Human trafficking affects males and females, kids, teens and adults too. Manipulation, violence and coercion are common tactics used to bring new individuals into labor or sex trafficking situations. This is true for individuals in vulnerable situations, or even in the custody of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
More than 4% of youths in the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services were missing at some point in the past year. That’s 2,094 children and youth who were missing – and finding those youths can be difficult, because many who run away or disappear don’t want to be found.
According to DFPS, of the 2,094 youths who went missing in 2020, 136 reported that they were victims in some way while they were missing, and 68 were victims of sex trafficking.
The University of Texas at Austin reported that in 2016, there were 78,996 minor and youth victims of human trafficking, and 234,457 victims of labor trafficking in the state at any time, and that number is increasing.
One Accord for Kids reports that the number of youths that have been reported missing while in the system has increased year over year. In 2019, 4% of children went missing, and that’s 266 individuals more than 2017. Many of them were 13 or younger, One Accord reports. Of those who were found in 2019, 109 reported that they were victims of sex trafficking, labor trafficking, sex abuse or physical abuse.
But there are things that could improve the foster care system and reduce these youths’ risk of being trafficked or abused. Community is a huge part of One Accord For Kids' suggestions for improving the DFPS system and to aid in reducing instances of youths going missing, as well as instances of trafficking. Also topping the list of changes are increasing community participation and creation of a network of community support for foster parents who want to help older youth who have more complex needs.
One Accord for Kids also suggests that communities take an active role in caring for youths in the foster care system instead of relying on DFPS to monitor all of the children from their offices in Austin. In addition the group believes that reducing the amount of time that youths are in DFPS custody is essential, and that finding forever homes should be the priority. It could also help ensure that those in charge take the experiences and concerns of youths in the system seriously.
With young men and boys accounting for up to half of the 300,000 American youths who are trafficked and abused every year, there are new resources in some Texas communities, like the first safe house dedicated to sex trafficked young men, which is opening in Denton due to the work of Bob Williams, CEO of Ranch Hands Rescue. He is opening Bob’s House of Hope for male victims of sex trafficking between the ages of 18 and 24, according to Crosstimbers Gazette.
Many of the young men and boys who have been exploited don’t understand what’s happening, or refuse to admit what is happening – and he calls this victimization of men the “single biggest problem in the country” that no one talks about.
