Page 9 - ODJFS Human Trafficking Response Summary 2017-2018

for foster parents and the development of emergency shelter/housing be cultivated with an adequate infrastructure and training to meet the short-term needs of youth survivors of trafficking.
Vulnerable Populations and Special Classes:
While limited referral is the most significant linkage barrier for these populations multiple cases this past fiscal year involved a minors with Immigrant, Refugee, or Asylee status. A yet larger number of cases affected the lives of LGBTQ youth and children with Limited English Proficiency. Additionally, in roughly 10% of all cases a minor was served who has a cognitive-behavioral, neural, or physical disability. This may provide evidence for the need for increased referral and accessibility for LGBTQ youth and the continued development of alternative service approaches for youth with disabilities or language barriers. Similar collaborative work should focus on outreach to youth without documented statuses and services and protocols should be in place for when these youth are referred for care. It is also recommended that a vetted community advocate or culturally competent GAL should also be established as a liaison for unaccompanied youth. Another area of potential future need to consider are minority homeless youth as it is anticipated that as further data is collected this population may emerge as in significant need due to differential response within systems of care and first contact.
Internet Crimes Against Children:
As more data was collected a significant trend is shared between both youth identified as having been trafficked and those at high risk of being trafficked. The common factor was the meeting of persons online and the sharing of photos. This identifying factor is significant and distinct from other high-risk indicators in that it is more narrow in scope of behavior and is potentially more directly linked to known and inferred methods of recruitment. By drawing out this particular aspect our CAC network may be better equipped to identify and tailor responses to minors that are targeted and exploited online, that may not fit the conventional indicators presented by youth trafficked by other means. It may also in turn offer an opportunity for new partnerships with Ohio’s ICAC task-forces.
With additional metrics to explore the role internet and related mobile technologies play among youth survivors of human trafficking, the final survey of Year 1 found that in 40% of all cases showed that these technologies were suspected to have played a significant role in the recruitment and grooming of individuals. Moreover the study indicates these technologies are also utilized frequently in the production and distribution of explicit images of children. Concurrently, no referrals were received from ICAC Task- Force during this quarter. While they’re may be a number of reasons underlying this fact , both the poly- victimization aspect of internet-based trafficking tactics and the need to establish better protocols of referral through ICAC may warrant further investigation.
Substance Use as Risk-Factors Exploited by Traffickers:
When exploring the complex role substance use plays in trafficking of youth an initial anomaly appears when one compares the prevalence of drug use history against the number reporting use of drugs in relation to the trafficking case. One possible conclusion may be that drug use prior to trafficking may occur at a lower rate than anticipated, however re-trafficking may be facilitated by substance dependency induced by the trafficker as a means of control. On the whole This data may also be indicative of the difficulty of disclosure regarding substance use behaviors. As an additional note, it remains unclear what the role caregiver substance use has as a rick factor for trafficking, and this may also warrant further investigation. It will be key, regardless of interplay and sequence between these factors to increase attention on substance related treatments and long-term related services.
Final Summary and Next Steps:
The data we have collected over the past 11 months demonstrates the drastic growth in response to trafficking that our Network of CACs have been able to undertake. Through this grant, CACs are demonstrating greater outreach to high-risk youth, stronger partnerships with statewide agencies, and transformative roles in community and professional education.