An Innovative Approach to Prevention: Human Trafficking Education in Schools Task Force Phase 1 Report

Human Trafficking Education in Schools Task Force Update

Phase One of the Human Trafficking Education in Schools Task Force has wrapped up! This Phase focused on research. Five subcommittees with around 50 individuals researched what is being done throughout the United States, and in Michigan, to educate and equip school personnel and students in schools. We presented our Phase One Research Report to the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission in July.

Thank you to all subcommittee leaders and members who volunteered many hours of time to make this research possible.

This report is the most comprehensive analysis of Human Trafficking Education in Schools in the United States.

To view the report, go here- Phase One Final Report

Recommendations from our research

This Task Force exists for child safety through the perspective of Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention. We care about our Michigan youth, and we see their vulnerability as well as their resilience. We want Michigan to be a state where no trafficker or exploiter is welcome. A state that is equipped with tools to prevent exploitation and human trafficking from happening in the first place.

It is our belief that students and the school personnel in their lives should understand what human trafficking and exploitation is, how it happens, how to recognize the signs and how to safely get help. When they have this knowledge, youth at risk for being trafficked or exploited, and the school personnel in their lives, will be equipped to recognize what is happening and do something about it before a trafficker or exploiter can get to them. Early education is vital to a robust anti-trafficking and anti-exploitation plan in Michigan.

It is our overall recommendation, based on our research, that a comprehensive plan to address Human Trafficking and Exploitation Education in Michigan schools will include:

• Training for school personnel
  1. We recommend annual training that must be reported to a governing body such as: Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission; as well as the responsibility of tracking to be outside of the individual school or district so that proper follow-up will be implemented
  2. It is recommended to have in-person training with a virtual option available that follows mandated guidelines
• Age-appropriate, research informed education for students preK-12
  1. We recommend mandated guidelines with suggested curriculums from the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission. When curriculum is completed it must be reported to a governing body such as: Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission; as well as the responsibility of tracking to be outside of the individual school or district so that proper follow-up will be implemented
  2. Training for students should be done in person
• School protocol for human trafficking
  1. We recommend that this must include a governing body that serves as a central database for reporting such as the Michigan Department of Education or Child Protective Services
  2. We recommend that this must include a list of resources and organizations that staff and students can be referred to for help

To learn more about the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission, click here.