Sex trafficking

Comments from the National Foster Youth & Alumni Policy Council Addressing the Sex Trafficking of Children and Youth

Image

The National Advisory Committee on the Sex Trafficking of Children & Youth in the United States, established per the Preventing Sex Trafficking & Strengthening Families Act (see Council comments on implementation of that law), requested public comment on best practice examples to combat sex trafficking and specifically requested information on the intersection of child welfare. 

The Council submitted public comments to the Advisory Committee. 

The National Foster Care Youth and Alumni Policy Council, the National Council that represents a collective viewpoint of youth and alumni who have personal experience in the foster care system, is pleased to provide comments on addressing the sex trafficking of children and youth with child welfare experience.

The Council advises by:

· Using their experiences in child welfare to identify and inform priorities and offer ideas to improve child welfare policy

· Educating policymakers and other stakeholders about their varied experiences in child welfare

· Analyzing effectiveness of programs and policies based on the experiences of youth in child welfare

 

Past studies examining the prevalence of sexual abuse among youth in foster care have long shown that youth in care are more vulnerable than their peers in the general population, and the Council’s poll had similar findings: 

  • Over half of the poll respondents indicated being confronted with inappropriate sexual advances prior to entering foster care or while outside of the system

  • Almost 40 percent of respondents had been confronted while in foster care

  • 20 percent of respondents reported being approached by their foster parent in a sexually inappropriate manner.