Resource

How to Start a Conversation With a Young Person Who May Be a Sex Trafficking Survivor

Before starting a conversation with a young person about
sex trafficking, first ask yourself the following:

Does the young person appear to be in crisis?
Are you somewhere young people feel safe?
Can you maintain confidentiality?
Have you built enough rapport with the young person to ask sensitive questions?
Do you know enough information about the young person to ask questions that are sensitive to their history of trauma or other adverse experiences?
Do you believe you are the best person in your organization to
have this conversation with the young person?

Here are some questions you can ask young people to determine if they are a sex trafficking survivor:

Are your communications (e.g., calls, emails, texts, chats, conversations) ever restricted or monitored?
How do you get by day-to-day?
Has anyone offered you something like food or a place to sleep in exchange for sexual favors?

If you are working with a young person you believe is a sex trafficking survivor, share the 24-hour National Human Trafficking Hotline. www.humantraffickinghotline.org

Suggested Citation: Schlecht, C., Griffin, A.M., Kull, M., & Dworsky, D. (2022). How to Start a Conversation With a Young Person Who May Be a Sex Trafficking Survivor. Child Trends. https://activatecenter.org/resource/a-research-based-question-and-answer-resource-on-sex-trafficking-for-youth-supporting-professionals

Author Attribution: This document was developed as part of a partnership between Child Trends and Chapin Hall. Authors of this resource from Chapin Hall include Colleen Schlecht, MPP, Amanda Griffin, Ph.D., Melissa Kull, PhD, and Amy Dworsky, PhD.

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the many contributors to this resource. Experts who informed the resource include:
- Heidi Beaubriand, Oregon Department of Human Services
- Cathy Benn, Second Story for Teens in Crisis
- Soraya Borja, Second Story in the Community
- JaQuay Butler, Sacramento County (CA) Public Health
- Lauren Luberda, Second Story for Teens in Crisis
- Kimberlyn Pena, Second Story in the Community
- Rachel Roberts, Children’s Aid Society of Alabama
- Lindsay White, Youth Villages
Thank you also to the several youth-supporting professionals, young people, and other experts who contributed but are not named here. We also thank other Activate project team members who assisted in the development of this resource including Mindy Scott, PI and Jan DeCoursey, Project Director. We are grateful for the contributions of other Child Trends, Chapin Hall, and Healthy Teen Network staff who contributed to this resource including:
- Jenita Parekh, Child Trends
- Julie Blechman, Child Trends
- Nicholas Sufrinko, Healthy Teen Network
- Milagros Garrido, Healthy Teen Network
- Jennifer Farmer, Healthy Teen Network
Finally, a special thank you to the Child Trends communications staff, especially Kelley Bennett, Olga Morales, Catherine Nichols, Brent Franklin, and Stephen Russ.