Page 10 - ODJFS Human Trafficking Response Summary 2018-2019

as a priority to increase accessibility. Supporting this interpretation the rate of youth provided services by our CAC network holds consistent at around 60-65% (Fig. 4) - which would be consistent if identifiable youth are largely already referred into services. Likewise, referral rates from CACs to outside services decrease as well from 69% to 47%, but stabilizes in quarters 3 and 4. This indicates that service needs were largely met at CACs but those in need of additional specialized care from partner agencies were connected in quarter 3 and 4; which is corroborated by the stabilization of those in current CAC services in quarters 3 and 4 as well.
Human Trafficking Case Profile:
Continuing trends from last year the forms of trafficking most commonly identified and referred for service, are youth exploited via sex trafficking or youth that present with multiple significant risk-factors for being trafficked. These high-risk cases represent about 3/4 of all cases identified and sex trafficking accounts for the majority of the remaining 1/4. About 10% of the instances were internet-based exploitation was reported as the principle means of exploitation. This however only accounts for cases where this was the principle means of exploitation through production of child abuse images or online sexual exploitation, however additional metrics looking at grooming indicate a more significant role for technology as tactic that lays foundations for other forms of exploitation. Labor trafficking continues to be reported at significantly lower rates than expected. As referrals typically - though not exclusively - are dependent upon allegation of abuse which are often concurrent with both indicators of sexual abuse and trafficking. Individuals who are exploited for labor may not always present with such signs. Moreover, linguistically isolated populations and individuals with low English proficiency may lack access to typical points of first contact that make referrals. This remains an area for significant development that involves capacity building efforts across a number of domains throughout the state.
Composite Youth Profile:
As stated previously, while perhaps not comprehensively representative of the larger target population of youth exploited by traffickers in Ohio, the Victim/Survivor Survey does provide insights into the population most commonly identified and referred for services at CACs.
The majority of cases referred in center around sexual exploitation, roughly over 90% of all youth are female. In terms of peak age groups targeted, on average high-risk groups are referred for services between the ages of 13 to 15 while those referred for sex trafficking are generally 16 to 17 years old. This follows expected predictions that risk- factor identification may provide linkage to services at an earlier age point than populations pending referral on the basis of prior disclosure of trafficking. Overall ages ranged from over 19 years of age to less than 5 years old.
In Year 2 we see an increase in diversity of youth served with around 55% of all identified as White (non-Hispanic/latino), about 35% Black/African American, and about 10% Hispanic/Latino. Youth identifying as multiple races vary significantly from quarter