We must address the intersection of trafficking and the child welfare system.


** Protecting Children In
Foster Care From Exploitation
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May is National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize the more than 400,000 children ([link removed]) currently in the U.S. child welfare system and to acknowledge those working to improve standards and strengthen policies to reform the foster care system. Often, these kids face a significant amount of trauma associated with their experiences prior to and during their placements in the foster care system – ultimately increasing their ([link removed]) vulnerabilities ([link removed]) and risk of trafficking and exploitation – a sentiment echoed by ECPAT-USA Survivors' Council member Sarah ([link removed]) .

Congress has taken steps to address the intersection between youth in the child welfare system and sex trafficking. Representatives Karen Bass and Ann Wagner introduced the Put Trafficking Victims First Act ([link removed]) , which would direct the Attorney General to provide necessary training and technical assistance to federal, state, and local governments to investigate, prosecute and prevent human trafficking from a victim-centered and trauma-informed approach. This bill also instructs the Department of Justice to establish a working group charged with identifying best practices for assessing trends in human trafficking and surveying survivors on ways to increase access to supportive services.

Additionally, Representatives Tony Gonzalez and Eddie Bernice Johnson recently introduced the Find and Protect Foster Youth Act. ([link removed]) This bill would help improve communication standards between state and federal agencies by creating a “feedback loop” between states and the Administration of Children and Families to share information related to vulnerable communities.

It is incumbent upon Congress to prioritize strengthening laws to better serve children in the child welfare system. Its current structure creates ambiguity and space for these kids to be overlooked and targeted. Without closing these gaps, we cannot adequately protect this nation’s children from the harms that await them.

ECPAT-USA will continue to partner and collaborate with child welfare organizations and legislators to advance policies that seek to better support and meet the needs of vulnerable children in foster care. We invite you to learn more in the special message from Representative Bass below.

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Learn more about cases related to these issues across the country that recently made headlines:
* Lack Of Communication Between Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems Hurt Foster Kids, Court Monitors Say. ([link removed]) The lack of communication between Texas’ child welfare agency and its juvenile justice system puts foster care children at risk, Texas foster care watchdogs said in a court filing.
* Victims Of Child Sex Trafficking Went To A Foster Facility Where They Allegedly Were Trafficked Again. ([link removed]) At least one staff member at a Texas foster-care facility designed to help young girls who are victims of sex trafficking is accused of trafficking them all over again, according to state officials and court documents.

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ECPAT-USA is the leading policy organization in the United States seeking to end the commercial, sexual exploitation of children through awareness, advocacy, policy, and legislation. Join us ([link removed]) .

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