Understanding the Impact of World Day Against Human Trafficking on Vulnerable Populations - MSHP Insight Provided

For many of us, it's easy to go about our days, traveling from here to there, walking at our local park, dropping kids off at practice, fueling up our vehicle, and not giving our safety a second thought. For others, the fear of going anywhere because they've experienced or have lived a near-abduction, leaving the house can seem an insurmountable feat. Although not a happy topic, it is a necessary one. July 30th marks World Day against Human Trafficking. This heinous crime affects people of all ages, and in particular, "runaways, childhood trauma survivors, foster children, and disabled people" who "make up 70% of the perceived risk of sex trafficking for social groups," according to Ryan Pace, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Director of School Safety at Branson R-IV. And of that 70%, many fall directly into the group of people we serve and care for, meaning they are at a higher risk of being trafficked. Today, I would like to help share some impactful statistics and cautionary tips for you to be mindful of - not only as a caregiver, but also as a parent, grandparent, and neighbor.

At one of our recent r3 SUMMITs held in Willow Springs on March 25, 2025, Ryan Pace, a man of the law, who is also a host home caregiver with Restoring Hope, spoke to our attendees regarding caregiver safety practices in the home and on the road, internet/app threats, and other means of abuse that could ultimately impact those we serve and care for, as well as ourselves. You may view Ryan's presentation here: Unmasking the Threat: A Caregiver's Guide to Combating Sexual Predators. Since we're focusing primarily on human trafficking, however, we asked Ryan to elaborate a bit more on this subject to share with you today. Below you will find those key take aways and some helpful advice!

Points to Remember Regarding Safety Preparedness

• What is considered an emergency can differ significantly for individuals with past trauma due to their individual, unique responses and coping mechanisms. People perceive emergencies differently based on various factors, including their past experiences, cultural background, personality, traits, age, and developmental stage, as well as environmental factors such as location and climate. 

• Big "T" trauma is your serious accidents, natural disasters, chronic or repetitive experiences like childhood abuse and neglect/ PTSD.

• The small "t" traumas are most common in neglected and abused children, and can cause concentration, self-esteem, and emotional regulation difficulties, naming small experiences as traumatic and validating them will help client recovery. 

Best Practice Care Strategies

• It's important for care providers to have safety plans in place that cover the replacement of medication, transportation, evacuation, and shelter.

• It is important to have a priority list of individuals who can be called. Suppose something were to happen to you or a client while in your care.  (For example, an emergency guidebook would be placed in the vehicle to aid responders with best practice care strategies if you are unavailable due to being injured yourself.)

Scary Technology Statistics of Kids Online Activity

Parental Warning: Harmful Apps

Victims of Internet Access Percentage

Caregiver's Response to Sexual Predators

• 13% of kids with Internet access become victims of sexual advances from predators online. 

• Grooming is when someone builds a relationship and trust/ emotional connection with a child or client so they can manipulate, exploit, and abuse them. (DMH clients had a higher risk of being manipulated and groomed due to their cognitive function.)

• Caregivers need to be aware of apps and online use for their clients, not only to keep them safe, but also to keep themselves safe.

Trafficking Estimates and Statistics in the United States

• In 2024, an estimated 24,000 individuals were victims of human trafficking within the United States.

• Women and girls are disproportionately affected accounting for about 75% of all identified victims in 2024.

• 40% of human trafficking victims in the United States were minors.

• We saw a 25% increase in human trafficking cases between 2019 and 2023.

• Law-enforcement efforts in 2024 led to approximately 10,000 arrests related to human trafficking. 

As staggering as all of this is - and unsettling the video above is, I hope that it makes you more agile, observant, and responsive to the world around you. I feel we must, as a society, band together to share information and insight to protect everyone we can, but certainly the most vulnerable of our communities, many of whom live within our four walls. Additionally, there has to be a balance of open dialogue, and we cannot have that unless there is trust and a healthy flow of communication within our homes. During Ryan's presentation, he spoke on the importance of staying calm when individuals share unsettling things with us that they may have done online. If we lash out, they're more likely to shut down communication completely with us. And that puts them at more harm and risk for abuse, or worse. If you're struggling with these types of conversations, consult your Program Manager or a trusted fellow host home for help with navigating those discussions. And if the situation warrants, you should, of course, contact your local law enforcement.

In summation, Human Trafficking is a disgraceful occurrence not just happening in the United States but all over the world. So I hope you take this day to learn more and do what YOU can to prevent it. Some of the ways to #EndHumanTrafficking, may include:

• Learning how to Identify and Assist a Trafficking Victim

• Be conscientious of your surroundings and notice what seems off. (Ryan Pace shared with our group that a local trooper on a traffic stop noticed a child sitting in a vehicle who wore clothes that were too big. His keen observation, inquisitions, and action led to the recovery of this child who had been kidnapped from many states away. (Can you even imagine if he hadn't acted on his hunch??)

• Learn more about Human Trafficking, such as watching documentaries on the subject. (Face to Face with Slavery, The Traffickers, and Children for Sale. As well as the videos provided in Ryan's presentation, and just above.)

I hope that even if you're very familiar with this topic, you'll continue to be studious in being a better caregiver, parent, grandparent, and neighbor, particularly in terms of safety and preventing human trafficking. And if you have even the slightest inkling that something nefarious might be going on, you act, report, ask questions, and do all that you can to rescue a victim or potential victim. We must protect those who cannot defend themselves!