We must address larger societal factors in child trafficking

The articles recently published in the Sun Sentinel’s “Innocence Sold” investigation underscored the complexity of underage sex trafficking.

The Delores Barr Weaver Policy Centers leads efforts to reframe society’s view of sexual exploitation of children through the lens of child abuse and child rape. Accurately defining the heinous acts of violence that are perpetrated by adults against our children is crucial to effectively addressing this crisis in our state — and our nation. Underage sex trafficking is child rape and child abuse.

The pipeline is fueled by traffickers who make a profit by selling our children as a commodity to buyers (mostly men) who believe it is OK to buy children for the purpose of raping them. When we blame the foster care system, we fail to blame the true criminals: the perpetrators, the traffickers and the buyers who conspire to rob our most vulnerable children of their innocence.

To be clear, we agree that the deficiencies in the foster care system warrant immediate reform. However, the larger societal factors that impact families and make unprotected children easy prey for traffickers necessitate immediate attention as well. Key questions we must ask include: What is happening in the family prior to a child’s placement in the foster care system? What support systems are readily accessible? Do children have access to a safe adult?

When caregivers and children do not have the support and resources needed to survive, traffickers are able to initially provide helpful behaviors offered seemingly unconditionally (these behaviors are experienced as positive and helpful by the child), followed by coercive or manipulative demands to repay/sustain this help or subsequent connection through commercially sexually exploiting the child. This behavior of the trafficker is referred to as “predatory helpfulness” and describes the early stages of trafficking. When systems fail to provide the support needed, traffickers step in and fill the gaps. Those unfilled gaps are what make many of Florida’s children prime targets for predators. Here’s what Policy Center research shows.

More than half (56%) of Florida’s four million children are living in or near poverty.

Girls report they do not feel safe in school, at home, or in their community.

The findings from the Policy Center’s Status of Girls in Florida research series found that one in three middle and high school girls report they do not feel safe in school and one in four girl reported they do not have access to talk to a teacher one-to-one. Further, one in four girls reported that if she had a personal problem she could not ask a parent for help.

Every child deserves to live in a safe home and community. The Policy Center calls for the following actions from our elected officials:

1. Convene advocacy groups, survivors, law enforcement and governmental officials to identify aggressive methods for reducing demand;

2. Invest in intensive family preservation programs and services;

3. Invest in school-based and community programs that ensure every child has access to a safe adult whom they can trust and go to for support;

4. Earmark recurring state funding for the development, implementation, and evaluation of community-based, girl-centered prevention, intervention and re-entry programs and services. Include pilot programs that specifically address the needs of girls of color, girls from rural areas, LGBTQ youth, survivors of child sexual exploitation, girls with differing abilities (developmental delays) and girls experiencing family conflict.

Community members can also join in efforts to enact tangible and lasting reforms to improve the safety and fair treatment of girls.

„ ■ Learn More: Read the Status of Girls research series to learn more about the experiences of girls in Florida and in your community and the policies and practices that impact them.

„ ■ Speak Up: Ask the children in your care if they have a trusted adult in their lives.

„ ■ Volunteer: Become a mentor for a child who needs a safe adult.

„ ■ Invest: Support organizations that are making a difference in the lives of children and families.

Together we can work to achieve the Policy Center’s vision to build inclusive communities where girls are safe, respected, valued and equal partners in their experiences and futures.

By Vicky Basra