What Are the Red Flags that may Indicate a Child May Be Exploited? #
- Older boyfriend or girlfriend that gives the youth expensive gifts
- Dramatic personality change; evasive behavior especially around a “new boyfriend. Talk about being “taken care of”, disengagement from school, sports, community
- Having expensive items with no known source of income (especially hair, manicures, cell phone, clothes)
- Chronic truant / runaway / homeless youth
- Excess cash
- Hotel room keys
- Multiple cell phones, multiple texting apps, multiple social media profiles
Signs of branding (tattoos, jewelry) - Lying about age / false identification/inconsistencies in information being reported
- Lack of knowledge of a given community or whereabouts
- Provocative clothing, sex toys, multiple condoms, lube or other sexual devices
- STI/STDs, pregnancy, and unexplained injuries
What Are the Guiding Principles for Engaging with a Child Who May
Be Exploited? #
- Maintain a compassionate and non-judgmental attitude at all times.
- Be consistent: follow through on everything and do not make promises that cannot be kept.
- Trust and relationship-building: this is a slow process and relationship testing is to be expected.