New Human Trafficking Guide for School Personnel
Trafficking of youth is a form of modern slavery within the United States. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) defines “severe forms of human trafficking” as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for sex trafficking or labor trafficking.
The U.S. Department of Education developed the Human Trafficking in America’s Schools guide to provide up-to-date information for school personnel on how to address and respond to human trafficking. It outlines how human trafficking impacts schools; the indicators of possible child trafficking; and policies, protocols, and partnerships that can be developed to address and prevent the exploitation of children.
Though they play a crucial role, school personnel cannot, and should not, address these complex issues alone. Effectively responding to trafficking of youth demands increased awareness and a clearly defined course of action, supported by collaboration with child protective services, law enforcement, social services, and community-based service providers.
View an online version of the guide or download (PDF, 18 pages) the document on the Department of Education’s Safe Supportive Learning website.