TxSSC

Students can spend more time with their teachers than they do with their own families. That means, as an educator, you have a unique opportunity to observe, recognize, and report potential victims of human trafficking. Become familiar with what makes someone vulnerable to human trafficking (2.0 Vulnerabilities and Protective Factors) grooming and recruitment methods (3.0 Who Are the Traffickers?), and the red flags or signs of human trafficking (4.0 Signs to Look For).

Many students who are trafficked continue to attend school. Pay close attention to changes in attendance, a student’s behavior, emotional state, and any signs of abuse. If you notice anything that just doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and report it. Remember, the reporting requirement relates to your suspicion of a student being abused or trafficked, not that you must confirm anything before reporting.

Make sure you and the victim are in a safe location away from the suspected trafficker.
Remain calm. Reassure the student they did the right thing by telling you. Do not make promises of confidentiality, or about what will happen to them or the trafficker. If the student wants to tell their story, let them. However, leave the questioning to the professionals and never confront the suspected trafficker or the trafficker's family.
Notify the school counselor and your principal or other administrator on your campus.
Most importantly, report it to the authorities. As a reminder, Texas law mandates that you report suspected human trafficking to district police, local or state law enforcement, and the Department of Family and Protective Services within 24 hours. You may not delegate the reporting to someone else or rely on someone else to make the report. A best practice would be to make the report as soon as you are made aware of it. It is okay if more than one report is made. It is better to make the report than assume someone already made one.

Educators, what you do matters. You care about your students, and you build connections with them. You may be the only trusted adult in their life because they know you care about them. You may have one chance to help that student. Be observant, and report anything you are suspicious of.

Questions?

TxSSC

Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Toolkit

6.0 Educators: How to Respond

If you suspect a student is being trafficked, or a student tells you they are being trafficked, try not to panic.

Resources