

By answering yes to three or more of these signs, your child may be sexually exploited by another.

 

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“ Healing and Freedom from Human Trafficking”

 

The IOC/NRC report defines commercial sexual exploitation(i.e. survival sex) and sex trafficking (i.e. prostitution) of minors as a range of crimes that includes:

  •  

  • Recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, obtaining, and/or maintaining (acts that constitute trafficking) a minor for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation.

  • Exploiting a minor through prostitution

  • Exploiting a minor through survival sex (exchanging sex/sexual acts for money or something of value, such as shelter, food, or drugs)

  • Exploiting a minor through sex tourism and exploiting a minor by having her or him perform in sexual venues (peep shows, strip clubs) FSHH also adds sold pornography and social media chat rooms with membership fees.

Human trafficking also includes forced labor. Common examples include:

  • Selling illegal drugs

  • Begging.

  • Door-to-door sales crews (magazines)

  • Restaurant work.

  • Hair and nail salons.

  • Farm work.

  • Au pairs and nannies.

  • Domestic work.

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Risk Factors for Youth

 

History of child abuse, neglect, and maltreatment.

Homeless or runaway

LGBT youth

History of systems involvement (e.g. juvenile justice, child welfare)

Stigma and discrimination

Family conflict, disruption

Dysfunction

Peer pressure

Social isolation

Gang involvement

Under-resourced schools, neighborhoods and communities

Lonely

Have someone or something to lose (leverage)

Lack of awareness of commercial exploitation and sex trafficking.

Sexualization of children.

Lack of resources.

Signs to look for

 

  • Frequent, unexplained absences from school.

  • Running away from home.

  • Unexplained bruises or scars.

  • Withdrawn behavior or anxiety/fear.

  • Knowledge of sexual situations or terms beyond normal for the child's age.

  • Phone apps that have been known to pass porn or private chat rooms.

  • Having more then one phone.

  • Acquiring expensive gifts (clothes, phones, pampering etc).

  • Signs of drug or alcohol addiction.

  • Sudden changes in clothes, friends or access to money.

  • Having a “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” who is noticeably older and/or controlling.

  • Expressing concern for family members safety if he or she shares information.

  • Working unusually long hours and being paid very little.

  • Living at workplace or with employer or living with many people in a small space.

Prevention

 

  • Keep all social media locked.

  • Follow your gut, if it doesn’t feel right say no or don’t do it.

  • Know who your friends are.

  • Seek help for past pains (counseling, prayer etc).

  • Let trusted adults know where you are at all times.

  • Travel in groups out or on dates.

  • Stay away from apps for chat rooms.

  • Watch your drinks everywhere you are.

  • If you thin something may be wrong or someone may be in trouble tell trusted adult so further investigation may be done.

You could save a life. Contact 911 or 1-888-373-7888, text BeFree (233733) or submit a tip online at http://www.traffickingresourcecenter.org.

 

 

Fresh Start Healing Heart

 

Our mission is to compassionately walk beside Survivors of Human Trafficking. Providing safe housing, immediate needs and restorative services for emotional, spiritual, physical, educational and financial healing.

 

Contact us for tips, education, volunteering, and survival help.

www.freshstarthealingheart.org www.facebook.com/freshstarthealingheart

24 hr hot-line (843)338-8896 Spanish hot-line (843)467-3823

Prevention

 

  • Keep all social media locked.

  • Follow your gut, if it doesn’t feel right say no or don’t do it.

  • Know who your friends are.

  • Seek help for past pains (counseling, prayer etc).

  • Let trusted adults know where you are at all times.

  • Travel in groups out or on dates.

  • Stay away from apps for chat rooms.

  • Watch your drinks everywhere you are.

  • If you thin something may be wrong or someone may be in trouble tell trusted adult so further investigation may be done.

You could save a life. Contact 911 or 1-888-373-7888, text BeFree (233733) or submit a tip online at http://www.traffickingresourcecenter.org.

 

 

Fresh Start Healing Heart

 

Our mission is to compassionately walk beside Survivors of Human Trafficking. Providing safe housing, immediate needs and restorative services for emotional, spiritual, physical, educational and financial healing.

 

Contact us for tips, education, volunteering, and survival help.

www.freshstarthealingheart.org www.facebook.com/freshstarthealingheart

24 hr hot-line (843)338-8896                  Spanish hot-line (843)467-3823

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